Faith Facts

• Humanist weddings may now be the third most common type of ceremony in Northern Ireland.
• They accounted for roughly 15 percent of all weddings so far in 2024, surpassing Protestant weddings according to preliminary data.
• Traditional Protestant marriage ceremonies have experienced a decline over recent years.

The latest statistics from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency reveal a noteworthy growth in humanist ceremonies, now possibly outnumbering Protestant weddings. Catholic and civil weddings remain the most frequently chosen, but the heritage of Protestant marriage is facing change.

When humanist weddings gained legal status in 2018, only a handful took place, but their share has increased every year since then. Many people, particularly the younger generation, are distancing themselves from their religious roots, leading to fewer Christian marriages.

Trends similar to those in Northern Ireland are also seen in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. As secular ceremonies rise, fewer young adults are identifying with either Protestant or Catholic faiths, raising questions about the spiritual direction of future generations.

Now, more than ever, Christians are called to uphold the sanctity of marriage as designed by God, affirming biblical values in the face of cultural shifts. Let us continue to uplift marriage in prayer, stand firm on faith, and share Christ-centered hope for families and society.

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Faith Facts

• Christian Climate Action members protested at historic cathedrals over the weekend.
• Banners were displayed at Bath Abbey, Durham Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Winchester Cathedral, and York Minster.
• The protests urged the Church to speak out on stewardship and environmental care from a Biblical perspective.

Christian Climate Action supporters held peaceful demonstrations at several Church of England sites, seeking to awaken the faithful to stewardship responsibilities.

Protesters displayed banners and offered prayers, urging church leaders to prioritize safeguarding God’s creation.

At Bath Abbey, demonstrators climbed the roof and unfurled a banner that read, “DON’T CRUCIFY CREATION,” remaining in place until authorities responded.

Similar scenes unfolded at Westminster Abbey, where four individuals displayed another banner in front of the altar before being escorted out by security.

Authorities allowed a banner display at York Minster during a silent demonstration focused on raising awareness about environmental care.

Other peaceful banners appeared at Durham and Winchester, highlighting a call for responsible dominion over the earth as taught in Scripture.

Advocates also circulated a document to church leaders, encouraging a Biblical response to climate concerns with action and public witness.

A Christian Climate Action spokesperson said:

“We challenge the church (and we include ourselves) to find the courage to speak up for those impacted by climate breakdown, to stand up to the government and the fossil fuel corporations who are hastening climate and ecological collapse and to join and support civil disobedience where necessary. In short, to be as radical as Jesus was when faced with an unjust system.

Of course we must also put our own house in order – installing solar panels, rewilding church land and so on, but that cannot be the beginning and end of our responsibility.

We must speak and act prophetically and unapologetically, refusing to be silenced whatever the consequences, as we bear witness to the truth about the destruction of our God-given and beautiful planet.”

These actions invite believers to reflect on caring for creation as part of honoring the Creator and defending freedom and responsibility within society.

Read the full story at Christian Today

Faith Facts

• New Zealand suspended overseas adoptions after it was revealed that children suffered due to insufficient legal safeguards.
• The government is urgently moving an Adoption Amendment Bill to close loopholes that have allowed abuses, including cases involving convicted sex offenders.
• Christian organizations and child advocates praised the decision, emphasizing the biblical call to defend the vulnerable and pursue meaningful reform.

The New Zealand government responded to troubling revelations by suspending Section 17 of its Adoption Act, seeking to protect children from harm in international adoptions. Lawmakers are working quickly to strengthen laws and guarantee greater safety for children adopted from New Zealand by families overseas.

“The Government is suspending the recognition of unsafe international adoptions under the Adoption Act 1955 to protect children and young people from potential harm,” stated the Ministry of Justice.

The changes will temporarily halt recognition of unsafe overseas adoptions for citizenship and immigration, and grant officials greater discretion in exceptional cases. Some exceptions will remain for adoptions via the Hague Convention process and for families with unique circumstances.

Advocates such as ECPAT NZ highlighted the dangers of outdated legal provisions and called for solutions that both secure children and uphold family values, especially for those needing caring family environments in the Pacific. Christian groups like the Salvation Army and Tearfund New Zealand welcomed these moves, rooted in a commitment to justice and God’s call to protect the innocent.

“Every child deserves a safe, loving home,” declared the Salvation Army, aligning with the biblical call to defend the cause of the fatherless.

Now is a crucial opportunity for Christians and all people of faith to pray for and support policies that truly guard children, honoring God’s heart for justice, family, and compassion.

Read full article at Christian Daily