The Christian Institute » News

Columnist: Smoking cannabis danger to mental health

Victoria Hawkins — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:14:46 +0000

Young cannabis users are playing “Russian roulette” with their mental health, according to a columnist for The Times newspaper. Libby Purves, who is also a Radio 4 presenter, called for a “culture of healthy social contempt” for the drug, particularly as her son committed suicide after suffering from a mental illness. She referred in her [...]

News media is biased for gay marriage, says US study

Mike Judge — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:00:30 +0000

New research from America suggests news coverage is heavily biased in favour of same-sex marriage. The study, conducted by the Pew Research Center, found there were five times as many stories favouring gay marriage as against it. Researchers examined nearly 500 news reports from the mainstream media during a period when the US Supreme Court [...]

Only 5% of women regret being denied an abortion

Victoria Hawkins — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:00:45 +0000

Only five per cent of women are unhappy that they were turned away from an abortion clinic, according to a “pro-abortion” investigation in America. The rest adjust to having a baby, says the academic who is heading up the research into ‘turnaways’. The most common reason for a clinic to deny a woman an abortion [...]

MSP attacked for backing traditional marriage

Victoria Hawkins — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:59:27 +0000

A senior MSP has been targeted in a “depressingly” predictable attack just because she supports traditional marriage. Elaine Smith, a deputy presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, recently predicted she would be verbally attacked for disagreeing with same-sex marriage. Now she has become a target for abuse online, particularly on social networking site Twitter. Depressing [...]

Gay marriage could lead to Church in Wales breakaway

Sam Wylie — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:00:48 +0000

The Westminster Government’s same-sex marriage Bill could lead to the Church in Wales being completely disestablished. The proposal was raised by a Welsh Assembly Committee, but the Church responded cautiously to the idea. Such a move would be warmly welcomed by secularists but it would further marginalise Christians. Permanent David Melding, the Welsh Assembly’s Constitutional [...]

Former Speaker queries gay weddings in Commons chapel

Sam Wylie — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:10:55 +0000

The former Commons Speaker Michael Martin has raised concerns about plans to make the Commons chapel a multi-denominational venue for gay weddings. Lord Martin, who now sits in the House of Lords, spoke about the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in last night’s Committee Stage debate on the Government’s same-sex marriage Bill. He said he [...]

Addictive betting machine sparks crazed attack

Sam Wylie — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:02:32 +0000

A man, whose crazed attack in a betting shop was sparked by an addictive gambling machine, has been given a lifetime restriction order. Now an MP has said that the spread of ‘fixed odds betting terminals’ in betting shops is “destroying people’s lives”. Meanwhile, a local council has challenged the law in court, claiming that [...]

RC midwives to face abortion objection ruling challenge

Victoria Hawkins — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:32:52 +0000

Two Roman Catholic midwives with conscientious objections to abortion who won their case against the NHS may now face a further legal challenge. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has announced it will appeal Scotland’s supreme civil court ruling that Mary Doogan and Connie Wood would not have to delegate, supervise or support staff involved in [...]

Columnist: Religious beliefs ‘bottom of the pile’ in Scotland

Victoria Hawkins — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:43:27 +0000

Scotland is heading towards “more equality, less diversity and no justice” in the wake of the ruling against a Roman Catholic adoption agency, a columnist has warned. Michael Kelly said in The Scotsman newspaper that “no other conclusion can be drawn” after the charity regulator ruled that St Margaret’s Children and Family Care Society failed [...]

Mother jailed for full-term abortion gets sentence cut

Jane Leung — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:07:01 +0000

A mother who was jailed after aborting her unborn baby just two days before her due date has had her jail sentence dramatically reduced. Sarah Catt, 36, who took drugs bought from the internet to end her pregnancy, was originally jailed for eight years. The judge at the time, Mr Justice Cooke, said Mrs Catt [...]

Video: Gospel proclaimed in the Scottish Parliament

Mike Judge — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:18:27 +0000

The head of an “unashamedly Christian” charity has delivered a powerful gospel message at the opening of this week’s business in the Scottish Parliament. Chamber Business usually begins each week with ‘Time for Reflection’. Speakers include representatives of Scotland’s different faiths, as well as those of no religious affiliation. This week’s Time for Reflection was [...]

France: Mayor faces jail for gay wedding refusal

Sam Wylie — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:31:38 +0000

A French mayor is facing up to five years in prison and fine of up to £63,000 for declining to carry out a same-sex marriage. Jean-Michel Colo, a mayor in South West France, rejected a wedding application from two men and says he stands by his decision. But under French law, discrimination on the grounds [...]

Compulsory sex education amendment defeated by MPs

Victoria Hawkins — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:54:13 +0000

Proposals to make sex and relationships education compulsory in schools were defeated in the House of Commons on Tuesday. An amendment to the Children and Families Bill was tabled by Labour and could have resulted in compulsory gay marriage lessons in schools. It also would have scrapped the right of parents to remove their children [...]

TV’s ‘dimwit dads’ cliché gives fathers a bad name

Sam Wylie — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:49:21 +0000

The repeated stereotyping of dads as “lazy or stupid” on TV shows, adverts and in books has been criticised by a new survey. Online parents group, Netmums, quizzed 2,000 people and nine out of ten said the portrayal of dads was flawed. Almost half of parents polled slammed books, adverts and children’s TV shows like [...]

Cannabis vending machines ‘seen in UK’ if drug legalised

Victoria Hawkins — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:45:31 +0000

Cannabis vending machines are being developed in US states where the drug has been legalised, while Sir Richard Branson has faced criticism after calling for decriminalisation here in the UK. Virgin boss Sir Richard co-signed a letter with Caroline Lucas MP and others to The Times, calling for an “alternative drug strategy” and saying the [...]

Warning as 1 million kids grow up without a father

Sam Wylie — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:10:34 +0000

At least one million children are growing up without a father, according to a think tank which describes the problem as “an ignored form of deprivation”. The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) says parts of the country are “men deserts” because, as well as a lack of fathers, there are so few male primary school [...]

MP blasts Bishop’s apartheid dig at gay marriage opponents

Victoria Hawkins — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 07:22:32 +0000

The MP for Salisbury has criticised the city’s bishop for his ‘apartheid dig’ at gay marriage opponents. John Glen MP has written to The Daily Telegraph saying he was “deeply saddened” to learn that The Right Reverend Nicholas Holtam had likened traditional marriage supporters to those who defended Apartheid and slavery. Mr Glen said Bishop [...]

MPs: local councils are too ‘suspicious’ of faith groups

Victoria Hawkins — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:50:46 +0000

Local authorities are overly “suspicious” about faith groups, creating barriers to working with them on social projects, a report by MPs says. Gary Streeter MP, chair of Christians in Parliament, said: “there is an obsession about equality and political correctness that can hamper those doing the most to tackle inequality.” He blamed a failure of [...]

Our beliefs risk being made ‘illegal’, says adoption agency

Sam Wylie — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:48:43 +0000

Scotland is “on the brink of declaring illegal the belief that every child where possible deserves a mother and father”, the chairman of a threatened Roman Catholic adoption agency has said. It follows the agency being told to end its pro-marriage policy by officials who say it discriminates against gay couples. But one board member [...]

Boy, 3, taught about gay marriage in nursery

Mike Judge — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 08:38:52 +0000

A three-year-old boy has been taught by his nursery carer that when he grows up he will be able to marry a boy or a girl. The boy’s identity is being protected, but his parent wrote a letter to a local newspaper about the incident. The letter said: “Many of your commentators have speculated as [...]

PM ‘marched us on to the guns’ over gay marriage

Sam Wylie — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 07:23:21 +0000

A Tory MP wants David Cameron ousted as party leader because he “marched us on to the guns” over gay marriage. Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, says the issue has driven voters into the arms of UKIP. He said: “I believe the Prime Minister has blundered by forcing through the gay marriage vote. [...]

Queen pulled into gay marriage debate

Mike Judge — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:30:34 +0000

The Queen has been dragged into the debate over gay marriage because some MPs are demanding Parliament’s Anglican chapel be used for gay weddings. St Mary Undercroft is a Church of England chapel, meaning it is legally exempt from hosting same-sex ceremonies. To host gay weddings it would have to break off from the Anglican [...]

MPs chide charity regulator for ‘public benefit’ policy

Mike Judge — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:43:32 +0000

A committee of MPs says it is “far from happy” with the Charity Commission’s attitude to public benefit. Some Christian groups have suffered because the Commission has developed its own definition of public benefit. Last week, an editorial in The Telegraph said the Charities Act 2006 “has helped to contribute to the worrying politicisation of [...]

More poll woe for PM over gay marriage

Sam Wylie — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:52:37 +0000

David Cameron is losing the support of voters and grassroots members over controversial issues like same-sex marriage, according to new research. One poll, from Tory Peer Lord Ashcroft, showed only 29 per cent of voters believe the Conservatives will win the next election, compared with 32 per cent in January. He said the poll showed [...]

PM loses another councillor over same-sex marriage

Sam Wylie — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:40:03 +0000

A “pro-gay” local councillor has quit the Conservatives because she believes marriage is between a man and a woman. Holly Holman resigned her Tory party membership and stepped down from the Vale of White Horse District Council in Oxfordshire. She said the Prime Minister’s argument for redefining marriage is flawed. ‘Disadvantage’ In a letter to [...]

‘Sexless’ activist wins right to be recognised as a ‘non-sex’

Jane Leung — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:16:30 +0000

A man in Australia who claims to be neither a man nor a woman has been officially recognised by Australian authorities as ‘sexless’ on his birth certificate. Norrie May-Welby, a British expat, was born a man but had a sex change operation in 1990 when he was 28. However, after becoming unhappy as a woman [...]

Compulsory gay marriage lessons in schools

Victoria Hawkins — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:26:43 +0000

Lessons on gay marriage and other same-sex relationships should be compulsory in schools, according to an amendment tabled by Labour. The party is demanding changes to the Children and Families Bill, which would make lessons on same-sex relationships mandatory. The amendment, due to be voted on next Tuesday, would also make issues such as consent, [...]

Mums glad they didn’t abort despite doctors’ pressure

Jane Leung — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:49:39 +0000

Three mothers have expressed their gladness that they followed their hearts to keep their babies, despite pressure to abort from doctors. Kirsty, 37, a mother carrying triplets was shocked when doctors advised her to abort two of her babies to get the best chance of having one healthy baby. Anne Marie, 32, who was told [...]

Secularists to sue council over free parking for churchgoers

Victoria Hawkins — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:49:20 +0000

A local council is being sued by a secularist pressure group for allowing churchgoers to park free of charge in the town centre on Sundays. The National Secular Society (NSS) is taking Woking Borough Council to court, claiming the scheme for three churches in the town is direct discrimination. Attendees of Coign Church, Christ Church [...]

Stats: Nearly half a million sexual infections in 2012

Sam Wylie — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:49:53 +0000

Diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections rose 5 per cent in England last year – leading to a warning that people are continuing to engage in risky sexual behaviour. Public Health England – which released the figures – particularly highlighted “young adults and men who have sex with men (MSM)”. In its report, the group noted: [...]

NI to consult on ‘presumed consent’ for organ donation

Victoria Hawkins — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 11:16:11 +0000

People in Northern Ireland are to be asked their views on “presumed consent” for organ donation in the province. Currently people choose to donate organs after they die, but a change in the law would bring in a controversial “opt out” system where patients are presumed to have given their consent. It comes as calls [...]

Gay marriage Bill wins first vote in the Lords

Victoria Hawkins — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:14:25 +0000

The same-sex marriage Bill passed its first hurdle in the Lords last night by 390 votes to 148, but opponents have vowed “it’s not over yet”. There will be other votes in the Lords in coming weeks where Peers have the opportunity to pass key amendments, or vote against the whole Bill. Colin Hart, campaign [...]

Welby: Marriage would be ‘abolished’ under Govt plans

Sam Wylie — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 10:21:43 +0000

Marriage would be “abolished, redefined and recreated” under the Government’s same-sex marriage plans, the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned. Justin Welby, speaking in the House of Lords yesterday, warned that “confusion” was being created by the Bill, with fundamental aspects of marriage being “lost”, “diminished” or “weakened”. He concluded: “Therefore, with much regret—but entire conviction—I [...]

Lords urged to keep marriage as it is

Sam Wylie — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 17:19:44 +0000

Members of the House of Lords have been implored to “defend our freedoms” and “transcend party politics” by rejecting David Cameron’s same-sex marriage Bill. It comes as over 50 religious leaders, including representatives from the Christian, Muslim and Sikh communities, called on the Government to “pause” its push to redefine marriage. The House of Lords [...]

Peers told MP’s career threatened over marriage vote

Victoria Hawkins — Fri, 31 May 2013 15:17:16 +0000

MPs are urging Peers to oppose gay marriage, saying threats were made to force MPs to vote in favour of the proposals in the House of Commons. In a letter signed by 15 MPs, including former children’s minister Tim Loughton and former defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth, Peers were told of the “varying degrees of [...]

Alarm as man with dementia commits suicide at Dignitas

Sam Wylie — Fri, 31 May 2013 14:50:02 +0000

A British man suffering from dementia has committed suicide at a Dignitas clinic in Switzerland – in a case believed to be the first of its kind. Dementia is a neurodegenerative disease but is not a terminal illness. Pro-life group Care Not Killing (CNK) warned the case was “hugely alarming and shows the real agenda [...]

Shops selling ‘lads’ mags’ face legal challenge, warn lawyers

Jane Leung — Fri, 31 May 2013 13:42:26 +0000

Shops could be sued by employees or customers if they continue to sell magazines showing images of naked women, a group of lawyers has warned. Displaying ‘lads’ mags’ or asking employees to handle them could amount to sexual harassment under the Equality Act 2010, according to a legal opinion obtained by the lawyers. In a [...]

Lords’ same-sex marriage vote shifts to Tues 4 June

Sam Wylie — Fri, 31 May 2013 12:42:38 +0000

The Lords’ vote on the same-sex marriage Bill has been moved by the Government from Monday 3 June to Tuesday 4 June. The timing has been changed because the Government feared it could lose a vote on the first day back after recess. The debate will still start on Monday, and continue into Tuesday with [...]

Gay marriage was ‘biggest issue’ at local election

Sam Wylie — Fri, 31 May 2013 08:15:16 +0000

Same-sex marriage was “the biggest issue” for voters at the local elections, according to a county councillor in Devon who said he won votes by opposing it. Stuart Hughes, a Conservative councillor for Sidmouth, said: “A lot of people raised the subject matter with me. “As soon as I said I was not in favour [...]

Expert warns Govt not to decriminalise drugs

Victoria Hawkins — Thu, 30 May 2013 16:10:39 +0000

The Government has been warned not to follow Portugal in liberalising drugs laws because it has caused an increase in their use in the country. It comes after the Home Office minister Jeremy Browne visited Portugal last week on a “fact-finding” mission to investigate drugs legislation in other countries. In a separate development, a new [...]

Bishop’s apartheid dig at gay marriage opponents

Jane Leung — Thu, 30 May 2013 14:22:53 +0000

People who believe in traditional marriage are equivalent to supporters of apartheid, according to a senior Anglican Bishop. The Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, has suggested Christians need to “rethink” the Bible in light of a shift in social attitudes to homosexuality. He accused supporters of traditional marriage of being like Christians [...]

Opposition grows as Scots gay marriage Bill looms

Sam Wylie — Thu, 30 May 2013 08:00:46 +0000

Opponents of the Scottish Government’s plans to redefine marriage are stepping up pressure as a Bill is expected in Holyrood before July. Scotland for Marriage, which has almost 50,000 supporters, has vowed to intensify its campaign in the coming months. The group, which wants to keep marriage as it is, said: “People who think the [...]

US: Primary school kids told to cross-dress for a day

Victoria Hawkins — Wed, 29 May 2013 16:13:13 +0000

A primary school in America has come under fire for encouraging children as young as five to dress as the opposite sex for the day, during a week of special events. Parents have criticised the elementary school in Wisconsin, and some kept their children at home for the day. One mother described the event as [...]

Research shows ‘married families more stable’

Victoria Hawkins — Wed, 29 May 2013 13:31:34 +0000

Only one in eight children born today to cohabiting couples will reach the age of 16 with their parents still together and unmarried, new research shows. The report by the Marriage Foundation also showed that 45 per cent of teenagers aged 13-15 are no longer living with both parents, and 93 per cent of those [...]

Gay marriage vote in Lords ‘too close to call’

Victoria Hawkins — Wed, 29 May 2013 10:30:19 +0000

The House of Lords will vote on the Government’s controversial same-sex marriage Bill on Tuesday, with a result described as “too close to call”. Crossbench Peer Lord Dear, a former HM Inspector of Constabulary, is leading the opposition to the Bill and said about half of Peers who are speaking during the second reading debate [...]

Christian registrar denied European Court appeal

Sam Wylie — Tue, 28 May 2013 17:11:33 +0000

A Christian registrar who claimed religious discrimination has today been denied an appeal by the European Court of Human Rights, in a move described as a “sad day for liberty of conscience”. Lillian Ladele was claiming religious discrimination after being forced out of her Islington Council job over her conscientious objection to same-sex civil partnerships. [...]

TV shows are sexualising children warns head teacher

Jane Leung — Mon, 27 May 2013 08:00:14 +0000

Pre-watershed television shows such as X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) are causing children to lose their innocence, a head teacher has warned. In a speech to the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) annual conference, Amanda Hulme, criticised Britain’s Got Talent for airing a performance of a song featuring explicit lyrics before the [...]

David Cameron admits gay marriage ‘divides’ the country

Victoria Hawkins — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:15:34 +0000

The Prime Minister has admitted that the country is divided on gay marriage, and has also faced a rebellion in his own party over the controversial plans. David Cameron said in an interview for BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he will stop focussing on policies such as same-sex marriage and concentrate on “big picture” [...]

Next coronation to involve other faiths, say CoE leaders

Jane Leung — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:36:05 +0000

The coronation of the next monarch will include other faiths besides Christianity for the first time in a thousand years of history, the Sunday Telegraph has reported. Church of England leaders have let slip to the Sunday Telegraph that other faiths may be included to reflect the spiritual diversity of the nation. However, the church [...]

Deaths linked to ‘legal highs’ quadruple

Victoria Hawkins — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:08:07 +0000

The number of deaths linked to recently-banned ‘legal highs’ has more than quadrupled in five years, according to statistics. Deaths caused by four drugs which were previously sold openly on the streets have risen from nine in 2007 to 41 in 2011. The drugs include one known as a “date-rape” drug (GHB). Death Another drug [...]

Peer speaks out against latest bid to legalise assisted suicide

Victoria Hawkins — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:34:12 +0000

A Peer has criticised the latest push to legalise assisted suicide, saying there is no evidence for a change in the law. Lord Falconer of Thoroton tabled his “Assisted Dying Bill” in the House of Lords last week, which would allow a doctor to help the suicide of a terminally ill patient who had six [...]

Kirk General Assembly votes to allow openly gay clergy

Victoria Hawkins — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:33:49 +0000

The Church of Scotland has voted to allow practising homosexual men and women to become ministers. The Kirk’s ruling assembly voted on Monday in favour of a proposal to allow liberal congregations to opt out of the church’s traditionalist stance on homosexuality. It followed a report by the church’s theological commission which set out traditional [...]

Press slams PM’s ‘crazy’ gay marriage obsession

Sam Wylie — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:41:05 +0000

The push to redefine marriage has been branded a ‘crazy, vote-losing obsession’, an “embarrassment”, and “bad politics”, by three national newspapers. The Sun said the Conservatives were in “a wilderness of dismal poll ratings and vicious Tory civil war”, triggered by David Cameron’s “own lily-livered leadership, casual arrogance and suicidal political instincts”. The Daily Telegraph [...]

Redefining marriage ‘is not conservative’ says Tory Cllr

Victoria Hawkins — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:00:14 +0000

A Tory Councillor says redefining marriage is not conservative and not in step with the Party’s core values. Cllr Mary Douglas told BBC Breakfast: “The majority of Tory MPs are against this and that is where the Conservative grassroots is coming from, actually David Cameron is out of step with his own Party.” She added, [...]

PM ally calls grassroots Tories ‘swivel-eyed loons’

Victoria Hawkins — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:19:39 +0000

Grassroots Tories are “mad, swivel-eyed loons”, according to one of the Prime Minister’s closest allies. The comment emerged as the Conservative Party faces uproar over its plans to redefine marriage – with many local activists leaving over the issue. Lord Feldman strongly denied making the comments after internet rumours linked them to him. Representative But [...]

Labour’s £4bn lifeline for Cameron’s gay marriage Bill

Victoria Hawkins — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:35:59 +0000

David Cameron grabbed Labour’s £4bn lifeline to save his redefinition of marriage Bill in the House of Commons last night. The deal to stave off a rebellion means the Prime Minister had to cave in to Labour’s demands for an immediate review of civil partnerships. That review will include the possibility of opening civil partnerships [...]

Young Christians fear for jobs over gay marriage

Victoria Hawkins — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:55:08 +0000

Thousands of young Christians who believe in traditional marriage will think twice before taking public sector jobs, a group of church leaders has warned. In a letter to The Daily Telegraph, 17 ministers and one archbishop expressed their concern about the consequences if the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill is passed in its current state. [...]

Govt ponders £4bn civil unions for unwed couples

Sam Wylie — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:25:37 +0000

The Government has said it will consider whether to allow heterosexual couples to have a civil partnership rather than a marriage, at a cost of up to £4bn. Equalities Minister Maria Miller hopes the promise of a review will buy off votes and give a smoother ride for the same-sex marriage Bill. Allowing heterosexuals to [...]

US: Tax service targets pro-traditional marriage group

Victoria Hawkins — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:12:18 +0000

An American group working to protect traditional marriage has been targeted by the country’s tax service – in a set of circumstances described as “chilling”. The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) is planning to sue the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) after it leaked their tax return to its political rival, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). [...]

Hammond: ‘Vast’ numbers upset by gay marriage

Sam Wylie — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:32:18 +0000

The Defence Secretary has criticised the Government for focusing on redefining marriage, and said the plans “upset vast numbers of people”. Philip Hammond, a senior cabinet minister, warned that same-sex marriage would change the meaning of marriage for millions of people. And he said there was no big demand for the change. Focus Mr Hammond [...]

Children access porn sites aged 6, new study reveals

Jane Leung — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:47:57 +0000

Children start watching pornography online from age six and start flirting on social media websites as young as eight, a worldwide survey of 19,000 parents has revealed. Almost a quarter of the children accounted for in the study had at least one social network account by the time they reached 12, and 17 per cent [...]

Lords bid to vote down gay marriage Bill on 3 June

Victoria Hawkins — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:09:39 +0000

Former HM Inspector of Constabulary, Lord Dear, will lead a vote against the Government’s same-sex marriage Bill on 3 June. If he secures a majority, it will be the end of David Cameron’s controversial Bill to redefine marriage. Lord Dear has previously defeated the Government in the Lords over free speech and 42-day detention without [...]

Fears amid first stem cells from cloned human embryos

Jane Leung — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:30:10 +0000

US scientists have, for the first time, recovered stem cells from cloned human embryos, in a move raising serious ethical concerns. Critics warn that the technique, which is similar to the one used to clone Dolly the sheep, could pave the way for ‘designer’ babies being cloned in laboratories. But the team from Oregon Health [...]

US: Education dept scraps ‘mother’ and ‘father’ on forms

Victoria Hawkins — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:32:02 +0000

The US education department has been criticised for replacing the terms ‘mother’ and ‘father’ with ‘parent 1’ and ‘parent 2’ on its student loan forms. The change to the student federal aid form is supposed to accommodate children brought up by gay parents. But critics say the move is “deeply offensive”. Marriage Cathy Ruse, of [...]

Push to legalise assisted suicide in court and the Lords

Victoria Hawkins — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:46:29 +0000

Two severely disabled men are pushing the courts to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide, while a ‘carefully timed’ Bill proposing a similar change was tabled in the House of Lords today. Lord Falconer’s controversial assisted suicide Bill would allow doctors to give lethal drugs to patients who are believed to have less than six months [...]

US: Late-term abortionist guilty of murdering 3 babies

Victoria Hawkins — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:43:42 +0000

A doctor in America has been found guilty of murdering three babies he delivered and killed with scissors in late-term abortions. Dr Kermit Gosnell, 72, performed thousands of abortions in the last three decades at a clinic in Pennsylvania, dubbed a “house of horrors” by prosecutors. He routinely carried out illegal late-term abortions (post 24 [...]

Govt slammed over gay marriage in military chapels

Victoria Hawkins — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:52:32 +0000

The Government is not going to offer armed forces chapels the same protections as the Church of England in its plans to redefine marriage. The move has been heavily criticised by former Defence Minister Sir Gerald Howarth, saying it ‘undermines’ traditional marriage. According to details of the Government’s controversial Bill, the Defence Secretary may apply [...]

Dr Tim Keller clarifies support for traditional marriage

Victoria Hawkins — Tue, 14 May 2013 09:20:50 +0000

American evangelical pastor Dr Tim Keller has clarified his opposition to same-sex marriage, following misplaced speculation that he may support a change in the law. In March, Dr Keller talked about different views on redefining marriage during a forum on religion and politics in front of journalists in Miami. Dr Keller was speaking about the [...]

Tory MP backs Bill to curb growth of Sharia courts

Victoria Hawkins — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:17:37 +0000

An MP has praised a cross-bench Peer’s attempts to curb the growth of quasi-legal systems in the UK, which discriminate against women. Tory MP Kris Hopkins said Baroness Caroline Cox is doing “exceptional” work in the House of Lords, through her Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill. There are an estimated 85 Sharia courts operating [...]

Carey: Govt paints marriage traditionalists as ‘dinosaurs’

Sam Wylie — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:15:20 +0000

The Government thinks supporters of traditional marriage are just “dinosaurs” who should be “frogmarched” towards a new concept of wedlock, Lord Carey says. His comments came as Lord Tebbit cautioned that the Conservative Party’s push to redefine marriage has led to a dramatic drop in its grassroots membership. And Lord Dear, a respected former police [...]

Critics pan barrister’s call to lower age of consent to 13

Victoria Hawkins — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:23:46 +0000

Critics have hit out at a barrister who called for the age of consent to be lowered to 13, saying her comments were “foolish” and “despicable”. But gay-rights activist Peter Tatchell says there should be a serious debate about the issue, and wants the age of consent to be lowered to 14 accompanied by assertiveness [...]

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Christian printer resists gay magazine

Sam Wylie — Fri, 10 May 2013 08:45:19 +0000

Christian printer Nick Williamson explains why he is standing up to the bullies who are trying to force him to print a gay magazine. Mr Williamson, 28, from Portadown in Northern Ireland, could be hauled off to court for refusing to print the material. He says the website of MyGayZine contained explicit images, and he [...]

Experienced barrister says age of consent should be 13

Victoria Hawkins — Fri, 10 May 2013 06:58:34 +0000

A barrister is under investigation after publishing an article in which she recommends lowering the age of consent to 13. Barbara Hewson called for an end to the “persecution of old men” and the start of training girls not to get into “compromising situations”. She made the controversial recommendation in online magazine Spiked, in the [...]

MPs to debate same-sex marriage Bill again

Sam Wylie — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:52:50 +0000

The Bill to redefine marriage will be debated by MPs later this month, as they consider amendments to the controversial proposals. In February MPs voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, but more Conservative MPs voted against than for the plans. Following consideration by a small committee of MPs in February and [...]

Another bid to weaken law on assisted suicide

Sam Wylie — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:02:36 +0000

Lord Falconer is to introduce another attempt to weaken the law on assisted suicide – after his last effort was defeated in 2009. Peers rejected his previous bid by 194 to 141, but the former Lord Chancellor is trying again with a bill to be presented to the House of Lords next week. The bill [...]

Christian surgery criticised for not giving morning-after pill

Victoria Hawkins — Thu, 09 May 2013 07:29:20 +0000

A Christian-run GP surgery has been criticised for posting a notice saying some of its doctors do not prescribe the morning-after pill on grounds of conscience. But Dr Peter Saunders, head of the Christian Medical Fellowship, defended the practice saying it is right that doctors are legally allowed to take such a stance. He also [...]

NZ: Charity faces axe over marriage campaign

Mike Judge — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:31:04 +0000

A pro-family group in New Zealand has been notified that it will lose its charitable status because it campaigned in support of traditional marriage. The country recently legalised gay marriage, and now officials have told a charity called ‘Family First NZ’ that it will be deregistered. The group says the move is a “highly politicised [...]

Poll: Voters want Cameron to scrap gay marriage Bill

Mike Judge — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:11:02 +0000

More voters want David Cameron to dump his plans to redefine marriage than want him to drop the policy of plain packaging for tobacco. A poll by ComRes for the Coalition for Marriage asked 2,000 adults which of the two policies they would prefer to be abandoned. Over a third (34 per cent) wanted Mr [...]

Tories urge PM to drop plans to redefine marriage

Victoria Hawkins — Wed, 08 May 2013 08:18:48 +0000

David Cameron has been urged by his own MPs to scrap his controversial gay marriage Bill to prevent losing core voters. And a group of senior Conservative Party members has also warned the Prime Minister not to redefine marriage and focus on key issues such as the economy. Sir Gerald Howarth, a former defence minister, [...]

‘Don’t give up’ says mum who refused to abort disabled son

Victoria Hawkins — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:47:17 +0000

Parents who were advised to abort their severely disabled baby because he was ‘unlikely’ to survive, have celebrated their son’s first birthday. Shelly and Rob Wall even bought a coffin before the baby was born because they were told his chances of living outside the womb were so small. But now Noah Wall has learned [...]

Protect those who back traditional marriage, says MSP

Victoria Hawkins — Tue, 07 May 2013 08:48:46 +0000

An MSP has called for the civil liberties of those who believe in traditional marriage to be protected by law. Murdo Fraser, the former deputy leader of the Scottish Tories, made the comments at a meeting of the campaign group Scotland for Marriage in Dunkeld. Mr Fraser said regarding the same-sex marriage proposals: “If it [...]

Prison governors attack strong laws on hard drugs

Sam Wylie — Mon, 06 May 2013 08:00:15 +0000

Prison governors have criticised the strenuous enforcement of laws against drugs like heroin and crack cocaine – but the Government says illegal drugs do immense damage. The Prison Governors’ Association (PGA) called for a “fundamental review” of current drugs policy as they backed a campaign against an enforcement-led approach. But the Home Office said drugs [...]

‘First ever’ C of E service to affirm transsexual

Victoria Hawkins — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:15:14 +0000

A man’s sex change has been affirmed in a Church of England service, said to be the first of its kind. The transsexual man who is known as Susan Musgrove, 60, underwent surgery last year and has now been publicly blessed as a woman at St Andrew’s Church in Northumberland. The curate of his Church [...]

UKIP surge as voters reject gay marriage

Victoria Hawkins — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:48:06 +0000

UKIP, which officially supports keeping marriage as it is, has seen a dramatic increase in support in yesterday’s local elections. Election expert, Professor John Curtice, says UKIP has gained support from voters who are socially conservative on issues like gay marriage. A poll by ComRes earlier this week showed that all three main parties would [...]

Increase in kids losing a parent because of drugs

Sam Wylie — Fri, 03 May 2013 06:58:24 +0000

More than 300 children suffered the death of a parent or parental figure because of drugs in 2011, new figures from Scotland show. A total of 331 children were affected – up from 238 in 2010. One Scottish Conservative MSP said the SNP Government needs to “get a grip on this spiralling problem before hundreds [...]

Calls for group marriage after gay marriage legalised in NZ

Jane Leung — Thu, 02 May 2013 16:30:36 +0000

‘Group marriage’ supporters in New Zealand are calling for legal recognition just weeks after same-sex marriage was legalised in the country. The group, which has set up the Facebook page, Support legalised Polyamory in NZ, says: “We believe that ALL committed loving relationships between adults regardless of number should be respected and given legal acknowledgement.” [...]

Right-to-die case poses ‘threat to disabled’

Victoria Hawkins — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:21:11 +0000

A disabled woman who recovered from locked-in syndrome has raised concerns about the latest attempt to legalise euthanasia, saying it poses a “genuine threat” to people like her. Nikki Kenward has also challenged the head of Dignity in Dying, the assisted suicide lobby group, to an open debate on the issue. Recently, a man with [...]

Poll: Tories to lose hundreds of seats over gay marriage

Victoria Hawkins — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:12:15 +0000

The Conservative Party faces losing hundreds of seats at the local elections tomorrow because of the Prime Minister’s plans to redefine marriage, according to a new poll. The survey also shows that many voters are turning to UKIP over the issue. The ComRes poll, commissioned by the Coalition for Marriage, reveals that one in four [...]

Video: Gay marriage protest at Cameron’s local office

Victoria Hawkins — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:11:32 +0000

Yesterday, over 300 local voters protested outside David Cameron’s constituency office in Witney, Oxfordshire, against his plans to redefine marriage.

Kids should be taught ‘not all porn is bad’ says sex ed group

Victoria Hawkins — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:20:53 +0000

School pupils should be taught that “not all pornography is bad”, according to a group of sex education campaigners. The Sex Education Forum (SEF) has been criticised for publishing a resource for teachers which suggests they bear in mind that pornography is “hugely diverse”. The e-magazine, entitled “The Pornography Issue” also recommends a youth forum [...]

Ethnically diverse churches being ‘ignored’ on marriage

Sam Wylie — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 06:58:34 +0000

Leaders of more than one million ethnically diverse churchgoers say the Government is ignoring their concerns about “fundamental changes to the nature of marriage”. The leaders, who represent ten church communities, say same-sex marriage “will not be a victory for equality”. One of the leaders, Revd Yemi Adedeji, also accuses David Cameron of having a [...]

NI assembly defeats same-sex marriage for second time

Victoria Hawkins — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:47:23 +0000

The Northern Ireland Assembly has voted down a motion to redefine marriage by an even bigger margin than it did in October. The new motion was tabled by three Sinn Fein MLAs and debated today at Stormont. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland and Roman Catholic bishops had been urging MLAs not to support the motion. [...]

Drug abuse shouldn’t be a crime, says Parliament group

Victoria Hawkins — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:59:49 +0000

Drug abuse should not be treated like a crime and control of drugs policy should be handed to the Department of Health, says a Parliamentary group. The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Drug Policy Reform wants a much more liberalised drugs strategy. There have been a number of recent stories hitting the headlines to [...]

Church urges MLAs to reject same-sex marriage in NI

Sam Wylie — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:14:05 +0000

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is calling on MLAs to vote against a motion supporting same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland on Monday. Roman Catholic bishops are also writing to Northern Ireland Assembly members asking them to reject the bid to support the redefinition of marriage. When MLAs rejected a similar attempt last October, Northern Ireland’s [...]

Official drug rooms for addicts criticised as ‘liberal claptrap’

Sam Wylie — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:03:21 +0000

Critics say the idea of allowing addicts to inject themselves in official drug rooms is “liberal claptrap”, and could lead to police-approved ‘drug dens’. It follows news last week that Brighton could become the first city in the UK to allow heroin and crack cocaine addicts to use officially-sanctioned “drug consumption rooms”. Peter Hitchens described [...]

Small Christian groups saved from Leveson regulation

Victoria Hawkins — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:30:38 +0000

Small Christian groups which publish news alongside their main work have been saved from being caught by plans for regulating the press. The groups could have been at risk of coming under burdensome regulation, or exposed to sky-high financial damages because of their news coverage. But thanks to a last-minute amendment, groups with an annual [...]

US: Schoolgirls, 13-14, told to kiss each other

Victoria Hawkins — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:54:57 +0000

Schoolgirls aged 13 and 14 have been encouraged to ask each other for a kiss as part of a diversity lesson in a US state that has legalised gay marriage. The girls were encouraged to mimic lesbian behaviour at a workshop session at Linden Avenue Middle School in Red Hook, in New York State. Parents, [...]

Free speech reform gets Royal Assent

Sam Wylie — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:30:30 +0000

A free speech reform to the public order law has cleared Parliament and achieved royal assent today. The word “insulting” has been deleted from Section 5 of the Public Order Act, still leaving police with power to deal with “abusive” and “threatening” conduct. Supporters of the reform say “insulting” was wide open to misinterpretation, and [...]

Roman Catholic midwives win abortion case against NHS

Sam Wylie — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:12:27 +0000

Two Roman Catholic midwives with conscientious objections to abortion have won their case against the NHS and say they are “absolutely delighted” at the result. Judges at Edinburgh’s Court of Session ruled Mary Doogan and Connie Wood’s right to conscientious objection means they do not have to delegate, supervise or support staff involved in abortions. [...]

France: Gay marriage legal as president plunges in polls

Victoria Hawkins — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:09:02 +0000

Same-sex marriage has been legalised in France, under the most unpopular president since the 1950s according to a new poll. Yesterday the socialist-majority National Assembly voted 331-225 in favour of gay marriage and adoption, despite massive public unrest about the issue. And it is estimated that close to 15,000 mayors will refuse to conduct same-sex [...]