Gleanings aims to equip the Australian Christian with the knowledge and tools necessary to live as a light and salt in the Australian social and political spheres.
Bill Muehlenberg from Culture Watch reports on a Queensland pro-life Christian who is back in prison, for almost a whole year, for standing up for the unborn. For story click here.
To follow the events by QLD pro-lifers see: http://protect-life.info/
Children of God for Life announced that PepsiCo will not use aborted fetal cell line HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney) in their contractual agreement with Senomyx to develop flavor enhancers for their beverages.
Children of God for Life’s Executive Director, Debi Vinnedge, hailed PepsiCo’s decision as a major breakthrough and achievement by thousands of concerned consumers who have been writing and boycotting PepsiCo beverages since last May.
In a letter to Children of God for Life, PepsiCo’s VP of Global Public Policy, Paul Boykas stated that “Senomyx will not use HEK cells or any other tissues or cell lines derived from human embryos or fetuses for research performed on behalf of PepsiCo.”
For full story click here.
CultureWatch had (6 March 2012) written previously about PepsiCo actions.
The NSW Council of Churches has called on the NSW Government to cease further deregulation of retail trading hours in NSW. Council of Churches President, Rev Dr Ross Clifford, said. “We are particularly concerned about proposed amendments to the current Retail Trading Act that widens the number of businesses that can operate on restricted trading days, and also allows for the stocking of shelves on major religious holidays. We are not convinced that leisure and family time for workers, together with their freedom to worship, will not be abused by the proposed changes to the law,” Dr Clifford said.
The WA Govt has deregulated retail trading hours and recently rejected moves by the Labor Party opposition party to exempt Easter Sunday from unregulated trading.
For story from the Australian Prayer Network click here.
The Australian Prayer Network reports that “Telstra has bowed to pressure from anti-pornography campaigners and removed salacious content, previously available to stream and/or download for a fee, from its Big Pond service.” For article click here.
New research from the US-based Gallup group suggests marital status has a strong influence on wellbeing.
The survey of more than 350,000 Americans found that wellbeing scores differed according to whether people were married, single, cohabiting, divorced or separated. Source: April 21, 2012 Christianity Today
The Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations, Sen Jacinta Collins says : ‘A new working group will consider the findings and recommendations of the Gonski Review in relation to capital funding for Australian schools. The Capital Working Group, made up of both government and non-government school representatives, will report to the Council of Australian Governments through the Standing Council on School Education and Early Childhood.’
Meanwhile Christians Schools Australia has developed a model that gives members schools an idea of their future funding should the Gonski’s Panel recommendations be implemented by Government. It calculates the notional disadvantage loadings for each school. CSA is asking Principals or business mangers to send them an email to SPieterse(at)csa.edu.au requesting the information.
For full press release from Sen Collins click here.
For more details from CSA click here.
On April 21, the founder of Prison Fellowship, Chuck Colson, passed away at the age of 80. He became a Christian after reading a copy of Mere Christianity written by C S Lewis. To read more about Colson and his work see: http://www.qideas.org/video/cultural-commission.aspx
For news article from Christianity Today click here.
Click here for info on Prison Fellowship Australia.
Alongside their push for same-sex marriage, radical gay and lesbian organisations have told an Attorney-General’s inquiry that they oppose any exemptions for churches and schools under new anti-discrimination legislation.
For article by Patrick J. Byrne from NewsWeekly click Here.
Panelists and viewers on last weeks Q and A were making a mockery of Christianity following the discussion between atheist Richard Dawkins and the most senior Catholic Church man in Australia, the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell the previous week. Pell made many confusing comments not based on Scripture and denying scripture passages such as the story of Adam and Eve.
To read the transcript or watch the debate click here.
The Mental Health Commission of the WA Govt is seeking State representative son the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum to help with the development of mental health policy and sector development in Australia. Applications close APril 30, 2012. Form more visit www.mentalhealth.wa.gov.au, email contactus@mentalhealth.wa.gov.au or call 6272 1200.
