Leo van Doesburg

In spite of pressure, mass demonstrations to preserve marriage are continuing. A new massive demonstration took place on Sunday in Paris, France, against the legislative proposal to legalize marriage and adoption for same-sex couples. While official police statements spoke of an estimated 300,000 protesters, the organizers said that some 1.4 million people took part in the demonstration. Even though the media try to frame the demonstrations in negative ways and the police (under the French Ministry of Internal Affairs) tries to forge the real number of protestors, the French people are determined that the institute of marriage and the children’s rights need to remain protected. (Article by Leo van Doesburg and Jonathan van Tongeren) Please find an analysis about the pressures here :

Today the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) gave its verdict on four vital Christian freedom cases. See more information about the cases in a previous post on my blog here . This Section’s ruling gives a free licence to discriminate Christians at workplace by submitting them to “obsessive political correctness”. Therefore there is a serious concern about the protection of freedom of conscience & religion in the future. Unfortunately this is again an example about the seemingly increasing concern for Religious Freedoms and the growing intolerance against Christians in Europe, which we analyzed here this week.  Please find below an analysis of Grégor Puppinck, PhD, Director of the European Center of Law and Justice about the case and the verdict today

I ncreasing international concern has been voiced throughout the last few years regarding the growing religious discrimination against Christians within EU borders and beyond. ECPM has been closely following the developments in such instances and has actively participated in drawing attention to these issues. A few cases from the UK, however, have become the center of attention as their appeal against the UK government has reached the European Court of Human Rights.    Judgment in the cases of four UK Christians will be handed down at the ECHR in Strasbourg on Tuesday 15th January 2013 at 09:00 UK time (10:00 Central European Time).   Based on Update from the Christian Legal Center

The British Government is threatening to further undermine religious liberty by arguing that Christians do not have a right to wear a cross or crucifix openly at work. According to a March 10th article in the Daily Telegraph , ministers will fight a case at the European Court of Human Rights in which two British women will seek to establish their right to display the cross.  They will argue that "because it is not a "requirement" of the Christian faith, employers can ban the wearing of the cross and sack workers who insist on doing so," the Telegraph reports. (Source: Dignitatis Humanae Institute )

UK Prime Minister Cameron gave an interesting speech during the 400th anniversary of the Kings James translation of the Bible. He described clearly the role and influence the Bible.  He also mentioned amongst others that the UK is a Christian country and should not be afraid to say so. Further he said that the Bible has helped to give Britain a set of values and morals which make Britain what it is today and that these values should be actively be defended. See his speech here .     

Some time ago, I announced this conference about "Beyond individualism: why Civil Society needs Christian Political Engagement" that will take place on Friday 25 & Saturday 26 November in London, United Kingdom. I received good news from the ECPM office. New speakers have been added recently to the packed program. Many speakers from several political organisations and different denominational backgrounds will contribute to the colloquium & conference, making Beyond Individualism the Christian political event of the year in Britain! Also there is a large response! More than 130 attendants already have registered for this conference. So if you want to participate too, please register soon!! Places are becoming scare so we urge you to book as soon as possible on the Beyond Individualism website . I will of course also be there, so maybe see you in London??  More information about the speakers see also below