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JUDGE BLOCKS DISPLAYING TEN COMMANDMENTS IN CLASSROOMS

USA – A federal judge has temporarily blocked a recently passed Louisiana law that would require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in their classrooms. The law was slated to take effect on New Year’s Day. US District Judge John W. deGravelles issued a lengthy ruling and order, stating that the Bill  is not neutral toward religion, and this is evident from the text of the statute…” The judge took issue with the Government’s claim that the Ten Commandments were a historically integral part of public education in United States history. “In sum, the historical evidence showed that the instances of using the Ten Commandments in public schools were too ‘scattered’ to amount to ‘convincing evidence that it was common’ at the time of the Founding or incorporation of the First Amendment to utilize the Decalogue in public-school education,” deGravelles continued.
The American Civil Liberties Union celebrated the ruling. “This ruling should serve as a reality check for Louisiana lawmakers who want to use public schools to convert children to their preferred brand of Christianity,” said a senior staff attorney for the ACLU’s Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief. [Source: From various Media outlets]

SCHOOL OFFICIALS ADVANCE BIBLE-INFUSED ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM
USA – Texas education officials voted narrowly to offer preliminary approval, for a new curriculum that includes Bible lessons for children starting in kindergarten – part of a growing effort in the state and elsewhere to bring Christian principles to public schools. The lesson plan, which is optional for school districts, has drawn criticism that it violates the US Constitution’s prohibition on governmental endorsement of religion, often referred to as the separation of church and state. Proponents, including Governor Greg Abbott, argue the lessons offer important cultural and historical context, rather than religious indoctrination. “This is not about religion or proselytization,” an Education Board Member said at the meeting when the curriculum was approved. “This is about cultural awareness.”
Not surprisingly, the new curriculum has drawn opposition. “It emphasizes Christianity far more than other world religions”, critics say. “I just think if we try to let too much be taken over by any one religion, we risk damaging the experience of children who have differing beliefs, and  isolate students of other faiths, including Jews and Muslims.” another Education Board member said. Opposition has also come from some churches. A religious studies professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas who opposes the curriculum, claims that sections of the Bible are taken “…in a very literalistic fashion that is likely to convince children to accept their claims as literal,” citing as an example a kindergarten unit that includes the story of Genesis. [Source: Prmier Christian News]

JUSTIN WELBY RESIGNS AS ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
Justin Welby has resigned his position as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury after a report into a prolific child abuser led to accusations of a Church of England cover-up. Archbishop Justin said he “must take personal and institutional responsibility” over his inaction related to the abuse by a Church camp leader, who is believed to have subjected more than 100 boys to various types of abuse during the 1970s and 80s, as detailed in a recent review. Archbishop Justin said the report “exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence” around the confirmed abuses.
He went on: “When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow. It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and re-traumatising period between 2013 and 2024. It is my duty to honour my Constitutional and church responsibilities, so exact timings will be decided once a review of necessary obligations has been completed, including those in England and in the Anglican Communion. I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church. As I step down I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse.”
Some high-ranked clerics in the Church of England had called for for Archbishop Justin to step down, and a petition calling for his resignation had also gained strong momentum, with 14,000 people adding their names over the space of two days. [Source: Various media outlets]

A PLEA FOR HELP TO KEEP CHRISTIANS SAFE
Nigerian Christians are pleading for help as Fulani jihadist herdsmen have murdered another 21 Christians in Nigeria’s Benue State. The Christian farmers were murdered by Fulani herdsmen in two attacks in the predominantly Christian villages of Anyiin and Ayilomo, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Paul Adetsav, a community leader in Ayilomo told MSN the Fulani herdsmen attack us almost on a daily basis, killing Christians at will and igniting fire on our houses and places of worship. More than 400,000 members of the Christian community have been displaced due to the incessant Fulani attacks, he says. Mr Adetsav pleads: “Our communities are being systematically decimated. The bloodshed is relentless. Even women, children, and the elderly are slaughtered like animals. Since Islamic terrorism began in 2009, around 60,000 Christians have been murdered, and tens of thousands kidnapped.” [Source: Morning Star News]

THE INTERNET IS UNDERMINING CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP
The internet is undermining Christian discipleship. That’s according to Jerry White President and Chairman Emeritus of the Navigators Discipleship organisation. He believes the availability of smartphones is distracting Christians from spending time to grow Christian disciplines of prayer, worship, fellowship and reading of the Word of God. Although smartphones are new ways of communication, they’ll never replace the Church, he says. They’ll never replace people gathering for face-to-face communication. Dr White told the Christian Daily the replacement of print publications with digital content has done more harm than good. Electronic publishing, he says, has caused an overdependence on internet connected devices which has threatened the book publishing industry. He describes the invasion of digital pornography in the last 20 years as one of the “worst things that has happened in our world”. Before working with the Navigators, Dr White worked at the Control Centre at Cape Canaveral Space Centre. [Source: Christian Daily International]

– compiled by Guido Kettniss