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“Embarrassing security failure” or embarrassing lack of religious literacy

A man was arrested yesterday morning (Sunday) after two people were assaulted at York Minster. You can read about it on most UK news websites (but if you’re particularly discerning you can read my report for the Church Times here). An unusually high number of journalists were inside the Minster when the assaults took place because […]

The Church of England is a tortoise compared to Rome’s hare

There are many ways of comparing denominations. There are so many differences of style, liturgy, customs and even doctrine. But such comparisons are always subjective. One man’s heresy is another man’s cornerstone. But recent events involving the leadership of the Church of England and the Church of Rome, overlapping as they have, provide us with […]

Church in Wales’ Governing Body debates women bishops

A consultation  conducted earlier this year suggested that a majority of members of the Governing Body (GB) were in favour of women bishops, the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said. “Seventy-nine per cent of lay members and 83 per cent of clerical members indicated either strong or broad support for legislation being brought forward to […]

Pakistan urged to stop blasphemy law’s ‘massive human-rights violations’

Pakista is being urged to set up a commission to investigate the “tragic consequences” of its blasphemy law and “suggest a way out of this difficult and embarrassing situation”. The call came in a communiqué issued on 19 September by the World Council of Churches after a series of public hearings in Geneva. The laws […]

‘Bigot’ slip coincides with further same-sex rows

Teachers could face disciplinary action, including dismissal, if they fail to endorse same-sex marriage, suggests legal advice published by the pressure group Coalition for Marriage. The warning came in the week when the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, briefly labelled opponents of the Government’s same-sex marriage consultation “bigots”, and the Green Party expelled a Brighton […]

British Government lawyer: No religious discrimination at work if Christians can resign

Christians cannot claim that they have suffered religious discrimination at work if they have the freedom to resign and look for another job, a British-government lawyer told the European Court of Human Rights this week. James Eadie QC made his comments as he outlined the Government’s position in four cases: those of Nadia Eweida and […]