The Christian Institute » News

Council prayers: MPs blast ‘preposterous’ ruling

Roger Jordan — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:54:43 +0000

MPs have criticised an “utterly preposterous” High Court ruling that says it is illegal to say prayers as a ‘formal’ part of local council meetings. Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, disputed the basis of the ruling and said that the “right to worship is a fundamental and hard fought British liberty”. Chris Bryant, the Labour [...]

Christians lose appeal in B&B case

Sam Wylie — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:47:00 +0000

The Christian owners of a Cornish B&B today lost their appeal against last year’s ruling that their policy of restricting double rooms to married couples discriminated against a gay couple. But, while upholding that ruling, the Court of Appeal warned that a new intolerance should not take root against Christians because of their beliefs about [...]

Court bans prayers at formal council meetings

Roger Jordan — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:05:19 +0000

The saying of prayers as a ‘formal’ part of local council meetings has been ruled unlawful by the High Court today in an extraordinary judgment. The judge, Mr Justice Ouseley, said there is no law that gives councils the power to do so. But critics hit back, saying the ruling also means a council has [...]

Teen allowed contraception implant without mum knowing

Sam Wylie — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:02:11 +0000

A mum has described as “morally wrong” a scheme which allowed her 13-year-old daughter to be given a contraception implant at school without her knowledge. The unnamed mum said she thinks more parents should be aware that their children could be having the medical procedure. And Norman Wells, Director of the Family Education Trust, criticised [...]

Tony Blair favoured gay MPs, says Ken Livingstone

Roger Jordan — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:01:27 +0000

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair gave preferential treatment to homosexual MPs, the Labour candidate for London mayor has revealed. Ken Livingstone said: “As soon as Blair got in, if you came out as lesbian or gay you immediately got a job. It was wonderful.” Mr Livingstone made the remark during an interview with New Statesman [...]

GMC release guidance on assisted suicide cases

Roger Jordan — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:42 +0000

Assisted suicide “is illegal and doctors should have no part of it”, the leader of the General Medical Council (GMC) has said. Niall Dickson’s comments came as the GMC, the regulatory authority for doctors, launched a consultation on its first ever guidance on assisted suicide. The guidance, which is subject to a three month consultation, [...]

Campaigners: kids should be safeguarded from online porn

Gordon Bell — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:09:36 +0000

Campaigners believe an “opt-in” service for online pornography would help protect children from viewing inappropriate content on the internet. Premier Christian Media Trust and SaferMedia want the Government to change the law so that internet service providers (ISPs) would be forced to introduce safeguards. According to Premier, one in three 10-year-olds has viewed porn online, [...]

US student censored for gay adoption comment piece

Roger Jordan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:01:28 +0000

A 15-year-old pupil who wrote an opinion piece arguing against same-sex adoption was censored, threatened with suspension and called “ignorant” by a senior school official, according to his lawyers. Brandon Wegner, of Wisconsin, wrote the editorial for his student newspaper, The Hawk’s Post, which appeared opposite an opposing article written by another student. Brandon, who [...]

Couple married for 75 years ‘more in love now than ever’

Sam Wylie — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:39:02 +0000

A couple who married in 1936 have spoken of their devotion to each other saying they are “more in love now than ever”. Lionel, 99, and Ellen Buxton, who is 100, met in 1930 while both working in a factory in London. Mrs Buxton told the Sunday Mirror that they “keep each other going” and [...]

Public backs right of parents to smack

Roger Jordan — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:30:25 +0000

The British public overwhelmingly backs calls to scrap curbs on smacking, a new survey has revealed. The law on smacking in England and Wales allows parents to smack their children but legislation in 2004 narrowed the defence of “reasonable chastisement”. Nearly two thirds, 60 per cent, of the public think that the curbs should be [...]

Archbishop warns of ‘disaster’ if assisted suicide is legalised

Sam Wylie — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:15:10 +0000

Weakening the law on assisted suicide would be a “disaster”, Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has cautioned this week. The Archbishop commented: “To say that there are certain conditions in which life is legally declared to be not worth living is a major shift in the moral and spiritual atmosphere in which we [...]

Don’t punish Christians for expressing faith, says bishop

Sam Wylie — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:29:06 +0000

Christians should not be punished for open displays of their faith, a Church of England bishop has said. The Rt Revd Donald Allister, the Bishop of Peterborough, made the comments as he backed a motion supporting the right of Christians to live out their faith publicly. Over 100 members of the Church of England General [...]

Council may bar school kids from lining up by their sex

Roger Jordan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:19:24 +0000

Primary school children could be barred from lining up for class as boys and girls to stop “gender stereotyping”, under controversial plans being considered by a Scottish council. Edinburgh City Council is also considering stopping primary schools from separating boys and girls at school sports days. But Ann Ballinger, general secretary of the Scottish Secondary [...]

Sun editor faces questions over use of Page 3 models

benr — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:00:32 +0000

Sun editor Dominic Mohan is expected to be questioned about the tabloid’s daily use of topless models when he reappears before an inquiry into press standards later this week. The move follows evidence from four women’s groups who argued that papers such as the Sun should ban “sexualised images” which would not be shown on [...]

Archbishop racially abused after supporting traditional marriage

Gordon Bell — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:00:02 +0000

The Archbishop of York received racist and threatening messages just days after he voiced his support for traditional marriage, sparking a police hate crime investigation. Earlier the Archbishop’s office confirmed that North Yorkshire Police had been called in following a number of “abusive and threatening emails of a racist nature”. Last week Dr John Sentamu [...]

Don’t ever legalise euthanasia, says European body

Sam Wylie — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:29:38 +0000

Euthanasia “must always be prohibited” in Europe, the Council of Europe has ruled. The declaration came from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a body which is made up of representatives from 47 countries across the European continent. The resolution said: “Euthanasia, in the sense of the intentional killing by act or omission [...]

US study: divorce never good for children

Gordon Bell — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:00:16 +0000

Children always suffer from divorce, and the idea of a ‘good divorce’ is just wishful thinking, according to new research from the US. An analysis of almost 1,000 families found that children with divorced parents suffer, even if the split was ‘amicable’. Researchers at Pennsylvania State University called on marriage counsellors to do more to [...]

MPs back Sentamu’s warning against redefining marriage

Roger Jordan — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:00:09 +0000

The Archbishop of York’s warning against redefining marriage has received backing from both Labour and Conservative MPs. Labour’s Jim Dobbin warned that David Cameron’s plans to rewrite the definition of marriage could be opposed by more than 100 MPs. He also cautioned that such a move would have ramifications for what is taught in the [...]

NHS funds puberty-delaying drugs for sex-confused kids

Sam Wylie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:05:22 +0000

A group of children who think they were born the wrong sex are to be given drugs by an NHS group to halt the onset of puberty while they decide if they want sex change surgery. The drugs, which will be administered by monthly injections, will give the children a “window” in which to decide [...]

Call for ban on sexualised images in the media

benr — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:00:57 +0000

Newspapers should not be allowed to print pictures of women that would not be shown on pre-watershed television an inquiry into press standards was told. Four groups challenged the objectification of women by the media and called on Lord Justice Leveson to back a ban on sexualised images in newspapers, claiming that such images would [...]

Mum, I love you: Paralysed man’s first words in 19 years

Sam Wylie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:25:37 +0000

A 37-year-old paralysed man has spoken for the first time in nearly 20 years – and told his mum “I love you”. The news comes amidst pressure to change the law so that people in a similar position can have their lives ended by euthanasia. Simon Ellis was told he would never talk again after [...]

Scots Tory leader under fire over gay marriage pledge

Roger Jordan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:30:52 +0000

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson is facing a backlash after she controversially signed a pledge calling for the redefinition of marriage. Earlier this week Miss Davidson joined the leaders of Holyrood’s other opposition parties in signing a pledge saying that they would “campaign to beat the ban on same sex marriage”. The move was criticised [...]

Boris backs parents’ right to smack

Sam Wylie — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:30:11 +0000

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has backed the right of parents to smack their children, bolstering comments last week from a senior Labour MP. Listen to Boris Johnson speak about the issue on BBC Radio 5 Live Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 5 Live that he believed the current law was “confusing” and warned that [...]

Bishop investigated for ‘hate crime’ for upsetting humanist

Roger Jordan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:30:50 +0000

A Roman Catholic Bishop in Ireland is being investigated under ‘hate crime’ laws for delivering a homily that upset a humanist. The Bishop’s unremarkable comments warned of “the arrows of a secular and godless culture” and that only believers “know in general terms that their life will not end in emptiness”. Humanist John Colgan complained [...]

Scots opposition leaders sign pledge to redefine marriage

Roger Jordan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:25:08 +0000

The leaders of Holyrood’s opposition parties have committed themselves to “campaign” for the redefinition of marriage, despite widespread opposition to any change. The leaders of the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green parties signed a pledge calling for the change at an event at Holyrood yesterday. But John Deighan, of the Roman Catholic Church in [...]

Monogamous societies are safer, reveals study

Roger Jordan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:41:10 +0000

Societies where monogamy is the norm are safer than polygamous ones, new research has revealed. Researchers at the University of British Columbia found that polygamous cultures have higher levels of robbery, rape, kidnapping, fraud and murder. Professor Joseph Henrich, one of the report’s authors, warned that the crimes were primarily driven by pools of unmarried [...]

Atheists clash over plans to build ‘temple’ in London

Roger Jordan — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Two of the country’s most prominent atheists have clashed over plans to build a £1 million “temple for atheists” in the City of London. Alain de Botton, a philosopher and writer, wants to build a 46-metre tower to celebrate atheism as a positive force. He says the structure would celebrate “new atheism” and act as [...]

US state could vote again on homosexual marriage

Gordon Bell — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:07:51 +0000

An American state which rejected homosexual marriage in a 2009 public referendum could have another vote on the issue. Last week a coalition of pro-homosexual campaigners in Maine announced they had secured enough signatures on a petition to force a second ballot, which now must be certified. But opponents said a second vote would only [...]

Govt has no right to redefine marriage, warns Sentamu

Sam Wylie — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:55:25 +0000

Marriage must remain a union between one man and one woman, the Archbishop of York has warned. Dr John Sentamu, in an interview with The Daily Telegraph, warned ministers not to ride roughshod over centuries of tradition by changing the definition of marriage. He cautioned that such a move would face fierce opposition from bishops [...]

Palin calls on airline to reverse ‘offensive’ prayer cards decision

Gordon Bell — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:16:25 +0000

Former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has called on an American airline to reverse its decision to remove “offensive” prayer cards from in-flight meals. For 30 years Alaska Airlines has placed a card with a quote from the Psalms on its meal trays. But it has decided to call a halt to the practice following some [...]

People have less integrity and it is harming society

Gordon Bell — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:10:02 +0000

British people have significantly less integrity than ten years ago, and it risks harming civic mindedness, new research claims. Adultery, lying and underage sex have all become more acceptable, according to the findings published by Professor Paul Whiteley. He blames the bad examples set by footballers cheating on their wives, the phone hacking scandal, and [...]

Ministers to bar polygamists from claiming extra benefits

Roger Jordan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:05:03 +0000

The Government is set to stop men who are married to multiple women from claiming extra benefits payments. Last year it emerged that the number of polygamous relationships among British Muslims is increasing. Polygamy is currently illegal in Britain, but there are concerns redefining marriage for homosexuals could could pave the way for polygamy to [...]

Video: Let the people decide on marriage, US Governor says

Sam Wylie — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:05:34 +0000

Marriage is too important to be treated like a political football and any redefinition should be voted on by the people, the Governor of the US state of New Jersey has said. The state is facing pressure to redefine marriage for homosexual couples but Governor Chris Christie has said the issue should be left in [...]

Obama: abortion can help daughters ‘fulfill their dreams’

Gordon Bell — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:06:23 +0000

Abortion helps daughters “fulfill their dreams”, the US President has declared in a statement to mark 39 years since the legalisation of abortions in America. President Barack Obama asserted he was “committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose” an abortion and said the government “should not intrude on private family matters”. The remarks came [...]

Pagan who denies polygamy wins immigration case

Sam Wylie — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:00:46 +0000

A pagan woman who lives with her lover and his wife, but denies it is a polygamous arrangement, has won a ‘right to family life’ immigration case. Emily DiSanto’s legal victory means she can stay in the UK. The Government disagrees with the ruling and has vowed to overhaul the rules on immigration. Miss DiSanto [...]

RC Archbishop takes Govt to task over gay marriage

Roger Jordan — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:36:01 +0000

A senior Roman Catholic has challenged the Home Secretary about the Government’s plans to redefine marriage. Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark noted that civil partnerships already offer same-sex couples virtually all the rights of marriage. He pointed out that when he met with Home Secretary Theresa May earlier this week she seemed unable to say [...]

Labour MP backs right of parents to smack

Sam Wylie — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:57:24 +0000

Parents should not be stigmatised if they choose to smack their children, a Labour MP has said. David Lammy, the MP for Tottenham in London, backed the right of parents to smack their children and criticised those who claim it is abuse, commenting: “There’s a big difference between abuse and parenting.” The law on smacking [...]

MSP in second bid to change the law on assisted suicide

Roger Jordan — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:21:56 +0000

An Independent MSP has launched a second attempt to overturn the law against assisted suicide in Scotland, but critics warn it would set a dangerous precedent. Margo MacDonald’s last attempt to legalise assisted suicide was soundly rejected in 2010 by 85 votes to 16. Now the Lothians MSP has launched a consultation on a proposed [...]

Oxford professor: equality trumping religious freedom

Gordon Bell — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:05:42 +0000

A senior academic from the University of Oxford has said courts in the West are putting equality issues before the right to religious freedom. Professor Roger Trigg, a leading figure in the University’s philosophy and theology faculties, made the claim after studying recent cases in the UK, USA, Canada and mainland Europe. He identified a [...]

Govt opposes paralysed man’s bid for euthanasia

Sam Wylie — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:10:17 +0000

The High Court case of a paralysed man who wants a doctor to be allowed to kill him should be dismissed, the Ministry of Justice has said. The Government says there are “compelling reasons” for the court not to get involved in Tony Nicklinson’s case, saying that only Parliament can make such a decision. A [...]

Private clinics free to advertise abortion services on TV

Gordon Bell — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:46 +0000

Critics have slammed the decision to allow private clinics that carry out abortions for profit to advertise on television and radio. The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) has ruled that organisations that charge for pregnancy services are free to promote their work on broadcast media from 30 April. BCAP believe there is no justification [...]

Church leaders unite against change in organ donation law

Roger Jordan — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:30:30 +0000

Church leaders in Wales have united to criticise “ill-judged” proposals for a system of presumed consent for organ donation. Currently those who wish to donate their organs opt in by signing an organ donor register. But the Welsh Government wants to switch to a system of presumed consent, and it is currently consulting on the [...]

Couple reveal sex of their ‘gender neutral’ child

Roger Jordan — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:07:46 +0000

A couple who have been raising their child as ‘gender neutral’ have revealed that their five-year-old Sasha is a boy. Beck Laxton and Kieran Cooper decided to keep their son’s sex a secret because they feared he would be influenced by gender stereotypes. But critics have argued that a child’s sex is important to the [...]

Charity aims for joint ‘sexting’ prevention pilot with police

Gordon Bell — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:30:03 +0000

A Scottish children’s charity is hoping to establish a joint pilot project with the police to tackle the growing problem of “sexting” in Scotland. “Sexting” – the practice of sending sexually explicit images via text, email and social networking websites – has become an increasing concern amidst other types of sexual exploitation of youngsters on [...]

Sharia is good for women, claims Muslim lawyer

Roger Jordan — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:52:04 +0000

“Sharia law itself is inherently positive towards women”, the head of a law firm’s new Sharia division has claimed. The comment coincides with a Bill before Parliament which seeks to tackle the discrimination suffered by women under Sharia law in England and Wales. The Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill would remove any doubt that [...]

Sir Richard Branson: decriminalise drugs

Gordon Bell — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:34:29 +0000

Sir Richard Branson will call for drug use to be decriminalised as he gives evidence to a Westminster select committee this week. In June a group of celebrities, including Dame Judi Dench, sparked outrage after making a similar plea to Prime Minister David Cameron. Opponents blasted the proposal as clueless, saying the celebs were sending [...]

Biggest marriage increase for a decade

Gordon Bell — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:38:52 +0000

The number of weddings taking place in the Church of England has seen its biggest annual increase for a decade. According to the 2010 statistics released last week, marriages in the Church of England increased by four per cent to 54,700. A Church of England spokesman attributed the growth to “extensive work by the Weddings [...]

Assisted suicide is cheaper than caring, warns doctor

Sam Wylie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:39:15 +0000

An experienced doctor who works with terminal patients has asked whether assisted suicide is just a cost-saving exercise. Dr Elizabeth A Burroughs, in a letter to a national newspaper, said: “Quality palliative care costs money; assisted suicide is a cheaper option. But how long would it be before pressure was being placed on the terminally [...]

Government plans for three-parent babies

Sam Wylie — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:20:46 +0000

Babies with three genetic parents could be born within a few years, as the Government this week announced plans for a consultation on changing embryology rules. The Government says the controversial technique may help avoid certain genetic diseases being passed on from mother to child. But critics say there are serious ethical considerations and the [...]

New levy to tackle late night pubs and clubs

Gordon Bell — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:30:19 +0000

Home Office officials claim one in four pubs and clubs that stay open past midnight will have to cut their opening hours to avoid paying a new “late night” levy. According to the new plans, local authorities will be able to impose the measure – requiring payment of up to £4,440 – on premises that [...]

Video: Focus on care, not assisted suicide, say MPs

Sam Wylie — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:30:24 +0000

“Rather than legislating for an abrupt end to life, we need to find better ways to help care for the dying”, an MP has said as he led a debate on palliative care in Parliament. David Burrowes MP was joined in the Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday by around 20 MPs. Mr Burrowes quoted Dame [...]

Commons watering-hole is ‘virtually a gay bar’, says MP

Roger Jordan — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:35:55 +0000

Parliament’s biggest bar is “virtually a gay bar now”, a homosexual Labour MP has said. Shadow immigration minister Chris Bryant made the bold claim during a debate on Parliamentary Representation last week. He said: “It is significant that we now have more out gay Members of Parliament than ever before. Homosexual “Indeed, sometimes when you [...]

Midwives claim NHS ignored abortion objections

Gordon Bell — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:30:06 +0000

Two Roman Catholic midwives have taken the NHS to court, claiming their conscientious objections to abortions have been ignored. Mary Doogan, 57, and Concepta Wood, 51, who work at Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital, argue that being forced to supervise staff taking part in the procedures violates their human rights. Mrs Wood says the issue has [...]

Labour’s gambling law was wrong, says Party grandee

Sam Wylie — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:30:44 +0000

Labour’s Roy Hattersley has criticised his own party’s ‘shameful’ gambling legislation, introduced when Labour were in Government, as Britain’s biggest casino opens. The new casino is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, in East London. Lord Hattersley criticised the casino for portraying itself as simply another form of family entertainment and he highlighted [...]

Landmark US court ruling for church freedom

Roger Jordan — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:30:40 +0000

In a landmark ruling the US Supreme Court says churches, not the Government, should control the employment of ‘ministers of religion’. The unanimous ruling is a blow to President Obama, whose administration wanted the ruling to go the other way. The case centres around a former teacher at a church school who was dismissed for [...]

GPs to bid for ‘gay-friendly’ plaque in NHS-backed scheme

Sam Wylie — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:30:54 +0000

GP surgeries will be judged on how ‘gay-friendly’ they are to patients in a new scheme backed by the NHS in the North West. But Christians in the medical profession in other parts of the country have faced disciplinary action for mentioning their faith. The new scheme, called “Pride in Practice”, is being run by [...]

Section 5 amendment needed to ‘roll back’ offence culture

Gordon Bell — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:23:29 +0000

The Public Order Act must be reformed because of its “corrosive” effect on free speech, according to a senior figure at a civil liberties organisation. Mike Harris, head of advocacy at Index on Censorship, said it was not the role of police officers or magistrates “to protect citizens from insult”, and called on Government ministers [...]

Punished: Mayor who criticised Halloween

Sam Wylie — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:30:43 +0000

A church-going former mayor in Warwickshire who declined to take part in a Halloween event has been found in breach of equality rules for upsetting pagans. Tom Wilson, who is a member at Manor Court Baptist Church in Nuneaton, said he believed Halloween was a “pagan festival” and that he did not want to be [...]

Use of Sharia ‘courts’ increasing in UK

Gordon Bell — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:06:54 +0000

The use of Sharia ‘courts’ is on the increase in Britain with thousands using Islamic law to settle disputes, according to the BBC. The news comes as a leading barrister claims that Sharia law is compatible with human rights, and beneficial to communities. However, critics say the courts discriminate against women and should not operate [...]

Baby scan parties criticised for encouraging foetus’ rights

Jane Leung — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:13:48 +0000

Britain’s top midwife has criticised mums who celebrate their pregnancy by showing off scanned images of their baby because it might encourage people to consider the rights of unborn children. In a column for the BBC News website Professor Cathy Warwick hit out at the practice of holding baby scan parties – dubbed “foetus parties” [...]

BBC defends pre-watershed nudity on Sherlock Holmes

Roger Jordan — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:51:07 +0000

The BBC has defended its decision to screen footage of a nude woman on its primetime adaption of a Sherlock Holmes mystery. During the show, which aired on New Year’s Day, actress Lara Pulver was shown flirting with the famous detective whilst wearing only diamond earrings, lipstick and high heels. The 31-year-old actress, who played [...]

Muslim campaigner backs Bill tackling Sharia councils

Roger Jordan — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:30:40 +0000

A Muslim campaigner has lent her backing to a “pioneering” Bill which aims to tackle the problems caused by Sharia councils operating in England and Wales. Tehmina Kazi, director of British Muslims for Secular Democracy, is concerned that Muslim women are not aware of alternatives to Sharia law. She is supporting the Arbitration and Mediation [...]

BBC sex ed ‘blue movie’ seen by nine-year-olds

Gordon Bell — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:11:25 +0000

A BBC sex education video branded “like a blue movie” has sparked outrage after it was shown to school children as young as nine. Materials include a graphic sex scene of a computer-generated couple, cartoon characters having sex, and explicit discussion. The Government’s education minister Nick Gibb has now pledged to investigate the matter. Innocence [...]

Bishops slam shops for failing to stock Christian Easter egg

Roger Jordan — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:22:08 +0000

Two Church of England bishops have criticised retailers for failing to support the country’s only Christian Easter egg, despite evidence of widespread demand. The chocolate egg comes in a box which carries an explanation of the resurrection. It is thought that supermarkets may be reluctant to stock it because of its Christian message. Reports indicate [...]

MI5 named a top employer for gays

Sam Wylie — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:30:39 +0000

Britain’s Security Service, MI5, has been included in a lobby group’s top 100 employers for homosexuals for the first time. MI5, which is tasked with protecting the UK against threats to national security, pays for a small number of homosexual employees to attend leadership training with the aim of preparing them to apply for the [...]

Polygamists challenge US state’s law against bigamy

Roger Jordan — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:35:24 +0000

Polygamists in America are continuing their attempt to overturn Utah’s law against bigamy, citing a leading homosexual ruling from the US Supreme Court. Kody Brown and his four ‘wives’ claim that Utah’s bigamy law is unconstitutional because it violates their right to privacy. Their lawyers are using historical Supreme Court rulings, such as a case [...]

Former Scottish Tory leader dismisses same-sex marriage

Gordon Bell — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:00:35 +0000

The former head of the Scottish Conservative Party has told constituents he will not be supporting the redefinition of marriage. Edinburgh MSP David McLetchie argued that homosexual couples already had the same legal rights through civil partnerships and there was no reason for change. Mr McLetchie said: “I welcome the establishment of civil partnerships in [...]

Report: Costs of Equality Act ‘far outweigh’ any benefits

Sam Wylie — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:20:15 +0000

Supposed financial benefits of the Equality Act will be far outweighed by costs, a report published by a think-tank has said. Statistician Nigel Williams asserts that instead of bringing in savings of £65 million a year, the Equality Act will actually cost £10m a year. Mr Williams analysed the previous Government’s impact assessment of the [...]

Study: Sons from traditional families do better at school

Gordon Bell — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:00:16 +0000

Boys with a mother and father behave and perform better in classes than sons with single mothers, according to research. A study published on the USA’s National Bureau of Economic Research records that boys raised outside of a traditional family fare particularly poorly. The report found that “single mothers appear especially distant from their sons” [...]

‘Selective reduction’ abortions on the rise

benr — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:53:18 +0000

An increasing number of women expecting multiple births are aborting one or more of their unborn babies. Government figures show that in 2010 85 women pregnant with two or more babies had a ‘selective reduction’ – which means choosing to end the life of at least one child in the womb. Dr Peter Saunders, CEO [...]

Boots faces criticism over sale of sex toys

Sam Wylie — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:08:57 +0000

Boots the chemist has sparked outrage with its decision to prominently sell sex toys in over 1,000 of its stores – with concerns about children seeing the products. One parent said he thought it was “disgusting”, while a grandmother commented it was “completely inappropriate”. On some displays the sex aids have been removed from their [...]

No safe way to allow assisted suicide, admits Lord Falconer

Roger Jordan — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:17:08 +0000

A contentious plan which would allow terminally ill people to undergo an assisted suicide is not without risk, its own chief architect has admitted. Last week Lord Falconer’s Commission on Assisted Dying released a report saying that adults thought to have less than a year to live should be able to ask doctors for drugs [...]

Gay editor: ‘we will teach your kids the new norms’

Roger Jordan — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:35:56 +0000

Children will be taught to endorse the homosexual agenda despite the beliefs of their parents, the managing editor of a homosexual newspaper in Canada has said. Writing in the online edition of Xtra Vancouver, Robin Perelle blasted parents with traditional beliefs saying “your outdated morals are no longer acceptable, and we will teach your kids [...]

Christian radio station will be allowed to challenge ad ban

Sam Wylie — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:13:31 +0000

A Christian radio station which was banned from airing an advert on Christian marginalisation has been given permission to go to court and challenge the decision. Premier Christian Radio wanted to run an advert on Christians being sidelined in the workplace but it was banned for being “politically motivated”. The group wanted to air the [...]

Britain’s oldest married couple celebrate 75 years

benr — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:26:05 +0000

A Scottish couple celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on New Year’s Day. Robert, 100, and Susan Erskine, 99, celebrated their anniversary surrounded by all three generations of their family. The pair told of their joy at becoming Britain’s oldest married couple. Married Mrs Erskine said: “I love him as much now as I did then [...]

Businesses must act to combat child sexualisation, says Govt

Sam Wylie — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:02:16 +0000

Families must be able to see solid moves forward from businesses on tackling child sexualisation, the Government has warned. Children and Families Minister Sarah Teather has written to business leaders inviting them to meet the Prime Minister and also warned that “concrete progress” must be seen. The letter sets out a list of reforms being [...]

Critics blame tax system for number of single parents

benr — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:47:29 +0000

More British children are being raised by single parents because the tax and benefit system “encourages transient shack-ups”. One in five British children live with a single mother or father. This figure is some 35 per cent higher than in Germany and 50 per cent higher than in France. Researcher and author Patricia Morgan points [...]

Joan Bakewell attacks raunchy routines of today’s pop stars

Roger Jordan — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:24:50 +0000

Dame Joan Bakewell has criticised the ‘over-sexualisation’ of pop stars like Lady Gaga. Commenting on the explosion of raunchy music videos Dame Joan, a veteran broadcaster who fronted a series of shows pushing sexual boundaries, said: “I find it absolutely extraordinary. “I’m not prudish. I mean, the shock of everyone’s bits hanging out isn’t in [...]

Govt consultation on public order law closes next week

Roger Jordan — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:46:46 +0000

Concerned citizens have until next Friday to respond to an official consultation on amending a controversial law which criminalises the use of insulting words. You can respond to the consultation here. Section 5 of the Public Order Act outlaws “insulting” words or behaviour. Many groups believe that it intrudes on free speech and has caused [...]

UK teen abortions are nearly double EU average

Sam Wylie — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:23:18 +0000

Teenage abortions in the UK stand at nearly twice the EU average, according to a sobering newly released report. Figures in the report show 22.1 per cent of all abortions in the UK in 2008 were carried out on under 20-year-olds – nearly twice the EU average of 12.0 per cent. While a co-auther of [...]

‘Religious literacy’ lacking in public life, bishop warns

Jane Leung — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:00:15 +0000

Britain’s Christian heritage is no longer understood in the “corridors of power” the former Bishop of Rochester has said. The Rt Revd Michael Nazir-Ali made the comments as he reflected on the Prime Minister’s recent speech on the place of the Bible and Christianity in national life. While the Bishop welcomed much of what David [...]

‘Biased’ assisted suicide report under fire from critics

Roger Jordan — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:43:17 +0000

Critics have warned that a controversial new report advocating assisted suicide is “seriously flawed”. The report, which was produced by the Commission on Assisted Dying, says that adults who are thought to have less than a year to live should be able to ask doctors for drugs which would end their life. But Dr Peter [...]

US nurses retain right to refuse to assist abortions

Jane Leung — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:54:17 +0000

A group of nurses in America has won a major court battle against the hospital which tried to force them to help with abortions. A policy change in September 2011 at a New Jersey hospital required all nurses to participate in abortions, despite state law saying: “No person shall be required to perform or assist [...]

High Court judge launching pro-marriage foundation

Sam Wylie — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:51:54 +0000

A High Court family judge has spoken out against Britain’s liberal divorce culture, encouraging couples to “mend it – don’t end it”. Sir Paul Coleridge, who said he had seen the fallout from broken relationships in his many years of work in family justice, made the comments as he announced plans for a pro-marriage organisation. [...]

BBC under fire over nude scenes in Sherlock Holmes

Roger Jordan — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:05:49 +0000

The BBC shocked viewers on New Year’s Day by broadcasting a lurid storyline involving a nude woman as part of its primetime adaptation of a Sherlock Holmes mystery. During Sunday’s show actress Lara Pulver was shown flirting with the famous detective whilst wearing only diamond earrings, lipstick and high heels. The scene was broadcast 25 [...]

Christmas message by Revd David Holloway

Roger Jordan — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:30:11 +0000

A Christmas message preached by Revd David Holloway of Jesmond Parish Church, Newcastle upon Tyne, on 11 December 2011. The talk is available to read below or listen to as an MP3. What are you going to learn that is new this Christmas? I’ve already learnt two new things this year. The first is that [...]

Christ: unique and universal

Roger Jordan — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:00:41 +0000

Listen to Bishop Lesslie Newbigin speak on Christ’s uniqueness and Lordship over all. You can listen to the lecture by visiting our audio archive.

Christ: the Great Redeemer

Roger Jordan — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:27:46 +0000

Listen to Revd William Macleod speak about Christ, the Great Redeemer who redeems his people from the moral poverty and slavery of sin. You can listen to the lecture by visiting our audio archive.

Christmas carollers in world record bid

Sam Wylie — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:30:28 +0000

Over 17,000 people simultaneously sang classic carols on Sunday as they attempted to smash the world record for carol singing. Singers in Scotland, Cornwall and Wales joined in with the bid as they sought to beat the record set in 2009 of over 14,000 people. The attempt follows news that over a quarter of parish [...]

Tesco rethinks its sponsorship of London gay pride festival

Roger Jordan — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:36:38 +0000

Tesco is rethinking its decision to support homosexual pride festivals in the future following complaints from customers. Earlier this year Tesco dropped its support for Cancer Research’s ‘Race for Life’ and announced shortly after that it would become a headline sponsor of Britain’s largest homosexual festival, Pride London. The move prompted a storm of controversy [...]

Clampdown on offensive language on the radio

Roger Jordan — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:30:38 +0000

Media regulator Ofcom has moved to clampdown on offensive language on the radio amid concerns that children are being exposed to inappropriate material. It says that broadcasting offensive language when children are likely to be listening has “frequently been the focus of complaints”. In October the watchdog censured one radio station for playing a track [...]

NI homosexual adoption case put on hold until New Year

Sam Wylie — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:19:40 +0000

A controversial attempt to allow homosexual couples in Northern Ireland to adopt children has been adjourned by the High Court until March. The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission argues the current law, which only permits married couples to jointly adopt children, is discriminatory and contrary to human rights. But when legalising homosexual adoption in the [...]

Tesco distances itself from exec’s ‘evil Christians’ barb

Roger Jordan — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:30:55 +0000

Tesco has moved to distance itself from comments made by one of its executives after he branded Christians who oppose the redefinition of marriage as “evil”. Last week The Christian Institute revealed that Nick Lansley, Head of Research and Development at Tesco.com, had said that Christians are “evil” if they seek to protect traditional marriage. [...]

RC commentator warns over monarchy changes

Sam Wylie — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:28:03 +0000

A Roman Catholic commentator has said David Cameron should “tread carefully” with controversial proposals affecting the monarchy. Charles Moore, a former editor of The Daily Telegraph, gave a warning about the plans – which include allowing future heirs to the throne to marry Roman Catholics. Mr Moore implied that the changes could pose a threat [...]

Deputy PM: I don’t support the marriage tax break plan

Sam Wylie — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:43:43 +0000

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has reiterated his opposition to David Cameron’s proposed tax breaks for married couples. But he has faced strong opposition to the remarks from commentators in the media, with one saying Mr Clegg was “wilfully missing the point”. Family In his speech to the think-tank Demos on Monday Mr Clegg said: [...]

SNP considers plan to buy off concerns over gay marriage

Roger Jordan — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:30:25 +0000

The Scottish Government is considering redefining marriage but barring same-sex ceremonies from religious settings, media reports have suggested. Earlier this month the SNP Government closed its consultation on its plan to rewrite the definition of marriage. It received tens of thousands of responses. But at the weekend allegations emerged that the SNP is exploring how [...]

One in four young women admit they had underage sex

benr — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:33:17 +0000

More than a quarter of young women today lost their virginity when they were below the legal age of consent, an NHS survey has revealed. According to the study 27 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds had underage sex. By comparison, just four per cent of women now aged 55 to 69 first had sex [...]

PM: Bible gives us values and morality worth standing up for

Sam Wylie — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:48:19 +0000

David Cameron has said Britain is a “Christian country” and “we should not be afraid to say so”, as he marked 400 years of the King James Bible. The Prime Minister said the Bible has helped to give Britain values and morals which “we should actively stand up and defend”. And he also criticised the [...]

Peter Tatchell offers to testify on behalf of demoted Christian

Roger Jordan — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:05:21 +0000

Homosexual activist Peter Tatchell has offered to testify in defence of a Christian employee who was disciplined because of comments he made online about civil partnerships. Adrian Smith, a housing manager with Trafford Housing Trust, was demoted and had his salary slashed by 40 per cent after he commented on Facebook that registering civil partnerships [...]

Jennifer Saunders criticises sexualisation of pop music

Sam Wylie — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:04:07 +0000

Comedienne Jennifer Saunders says she does not like the sexualisation of pop music and is concerned about the effect of online pornography on boys. The actress, who is married with grown up daughters, criticised the sexual content of music videos, saying: “I don’t think it helps society”. Miss Saunders also commented that the proliferation of [...]