Search results for David Smyth
Ashers Bakery – when the icing sugar has settled
On Wednesday, 10 October the Supreme Court in London delivered judgment in the now famous Ashers bakery case. It is the latest and perhaps final twist in the case, which began four-and-a-half years ago when a man walked into Daniel and Amy McArthur’s bakery and asked for a cake with the message…
David Smyth
Christmas: Presence, power, purpose and public policy
As public policy officer at the Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland, I represent the views of many Christians generally and our members more specifically to government and the media. The everyday currency in public affairs and ‘lobbying’ is influence, power and spin. I’ve observed that it’s all…
David Smyth
Fyre Festival: The boundaries of the impossible
The phrase ‘the boundaries of the impossible’ was part of the PR campaign for what has been dubbed the “the greatest party that never happened”. The Fyre Festival happened, or didn’t, back in April 2017 and is back in the news again this week, following the release of a new documentary on…
David Smyth
A diplomatic incident
US President Donald Trump called the British ambassador to the US, Sir Kim Darroch, a “pompous fool” and “a very stupid guy” on Twitter. This followed the leaked publication of sensitive emails which Sir Darroch had sent back to the British government in which he called President Trump “insecure”…
David Smyth
Ashers bakery case is going to European Court of Human Rights
Mr Lee ordered a cake with the slogan ‘support gay marriage’ from a bakery owned by a Christian family in 2014. The bakery initially accepted and then declined the order to make the cake. Mr Lee, backed by the Equality Commission in Northern Ireland, sued the bakery for damages for alleged…
David Smyth
Bridging the gap
Many times, though, we fail to see any common ground between ourselves and our neighbours, let alone our enemies. When we do, we’re conditioned to believe it can only be entered by way of compromise. So, the idea of hosting on a shared space, or even setting foot there, requires the willingness to…
David Smyth
Removal of abortion law has led to over 650 abortions in the past six months
Today, 22 October 2020, marks one year since the law on abortion in Northern Ireland was radically changed by the Westminster Government. Regulations came into effect on 31 March, and since then more than 650 abortions have been carried out in the first six months up to the beginning of…
David Smyth
Northern Ireland: Abortion amendment bill passes second stage
In Northern Ireland abortion is permitted up to 12 weeks for any or no stated reason, up to 24 weeks for a threat to the mental health of the woman, and up to birth for ‘severe fetal impairment’. This bill seeks to repeal the part of the law which currently allows for abortion on the ground of…
David Smyth
Government’s plans for Troubles prosecutions deeply concerning
The five political parties which make up the Northern Ireland Executive, as well as many victims and survivors of The Troubles, have condemned this approach, which would also end current and future civil cases and inquests. Opposition comes from right across the political spectrum and from groups…
David Smyth
The Evangelical Alliance then, now… and tomorrow
I’m the kind of person who likes to understand the big picture. I need to know where I’m coming from in order to plot where I’m going. So just a few weeks into my new job, still learning names and faces, I picked up a dusty copy of One Body in Christ: The History and Significance of the Evangelical…
David Smyth
Prayer for the Middle East one year on
One year on from the Hamas-led attacks on Israel and the resulting crisis in the Middle East, join us in lament and intercession to the Prince of Peace
David Smyth
Religious education in Northern Ireland after the Supreme Court decision: Change, not crisis
The judgment has prompted concern and questions among many Christians. Yet this moment, while undeniably challenging, is also an important opportunity. The Evangelical Alliance is encouraging Christians not to panic, but to engage with confidence, clarity and grace.
Peter Lynas
Statement in response to abortion referendum in Ireland
David Smyth, public policy officer at the Evangelical Alliance in Northern Ireland said: "Today many will mourn the loss of a vital protection for women and their unborn children from the Irish constitution."There are very strong feelings on all sides and we want to commend all those who advocated…
Making ethical decisions that value human life webinar
Lives and livelihoods are at urgent risk and a vaccine protecting us from COVID-19 appears to offer hope of recovery for both. So the imminent mass-roll out of a vaccine looks like good and welcome news! Yes? Hopefully so, but many people continue to ask questions and raise concerns about the…
Secular Blasphemy
Ireland voted on Friday in a constitutional referendum to remove blasphemy laws from the constitution by almost 65% to 35%. Being criminalised for transgressing a fairy-tale doctrine that you don’t believe in…of course that should never happen in modern and progressive 2018, should it? The…
