Who suffers because of World Vision's Anti-Gay Marriage Policy?

The Christian Charity,World Vision, has seen a drop to the donor programmes that it runs because of a policy not to hire gay married people. World Vision initially released a statement announcing that it had decided that it would employ gay people who were in same sex marriages but after a two day storm caused by the anti-gay brigade the policy was reversed. As the situation stands World Vision will not be hiring those who are in same sex marriages. This has caused quite an outrage. 

Sponsorship helps children, families, and communities break the cycle of poverty. (World Vision)

The pressure to go back on the original decision came from the Christian right who even threatened to stop their sponsorship to the 'Sponsor a Child' programme which looks after poor children in the world. While the issue of gay marriage becomes yet another religious football that is played out in ever increasing circles by those whose piousness and religious belief only revolves around who is let into the so-called sanctity of marriage let me tell you who the real or potential losers of this game are - the poor children AND the ambassadorship of Christianity.


How dare those Christians who have indulged in threats let the issue of poverty which is central to Christianity became a pawn in their sickening endeavours? Who is World Vision serving here and this raises the question of whether it is operating like a multinational corporation that is beholden to shareholders or the people that it serves? In other words, why didn't World Vision decide on an employment policy to hire the best people for the jobs which is the delivery of poverty alleviation services to children? More importantly, those Christian who have cancelled their sponsorships or are threatening to do so are self-important bigots who have or will inflict suffering on those who do not deserve it. And you call yourself Christians?

The Morality of Dishonesty - a joke

Some robbers entered a bank in a small town.

One of them shouted: "Don't move! The money belongs to the bank. Your lives belong to you." Immediately all the people in the bank lay on the floor quietly and without panic.

This is an example of how to behave professionally, and focus on the goal .

While running from the bank the youngest robber (who had a university degree) said to the oldest robber (who had barely finished elementary school): "Perhaps we should count how much we've stolen." ?
The older man replied: "Don't be stupid. It's a lot of money so let's wait
for the news on TV to find out how much money was taken from the bank."

This is an example of how life experience is more important than a degree .

After the robbery, the manager of the bank said to his accountant:
"Let's call the police and tell them how much has been stolen."
"Wait", said the accountant, "before we do that, let's add the £800,000 we took for ourselves a few months ago and just say that it was stolen as part of today's robbery."

This is an example of taking advantage of an opportunity.

The following day it was reported in the news that the bank was robbed of £3 million. The robbers counted the money, but they found only £1 million so they started to grumble. "We risked our lives for £1 million, while the bank's management stole two million  without blinking? Perhaps its better to learn how to work the system, instead of being a simple robber."

This is an example of how knowledge can be more useful than power.

Moral:  Give a person a gun, and he can rob a bank . Give a person a bank, and he can rob everyone.

Get A Sock Out-It's World Down Syndrome Day

Today is World Down Syndrome Day (21 March 2014) and the Down Syndrome International Association has asked people to wear lots of socks. The point being that displaying unusual apparel will elicit conversation from people along the lines of, "Why are you wearing so many socks?" In reply, one is then given the opportunity to speak about Down Syndrome, thereby raising awareness of it.

I have a niece who has Down Syndrome (DS). She is 12 years old and is a delight. I have no idea what she would have been like if she had not been born with DS but it does not matter one bit because one just accepts people as they are. Disabled people have been given a rough ride recently what with having to bear the brunt of a lot of the austerity cuts and with disability hate crime on the rise so let's say a prayer to make their world a better place.

P/S. Isn't that baby a really cutie?

Who Did Not Win in Today's Budget?

I have quite frequently blogged about the underdogs in our society who are manifest in the low paid work that they do and their reliance, consequently, on welfare benefits to keep them from tipping over. Given the proliferation of foodbanks in this country you would have thought that there would have been something to address the modern day scourge of going hungry in a modern democratic country but, quite predictably, there was not any such measure. However, few who benefit from the budget today will realise that the precarious position of those who languish at the bottom of the 'food chain' can afflict anyone. Given the rate of household debt, the rise in living conditions and the sparse help offered by the state I don't think i am being pessimistic in saying that being broke is a living state that could affect almost everyone (apart from Oligarchs and bankers). 

Picture of the Archbishop of Ukraine Protecting Ukrainians from the Russians

I have never been to Ukraine, I don't know anyone from Ukraine but one only needs empathy when it comes to people power and the fight for human rights and democracy. This picture of the Archbishop of Ukraine taking a strong stand to protect his flock says it all.

PLEASE PRAY FOR UKRAINE