Child sacrifice in Uganda is on the increase.

This intensely disturbing phenomenon is driven by superstition, exploitation, witchcraft, and extreme poverty. Body parts are cut off and used in ritual ceremonies in the belief that they will be consumed by spirits and provide good health, riches, success or solve other problems. Today, children live in fear of being kidnapped and murdered. Jubilee Campaign and Kyampisi Childcare Ministries have launched an international prayer campaign backed by the Archbishop of Uganda and top Gospel star Wilson Bugeme seeking safety for Uganda’s children.

• Sign our online petition to the President of Uganda.
• Join our online campaign and become a Champion for Justice (sign up to the left of this message).

‘We pray protection for our children, particularly against the vice of child sacrifice. Lord, heal our land, and heal our people.’ The Most Revd Henry Orombi, Archbishop of Uganda

‘Over 900 children feared sacrificed or trafficked.’ May 2010, Weekly Message News, Uganda

In partnership with Kyampisi Childcare Ministries, PO Box 7741, Kampala, Uganda.    www.kyampisi.org

When Sheila O'Hara, that intrepid social investigator continued her journey in the Philippines, with Melinda her friend and interpreter, she went to the cities and towns well known for their sex tourism business to gather data for her theses. They arrived in Angeles City, one hour bus ride north of Manila rented a room off Fields Avenue not far from the notorious glitzy sex bars that saturated the area. It was like a sexual Disneyland.

Not long ago, I was asked to write an article on a Papal apostolic prayer. I used to think of such prayers as long and windy, padded with unpronounceable words and hardly intelligible. This one is different; "That the church may be a 'home' for all people, ready to open it's doors to any who are suffering from racial or religious discrimination, hunger, or wars forcing them to emigrate to other countries".

In a few words, it sums up a vital aspect of the mission of Jesus Christ - that all people, of all races, colour and creeds would live in harmony in one family under God's care and protection as if in a loving home. Its doors were to be open to all who come with good intentions, the sick, the hungry, the refugees, the asylum seekers, those deprived of dignity, the downtrodden wretched of the earth, the abused and victimized of this world. The door is open to them day and night and also for the sinners to repent and to come asking forgiveness and be willing to accept penance.

House of Lords

Wednesday, 2 June 2010

Korean Peninsula: "Cheonan"

3.22pm Question Tabled by Lord Alton of Liverpool

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the situation on the Korean peninsula; and what consideration they have given to placing the sinking of the "Cheonan" before the United Nations Security Council.

Lord Alton of Liverpool: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper and, in so doing, I declare a non-pecuniary interest as chairman of the All-Party Group on North Korea.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): My Lords, we are concerned about the situation on the Korean peninsula following the sinking of the "Cheonan" vessel. The Government are in no doubt that North Korea was responsible for this callous and unacceptable act. The Prime Minister has expressed his sympathy to President Lee for the loss of life. We urge North Korea to acknowledge responsibility and to avoid escalating tensions further. We understand that South Korea will request that the UN Security Council looks at this issue next week and we are working with South Korea and other international partners to ensure the strongest possible response with a UN Security Council consensus.

The landslide victory of the new president-elect Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III was elected on a wave of hope and nostalgia that began with an emotional tsunami during the long 8-hour funeral procession of his mother, Corazon "Cory"  Aquino last August  2009.

She was much loved, not only as the first democratically-elected woman president of the Philippines but in Asia, but also because of her integrity. She is revered and respected by Filipinos because she helped topple the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos and restore democracy in the Philippines. She ignited respect for human rights and non-violence and high hopes for an end to corruption, assassinations and forced disappearances. However, they were not widely realized in her presidency.