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Lyndon Bowring CHAIRMAN
We’re living in extraordinary times. Although I only recently wrote to you, circumstances necessitate me being in touch again. Who could ever have predicted the way the coronavirus challenge would interrupt our lives in such a dramatic fashion? It’s my personal conviction that God’s immutable, eternal, sovereign decrees will never be changed by anything we do. However, God’s desires, which are beyond counting, are totally different. Fulfilling these day by day is something only human beings created in His image can do. This is why we pray ‘Thy will be done’ – which I believe can only be ‘done’ by us! Many of these desires are unique to us personally so let’s continue to ask Him to reveal what He wants us to do each day. You’ll be encouraged to know that, whilst CARE staff are now safely working remotely from home, CARE’s Westminster, Belfast and Glasgow offices are still operating, even though Parliament is now in recess, Government business will continue. Controversial legislation is in danger of being rushed through with limited scrutiny: the ‘no fault’ divorce Bill; the imposition of new abortion regulations in Northern Ireland; the liberalisation of abortion elsewhere in the UK; and fresh attempts to legalise physician-assisted suicide. CARE worked closely with Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP to require the Government to produce guidance on helping victims of modern slavery by means of an amendment to the emergency Coronavirus Bill and we will continue to keep up the pressure on this. During the debate on this Bill, pro-abortion campaigners tried to persuade the Government to allow home abortions and abortion consultations with just one doctor over Skype. We thank God that they have so far been unsuccessful. Our Public Affairs team will remain vigilant about these matters.