Lynda tackles Lineker
BBC to be impartial or be defunded
Rev Lynda Rose of Voice For Justice UK (VfJUK) has started a petition to the Culture Secretary, Lucy Frazer, asking her to defund the “hopelessly Biased Broadcasting Corporation”. As well as blasting the BBC’s ‘woke’ bias, VfJUK states that the BBC’s news coverage has consistently “demonstrated a pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel bias”, which “provides fuel for the unprecedented rise in antisemitism now visible on our streets.”
Most recently Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker shared a post on social media calling for Israel to be stopped from participation in all sporting tournaments abroad, “until it ends its grave violations of international law”. After a flurry of complaints the post was deleted, but only after it had apparently been seen by ‘millions’.
The BBC’s silence over the incident means, says Rev Rose, that “Auntie has decided to turn a blind eye to overtly antisemitic prejudice, breaching its own so-called rules of impartiality by unquestioningly supporting the pro-Palestinian narrative of genocide, while ignoring the palpable danger to Israel – which is faced by a foe openly calling for its eradication from the face of the earth.”
The aim is for the petition to reach 5,000. See vfjuk.org.uk/demonetise the BBC.
“We did it!” – victory for parents of disabled children
Parents have persuaded Schools Minister Damian Hinds to adjust free school meals guidance for children with disabilities.
A third of eligible disabled youngsters (160,000 children) were missing free school meals because of issues such as special dietary needs, sensory processing issues, or long term health problems meaning they miss school. Now local authorities and schools will have to offer ‘reasonable adjustments’, such as supermarket vouchers, following parliamentary support by MPs from all parties.
Finnish MP faces ‘hate speech’ charges again
Despite being exonerated by two courts and escaping a potential jail sentence, a Christian MP and a bishop in Finland are now being pursued by the state prosecutor for hefty fines instead.
MP Päivi Räsänen, a former Minister of the Interior, has featured several times in this paper after being charged with ‘hate speech’ for a tweet in 2019 that shared her biblical views on marriage and sexual ethics. Bishop Juhana Pohjola faced similar charges for publishing a pamphlet on Christian values by Räsänen for his congregation in 2004.
They thought the ordeal had ended on 14 November last year, when the Helsinki Court of Appeals dismissed all charges. Now the state prosecutor is insisting on ‘tens of thousands of Euros in fines’, according to ADF International, and Finland’s Supreme Court is deciding whether to hear the case.
Räsänen said: “After my full exoneration in two courts, I’m not afraid of a hearing before the Supreme Court… I am ready to defend freedom of speech and religion as far as the European Court of Human rights, if necessary.”
Simon’s shoebox trek
Shoeboxes filled with useful goodies have become a popular way of bringing Christmas cheer to children in Eastern Europe. But this year an unexpected clampdown saw European vehicles bearing shoeboxes being turned away at the Romanian border.
The news came just hours before Simon Rooksby from Eastbourne was due to drive to Romania, loaded with shoeboxes and medical supplies destined for disabled children in Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine. Simon, the founder of Computers for Charities, had just been able to replace his 20-year-old van with a newer one and decided to press on to Oradea. “There remained only one option: to try”, he said.
Unexpectedly, Romanian customs officials were very supportive and allowed Simon across the border. “It was a moment of holding your breath and remaining positive. It was great that we could help lots of children across Europe”, said Simon.
The 4,000 mile trek across eight countries took three weeks. Now he is starting preparations for 2024.
To offer help, see www.computersforcharities.org or call 01323 848588
Nation unites in prayer against cholera
Hospitals in Zambia are struggling to cope in a cholera outbreak, but Christians are claiming a miracle has happened because the Government and the entire Church in Zambia held a national day of repentance on 19 January.
According to Pastor Jeff Daly of National Day of Repentance, the Zambians sought “God’s solution, 2 Chronicles 7:14, to heal the cholera epidemic.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 is often quoted as the key to a nation’s healing.
For similar updates, email pastorjeff@repentday.com