The Christian Institute » Religious liberty

Mosques tell women: ‘Don’t report abusive husbands’

Jane Leung — Mon, 28 May 2012 10:04:20 +0000

An undercover investigation in Sweden has found that mosques are telling women not to report abusive husbands and that polygamy is sometimes acceptable. Many are fearful that similar injustices are happening under Sharia law in Britain, and a Bill to tackle the problem is currently before the House of Lords. The Swedish findings were reported [...]

Religious symbols banned from London Olympics ‘faith’ badge

benr — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:35:07 +0000

A “faith” badge designed for chaplains at the London Games has banned all religious symbols in case they cause offence. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) called on its advisory committee of faith representatives to provide ideas for the badge. The badge is intended to be the symbol of the [...]

Video: fear that Google and Apple gag Christians

Mike Judge — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:27:24 +0000

Christian content on the internet risks being censored by technology giants like Google and Apple, a US conference has heard. American Christian media groups have met in Washington DC to discuss the problem and explore solutions. They say traditional Bible-based Christian views on moral issues like marriage and abortion risk being censored. Block National Religious [...]

Dawkins hopes free Bibles will turn kids off scriptures

Roger Jordan — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:42:30 +0000

Richard Dawkins is backing a scheme to send a commemorative copy of the King James Bible to every state school, but only because he thinks it will turn kids off the scriptures. Last week Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, began sending commemorative copies of the Bibles to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the King James [...]

Most still want Queen to be Defender of the Faith

Roger Jordan — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:52:25 +0000

Most people want the Queen to stay “Defender of the Faith” and Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a BBC survey shows. According to the survey 73 per cent of people think that the Queen and future monarchs should keep the titles of Supreme Governor of the Church of England and Defender of the [...]

Government sends KJV Bibles to all schools

Mike Judge — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:04:40 +0000

The Education Secretary will this week send commemorative copies of the Bible to schools in England in celebration of 400 years of the King James Version. No taxpayers’ money will be used for the project, the £370,000 cost is being met by donations from charities and individuals. Secularists have nevertheless criticised the plan, saying the [...]

Pressure on Home Secretary to improve free speech law

Mike Judge — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:47:36 +0000

The Christian Institute is joining with the National Secular Society, the Peter Tatchell Foundation, and others to call for reform of free speech laws. The new campaign group – Reform Section 5 – wants the word “insulting” to be stripped out of Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. Visit the website of Reform [...]

PM Blair warned not to say ‘God bless Britain’

Roger Jordan — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:30:01 +0000

When Tony Blair was Prime Minister, his officials warned him not to end one of his speeches with the words “God bless Britain”. Po-faced advisors told him “this is not America” and persuaded him to drop the idea, the Daily Mail reports. Mr Blair told the story at a conference organised by Holy Trinity Brompton, [...]

No mention of God in revised local council ‘prayer’

Sam Wylie — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:22:25 +0000

Gloucestershire County Council has removed all references to God in its council ‘prayer’, after just three councillors objected. The council leader claims the form of words, which still ends with “Amen”, “does the trick without being related to God”. Earlier this year the Government wrote to all local councils in England, telling them that new [...]

Anglican lay reader ‘suspended’ for supporting C4M petition

Jane Leung — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:41:43 +0000

An Anglican lay reader has been suspended after encouraging his congregation to support traditional marriage, despite this being the official position of the Church of England. Peter Gowlland, who has been a lay reader for 50 years, was encouraging his congregation to sign the Coalition for Marriage (C4M) petition, which supports the current definition of [...]

Bibles are ‘homophobic’, Scots police told

Sam Wylie — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:32:39 +0000

Scottish police forces have been told not to accept a gift of free Bibles from the Gideons because the book “condemns homosexuality”. The Bibles have been offered to Scottish police forces featuring each force’s badge. But the Gay Police Association (GPA) is against the move, and has issued a statement demanding that the forces refuse [...]

Court upholds ban on Christian radio advert

Roger Jordan — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:26:16 +0000

The High Court has upheld a ban on a Christian radio station broadcasting an ad that asks Christians whether they’re being sidelined at work. The court said the ad was “political”, but Premier Christian Radio says the decision seemed “reminiscent of a totalitarian state” and has vowed to appeal. The 30 second ad, which was [...]

Cornish schools to teach paganism in RE lessons

Roger Jordan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:47:30 +0000

School children in Cornwall are to be taught about paganism as part of their religious education classes for the first time. The controversial move means that the youngsters will be taught about pagan beliefs, such as witchcraft, in addition to faiths like Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The contentious requirements say that children should begin learning [...]

Lord Carey: Christians in Britain are being vilified

Roger Jordan — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:05:37 +0000

Christians in Britain are being treated as “bigots” and sacked for expressing their beliefs, a former Archbishop of Canterbury has warned. Lord Carey, who served as Archbishop from 1991 to 2002, also warned of a “drive to remove Judaeo-Christian values from the public square”. He accused Britain’s courts of consistently applying “equality law to discriminate [...]

Concern at council’s move to scrap prayers

Sam Wylie — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:11:27 +0000

A council in Staffordshire is facing criticism after it ditched the saying of prayers at the beginning of its meetings. The move comes despite the Government writing to all local councils in England telling them that new laws restore their power to hold prayers at official meetings. A church minister usually leads the prayers at [...]

BBC’s Evan Davis calls for secular Thought for the Day

Sam Wylie — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:13:02 +0000

Thought for the Day, the three-minute religious slot on the BBC’s Today programme, should include non-religious speakers, Today co-presenter Evan Davis has said. Mr Davis, who is an atheist, claims there is a “very serious debate” about whether “‘serious and spiritually minded secularists’” should be introduced into the segment. But critics point out that the [...]

High Court defers decision on Christian radio ad case

Roger Jordan — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:00:18 +0000

The High Court has deferred a decision on whether a watchdog was right to ban an advert that asked Christians to report experiences of workplace marginalisation. The original ad, which was due to air at the time of the last general election, quoted surveys showing that 60% of active Christians were being increasingly marginalised at [...]

Bishop numbers set to be cut in reformed House of Lords

Sam Wylie — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:44:36 +0000

The number of bishops in the House of Lords should be reduced, according to a controversial recommendation that looks set to be accepted by the Government. The recommendation comes from a cross-party committee of Peers and MPs that is looking into the issue of reworking the House of Lords, according to a BBC report. The [...]

Council prayers: £1,000 prize for councillor who sued

Gordon Bell — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:00:58 +0000

An atheist ex-councillor who sued Bideford Town Council for saying prayers at meetings has won a £1,000 prize from the National Secular Society (NSS). Clive Bone was presented with an award for “special achievement” at a ceremony in London earlier this month, with Professor Richard Dawkins and Lord Avebury among the 160 guests. Mr Bone’s [...]

C of E schools must keep their Christian ethos

Roger Jordan — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 06:47:32 +0000

Church schools must robustly defend their Christian ethos amidst ‘concerted attacks’ from secularist campaigners, a new report by the Church of England has warned. The Church also stressed that its schools must retain their Christian character in an increasingly fragmented education system. The report says: “Church schools continue to be popular with parents and to [...]

Attack on Christianity is just proxy for Islam fears

Sam Wylie — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:34:21 +0000

Secularists attack Christianity as a “surrogate” for their real fear: radical Islam, the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury has suggested. Dr Rowan Williams also said government initiatives tend to treat church vicars and Muslim imams as though they were the same, The Daily Telegraph reports. And he criticised those who stereotype religious believers as either a [...]

Bishop blasts TV execs over lack of religious programming

Gordon Bell — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:31:41 +0000

Broadcasters view religion as a “toxic contaminator of decent culture” and an “embarrassing problem”, according to a Church of England bishop. The remarks came as the Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Revd Nick Baines, criticised TV executives for the lack of ‘serious’ religious programming on the box. Mr Baines, who is one of the frontrunners [...]

Secular bias hits funding for faith groups

Gordon Bell — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:00:52 +0000

A secular bias in the public sector means faith groups don’t have equal access to public funding for community projects, academics say. An “anti-Christian prejudice” means public officials are suspicious of giving grants to faith-based providers of services. The academics examined the findings of years of research into the charitable sector. Bias They concluded that [...]

Christians face ‘striking cases of intolerance’ says think tank

Gordon Bell — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:40:18 +0000

Christians face “the most striking cases of intolerance and discrimination throughout Europe”, according to a European think tank. In its 2011 review the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDCE) claim that 85 per cent of hate crimes in Europe are against Christians. OIDCE director Dr Gudrun Kugler said: “We also notice [...]

‘Gay marriage’: No human rights for demoted Christian

Roger Jordan — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:30:18 +0000

A judge has this morning stopped a Christian from using human rights arguments in his legal case against his employer who demoted him because of his moderate comments about gay weddings in churches. The ruling was handed down this morning by District Judge Charles Khan at Manchester County Court. Adrian Smith will continue his legal [...]

‘Anti-family’ Sunday trading plan for Olympics

Sam Wylie — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:11:55 +0000

The Government is facing a chorus of opposition over a plan to weaken Sunday trading laws for the Olympics, with Labour MPs and a leading trade union among the critics. Chancellor George Osborne says the change is only for the duration of the Olympics and Paralympics, but there is concern that it may become permanent. [...]

Delia Smith and Melvyn Bragg launch assault on atheism

Sam Wylie — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:55:31 +0000

TV chef Delia Smith and prominent arts presenter Melvyn Bragg have both launched stinging attacks on atheism and secularism for trying to marginalise religion. Delia Smith warned that “militant neo-Atheists and devout secularists” are attacking people of faith. And Melvyn Bragg strongly criticised leading atheist Prof Richard Dawkins. Pursue In his comments, for a programme [...]

Cameron and Boris back Christians’ right to wear cross

Sam Wylie — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:22:53 +0000

The Prime Minister and London Mayor have both indicated their support for Christians who are facing a legal battle over wearing a cross at work. It comes as the cases of two Christians, Nadia Ewedia and Shirley Chaplin, head to the European Court of Human Rights. The Government’s official submission claims the Christians’ application to [...]

Christian B&B owner: law should be big enough for us all

Sam Wylie — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:22:21 +0000

Hazelmary Bull, the Christian B&B owner who was fined over her policy of restricting double rooms to married couples, has spoken out against controversial equality laws. Mrs Bull, who owns the Chymorvah Hotel in Cornwall with her husband Peter, said she would have thought “our democratic society is big enough to be able encompass two [...]

Allow council prayers here too, say Welsh councillors

Sam Wylie — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:50:42 +0000

The Welsh Government is being urged to restore prayers to council meetings following a similar move in England. Last month in England Government minister Eric Pickles fast-tracked the commencement of new laws that overtook a controversial High Court decision. The court had ruled the saying of prayers as a formal part of council meetings as [...]

Crematorium cross set to be dumped, despite no complaints

Sam Wylie — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:45:52 +0000

A local council is set to remove a cross from a crematorium window to make it more ‘inclusive’ – even though no one appears to have ever complained about the Christian symbol. The plan, at Haycombe Crematorium in Bath, has prompted concern from residents with one warning of “creeping secularisation”. The council is planning instead [...]

We’ll mock Jesus but not Mohammed, says BBC boss

Gordon Bell — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:34:04 +0000

The head of the BBC, Mark Thompson, has admitted that the broadcaster would never mock Mohammed like it mocks Jesus. He justified the astonishing admission of religious bias by suggesting that mocking Mohammed might have the “emotional force” of “grotesque child pornography”. But Jesus is fair game because, he said, Christianity has broad shoulders and [...]

Laws do fail Christians, say MPs and Peers

Sam Wylie — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:30:48 +0000

Christians really are facing genuine legal difficulties in Britain, a group of MPs and Peers say after a six month investigation. In a report published yesterday, the parliamentarians say it may be helpful to promote a concept of “reasonable accommodation” for religious belief in the public sphere. The report criticises the Equality Act for failing [...]

Govt tells councils keep praying if you want to

Gordon Bell — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:00:41 +0000

The Government has written to all local councils in England, telling them that new laws restore their power to hold prayers at official meetings. In the circular, Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Local Government, said Britain was “not strengthened by the secularisation of civil life”. Speaking last week Mr Pickles said: “For too [...]

‘New atheists’ attacking schools, warns academic

Sam Wylie — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:30:05 +0000

‘New atheists’ such as Professor Richard Dawkins want to squeeze out other views and strangle debate in Scottish schools, an education expert has warned. Professor Robert Davis warned that the Scottish curriculum is “under pressure” from the new atheist lobby. He commented: “They want to exclude other perspectives and suggest they are not only wrong, [...]

Council at centre of prayer storm votes to appeal

Sam Wylie — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:29:41 +0000

Bideford Town Council, the Devonshire Council which last week was banned from having prayers as part of its formal meetings, has voted to appeal the decision. The High Court’s ruling last Friday prompted widespread criticism with one MP describing it as “utterly preposterous”. And Cabinet minister Eric Pickles described the decision as “illiberal and intolerant”. [...]

Queen: C of E protects freedom of religion

Sam Wylie — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:00:45 +0000

The Queen has staunchly defended the Church of England’s role in protecting freedom of religion in an event to mark her Diamond Jubilee. Her Majesty, speaking in London on Wednesday, said the Church of England’s role in public life is “under-appreciated”. The Queen was speaking at Lambeth Palace and also told of the “proud track [...]

Telegraph cartoonist targets ridiculous council prayer ban

Sam Wylie — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:30:19 +0000

Daily Telegraph cartoonist, Matt, has poked fun at the ban on council prayers, juxtaposing it with the release from prison of extremist hate preacher Abu Qatada. The cartoon, which can be viewed here, shows two police officers saying: “If he ever says prayers before a council meeting, he’ll be straight back inside”. The Christian Institute’s [...]

Prayer ban to be overturned ‘within a week’

Gordon Bell — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:05:54 +0000

Government minister, Eric Pickles, has vowed to overturn a judge’s ban on formal council prayers – within a week if possible. The backlash follows a “ludicrous” case brought by the National Secular Society against a small Devonshire town council. The case led a judge to rule that local councils have no lawful power to say [...]

Cameron and Bercow back prayers in the Commons

Sam Wylie — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:05:01 +0000

The Prime Minister and the Speaker of the House of Commons have backed prayers in the Commons, following last week’s controversial ruling on local council prayers. A source at Number 10 said the Prime Minister “thinks that the prayer sessions are very important and that we should keep them”. And a spokesman for the Speaker [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

‘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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Scottish anti-sectarianism law passes with free speech clause

Roger Jordan — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:35:34 +0000

The Scottish Government’s controversial anti-sectarianism legislation was passed earlier this week, but it includes a robust clause to protect freedom of speech. On Wednesday the Scottish National Party used its majority to force the legislation through by 64 votes to 57. Colin Hart, Director of The Christian Institute, welcomed the addition of a free speech [...]

Govt gives assurances on church civil partnerships

Sam Wylie — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:34:25 +0000

The Government gave new assurances yesterday that churches cannot be forced to hold civil partnerships against their will. The promise came during a debate in the House of Lords on Government Regulations which allow civil partnership registrations in religious premises in England and Wales. The debate on the Regulations, which took place on 15 December, [...]

Govt won’t support Christian registrar’s case in Europe

Sam Wylie — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:46:56 +0000

Lillian Ladele, a Christian registrar who was disciplined for her stance on civil partnerships, will not receive the backing of the UK Government when her case reaches Europe. Miss Ladele’s case is one of a quartet of religious liberty cases involving Christians that are set to appear before the European Court of Human Rights. The [...]

Equality chief slams secularist bid to end council’s prayers

Roger Jordan — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:40:48 +0000

The head of Britain’s equality watchdog has branded a secularist pressure group’s bid to stop a local council from saying prayers as “nonsense on stilts”. And the Leader of the House of Commons has voiced his support for councils who wish to say prayers. Earlier this month the National Secular Society (NSS) went to the [...]

Eric Pickles backs freedom for local council prayers

Sam Wylie — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:20:02 +0000

Councils should have the freedom to hold prayers if they choose to, a government minister has said as he affirmed the importance of prayer in British public life. The comments, from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, come as Bideford Town Council in Devon is being sued by a secularist campaign group over prayers it says at [...]

Now Scots Episcopal Church says NO to redefining marriage

Roger Jordan — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:48:07 +0000

The Scottish Episcopal Church has joined the burgeoning ranks of those opposing the Scottish Government’s plans to redefine marriage. The Government, led by the Scottish National Party (SNP), is holding a consultation on whether to rewrite the definition of marriage. The consultation will close on Friday. In its response the Episcopal Church has reiterated its [...]

Guardian editor and MP criticise NSS prayer case

Roger Jordan — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:39:13 +0000

An assistant editor at The Guardian and the Labour MP Chris Bryant have both hit out at a secularist pressure group’s attempt to ban a local council from saying prayers. Last week the National Secular Society (NSS) went to the High Court in an attempt to end Bideford Town Council’s practice of saying prayers at [...]

Secularists in court today to ban council’s prayers

Roger Jordan — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:05:36 +0000

The historic tradition of saying prayers at the start of local council meetings is being challenged in the High Court today. Listen to Mike Judge debate the issue on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme Bideford Town Council in Devon is reported to have had prayers at its meetings since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. [...]

Speaker squanders taxpayer money on ‘equality’ crest

Jane Leung — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:47:14 +0000

The Speaker of the House of Commons has been criticised for squandering over £20,000 of taxpayers’ money on his new coat of arms, which features a prominent ‘equality’ rainbow. John Bercow, who was named Politician of the Year 2010 by a homosexual campaign group, has become well known for championing ‘homosexual rights’. His coat of [...]

Report warns of ‘£1bn’ equality cost to employers

Sam Wylie — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:52:04 +0000

Employers are being forced to spend around £1 billion complying with equality legislation, a report has suggested. The report comes with a warning that current equality legislation is “in pursuit of a false utopia of absolute equality for all”. The previous Government’s controversial Equality Act, which came into force last year, faced widespread criticism. Burden [...]

Schools set to receive a King James Bible from Government

Sam Wylie — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:19:57 +0000

Schools in England are set to receive a copy of the King James Bible from the Government as it marks 400 years of the translation. The Bibles will include a foreword from the Education Secretary Michael Gove, the Times Educational Supplement reported. Mr Gove said the King James Version is “one of the keystones of [...]

Free expression clause added to Scots anti-sectarianism Bill

Roger Jordan — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:27:16 +0000

The Scottish Government has added a free speech clause into its anti-sectarianism Bill, but critics are still questioning the need for new legislation. Earlier this week MSPs on Holyrood’s justice committee met to vote on a series of amendments for the Government’s beleaguered Bill. The Committee voted in favour of the freedom of expression clause, [...]

‘Meaningful’ Christmas tree chocs selling well

Sam Wylie — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:23:57 +0000

Sets of Christmas tree decorations that help parents tell their children about the Christmas story have become a “best seller”. The decorations are produced by the Meaningful Chocolate Company, which earlier this year produced an Easter egg with a message about Jesus’ resurrection on the box. Now the group says the Christmas decorations have become [...]

Churchgoers should be better represented at the BBC

Sam Wylie — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:54:05 +0000

Churchgoers are underrepresented at the BBC and it may be affecting the Corporation’s output, a Christian media group has warned. The Christian Broadcasting Council (CBC) made the comments in a submission to media watchdog Ofcom. J Peter Wilson, a media consultant with CBC who co-wrote the submission, highlighted the BBC’s own figures: “The number of [...]

Church leader: some officials are ‘out to get’ Christians

Roger Jordan — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:05:29 +0000

Sometimes the authorities really are “out to get” Christians in Britain, a senior figure in the Church of England has warned. Revd Dr Malcolm Brown said that many groups agreed that a housing trust’s decision to discipline a Christian employee for comments he made about civil partnerships was “crazy” and “bonkers”. He cited the way [...]

Don’t redefine marriage, warn Scottish Free Presbyterians

Roger Jordan — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:31:31 +0000

The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland has warned that redefining marriage will be harmful to the foundations of society. The Scottish Government is currently holding a public consultation on whether marriage should be redefined in law to introduce same-sex marriage. The Free Presbyterian Church has strongly urged the Scottish National Party administration not to change [...]

MSPs question sectarianism bill after rise in banning orders

Roger Jordan — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:30:14 +0000

A surge in football banning orders has led politicians to doubt the need for a controversial Bill to tackle sectarianism. Between April and October fifty football banning orders (FBOs) were issued, five more than in the whole of the previous year. Most of the FBOs were related to sectarian or violent offences. The increase in [...]

Australian PM gives conscience vote on redefining marriage

Jane Leung — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:33:53 +0000

Australian MPs in the governing party will be free to vote according to their “values and beliefs” on the issue of redefining marriage, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has confirmed. In Britain Gerald Howarth, a defence minister, says MPs at Westminster should also have a free vote on the issue. The British Government has announced that [...]

Tesco funds Gay Pride but drops support for Cancer Research

Jane Leung — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:00:08 +0000

Tesco has sparked outrage after dropping its support for the Cancer Research ‘Race for Life’, and announcing shortly after that it would now become a headline sponsor of Britain’s largest gay festival. The supermarket giant has supported Cancer Research for more than a decade, helping the charity raise hundreds of millions of pounds towards combating [...]

Cameron ignores aides to choose his own Bible verses

Sam Wylie — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:47:31 +0000

The Prime Minister has made his own choice of Bible verses to write out in long hand – rejecting those chosen by his officials – to celebrate 400 years of the King James Version. David Cameron chose Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things [...]

Bible verses on Christmas stamps to celebrate KJV

Sam Wylie — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:50:34 +0000

Bible chapter and verse references have been printed on the face of this year’s Christmas stamps, unveiled by Royal Mail to mark 400 years of the King James Version. The series of seven stamps feature Bible references taken from the gospels of Matthew and Luke. The stamps also include pictures of nativity scenes. Royal Mail, [...]

Matthew Parris slams ‘reverse persecution’ against Christian

Sam Wylie — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:30:36 +0000

The decision to demote and slash the pay of a Christian housing manager for his comments about civil partnerships is “reverse persecution” and “bullying”, a homosexual journalist says. Matthew Parris – who writes for The Times and is also a former MP – was referring to the case of Adrian Smith. Mr Smith was penalised [...]

BBC promises Songs of Praise will not become multi-faith

Jane Leung — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:00:14 +0000

Songs of Praise will remain a Christian programme and will not become multi-faith, the BBC’s head of Religion and Ethics, Aaqil Ahmed, has said. In September a Sikh executive at the Beeb suggested Songs of Praise may “explore” the inclusion of other faiths in the future. But Mr Ahmed, speaking at the Church and Media [...]

Warning on free speech as Peers discuss Section 5

Sam Wylie — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:40:35 +0000

Freedom of speech is being hampered by public order legislation, a Peer warned in the House of Lords on Tuesday. Lord Dear, a former HM Inspector of Constabulary, made the comments as Peers debated the Protection of Freedoms Bill and the possibility of changing a contentious part of the Public Order Act. Section 5 of [...]

Demoted Christian gets backing from Govt minister

Sam Wylie — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:36:26 +0000

A Christian who was demoted and subjected to a 40 per cent pay cut over comments he made about civil partnerships on Facebook has received the backing of the Government’s Housing Minister. Grant Shapps agreed with homosexual activist Peter Tatchell who had branded the disciplinary action given out to Christian Adrian Smith as “excessive and [...]

Ruling reserved in Christian B&B appeal

Mike Judge — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:00:12 +0000

The judgment in the appeal case of B&B owners, Peter and Hazelmary Bull, has been reserved – meaning a ruling is not expected to be given for several weeks. The Bulls are seeking to overturn a ruling by a previous judge who said their policy of restricting double rooms to married couples discriminated against homosexuals. [...]

B&B appeal: Christians have human rights too, says QC

Roger Jordan — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:01:43 +0000

The Christian owners of a Cornish B&B should be recognised as having the same human rights as the homosexual couple who sued them over their double bed policy, the Court of Appeal has heard. Earlier this year a judge ordered Peter and Hazelmary Bull, owners of the Chymorvah hotel in Cornwall, to pay £3,600 in [...]

Christian B&B case: Bulls in Court of Appeal today

Roger Jordan — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:20:49 +0000

The Christian owners of a Cornish B&B who were sued by a homosexual couple because of their policy of only allowing married couples to share double rooms are taking their case to the Court of Appeal today. Earlier this year a judge ordered Peter and Hazelmary Bull, the owners of the Chymorvah hotel in Cornwall, [...]

BBC Question Time: faith in God brings happiness

Roger Jordan — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:28:22 +0000

“Faith in God” is what makes me happy, prominent commentator Peter Hitchens declared on the BBC’s Question Time last night. He was responding to a question about the Government’s happiness survey. Peter Hitchens, a commentator for the Mail on Sunday, responded with a simple declaration of his faith, saying: “Faith in God”. Relationship Shirley Williams, [...]

SNP go it alone to force sectarianism Bill forward

Sam Wylie — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:48:45 +0000

The Scottish National Party (SNP) yesterday forced forward its controversial sectarianism legislation in the face of a united opposition from the other main parties. MSPs from opposition parties criticised the Bill as “rushed” and “flawed” after the Government had used its majority to win a crucial vote on the legislation. The Christian Institute and church [...]

Trafford Housing Trust under fire for ‘bullying retribution’

Roger Jordan — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:02:21 +0000

A commentator at a national newspaper has accused a housing association of “bullying retribution” after it disciplined an employee over comments he made about civil partnerships. Writing in The Daily Telegraph Graeme Archer also criticised the “unintended” consequences wreaked by the nation’s overarching equality laws. Adrian Smith, a Christian, was demoted and given a 40 [...]

Opposition parties unite against sectarianism Bill

Roger Jordan — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:30:58 +0000

Scotland’s main opposition parties have accused the Scottish Government of failing “to make the case” for its anti-sectarianism Bill ahead of a debate in Holyrood this afternoon. Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Greens have branded the Bill “muddled”, “slapdash”, “ill-thought-out” and a “shambles”. The Christian Institute and church groups believe the [...]

Britain should be proud of Christianity, says Warsi

benr — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:13:45 +0000

Britain should be proud of Christianity rather than downgrading it, a Government Minister has said. Baroness Warsi – a Muslim – made the comments in an article for The Daily Telegraph last week. She said Christians should feel proud of their faith, and not be made to feel that they must leave it at the [...]

Bosses who demoted Christian feared losing gay rights award

Mike Judge — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:57:21 +0000

The housing association that demoted a Christian employee and slashed his pay was worried about losing an award from a gay rights group, it has emerged. Bosses also warned the Christian, Adrian Smith, about preaching in churches close to Trafford Housing Trust in Manchester. These latest revelations come as the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement [...]

Scots Govt to press on with Sectarianism Bill

Sam Wylie — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:21:44 +0000

The Scottish Government will carry on with its controversial Sectarianism Bill – despite criticism that it is needless and may damage free speech. Roseanna Cunningham – the Minister responsible for the Bill – does not accept that the legislation is unnecessary and unpopular. However football clubs, faith groups, politicians and a prominent Scottish historian have [...]

Christian’s demotion is ‘despicable’, says MP

Sam Wylie — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:07:17 +0000

An MP yesterday hit out at the demotion of a Christian over comments he made on Facebook about civil partnerships – and raised questions about his employers’ public funding. Stewart Jackson MP described Trafford Housing Trust’s decision to demote Adrian Smith, and slash his salary, as “despicable”. The MP also asked: “Should we be putting [...]

Demotion of Christian housing manager looks ‘vindictive’

Mike Judge — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:07:47 +0000

Trafford Housing Trust “looks vindictive” for its decision to demote a Christian who posted inoffensive remarks about his religious opinions on Facebook, a New Statesman writer says. But the writer, Nelson Jones, believes the case has more to do with “freedom to be yourself” than religious liberty. Mr Jones is the latest commentator to criticise [...]

Section 5 needs changing quickly, says Lib Dem MP

Sam Wylie — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:45:49 +0000

A law that “encroaches on the fundamental right to free speech” should be “changed as quickly as possible”, a Liberal Democrat MP has said. Julian Huppert, speaking about Section 5 of the Public Order Act, warned the difficulties with the Act, “run to the very heart of how we perceive freedom and rights in this [...]