News Aggregator from Padiham C of E Parish

Bridget Hathaway - Tanzania. September

August has largely been a month of staying put in Birmingham, preparing for my church visits which begin the first weekend of September. Whilst in Karagwe I did not sort my photos into titled folders on my computer so I had a huge task to face even before thinking about preparing a Power Point presentation! It did make me feel sad on occasions, and certainly homesick for Karagwe...

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:57:52 +0200

Dean and Paula Finnie - South Africa. September

The HOPE home based care team receiving further practical training. It was such a joy to have both HOPE team members, prospective carers and spouses of some of our patients together in the same room for the first time receiving training together...

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:46:21 +0200

Dan and Rosie Button - Uganda. September

It has been a while since our last prayer news, as we took a two month "mini-home leave" from mid-June to mid-August. We managed to visit four of our link churches and were glad to make contact with many of you on those occasions...

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:40:56 +0200

BBC attacked for biased mosque documentary

A national journalist has slammed the BBC for screening a pro-Islamic documentary about a controversial mosque which has previously been linked to Muslim supremacists. Andrew Gilligan, in a comment piece for The Daily Telegraph, accused the broadcaster of airing a “licence-fee-funded, half-hour advertorial” for the East London Mosque which has been linked to the Islamic [...]

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:13:35 +0000

Study claims lap-dancers find practice enjoyable

A controversial study has claimed that lap-dancers enjoy the practice, but an ex-lap-dancer has previously warned it is “degrading” and certainly more than just dancing. Dr Teela Sanders, who led the study, says the women spoken to in the research did not feel exploited. But Milly, an ex lap-dancer, in an interview with The Times [...]

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:55:22 +0000

Obama appeals against federal funds ban on embryo research

President Obama’s administration has formally challenged a court order which temporarily blocks federal funding of embryonic stem cell (ESC) research in the United States. Last week US District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that all ESC research violated a federal law prohibiting federal tax money from being used for research involving the destruction of human [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:07:16 +0000

Two arrests over assisted suicide of disabled man

Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of a severely disabled man at the highly controversial Dignitas facility in Switzerland. Douglas Sinclair, who was suffering from a rare debilitating disorder, is believed to have travelled to the suicide facility in Zurich to end his life in July. And now Northumbria Police have [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:45:31 +0000

Scots end-of-life Bill backed by humanists

A controversial attempt to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland is being supported by a humanist campaign group. The End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill, proposed by independent MSP Margo MacDonald, would allow terminally ill people and those who are “permanently physically incapacitated” to seek assistance in ending their lives. The Humanist Society of Scotland (HSS) [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:38:13 +0000

Sex shop close to village opposed by locals

Hundreds of people have turned out at a public meeting against plans for a sex shop near a small English village. Sex shop company Cocktails Limited wants to open a store close to Sawtry, which has a population of just 6,000. Local MP Shailesh Vara gave his support to locals who say a sex shop [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:55:49 +0000

BBC boss: left wing political bias is less prevalent now

The BBC’s content is less politically biased than it previously was, the Director General of the corporation has claimed. Mark Thompson also asserted, despite previous accusations that the corporation has been pushing for the legalisation of assisted suicide, that the BBC doesn’t campaign on political issues. Speaking to the New Statesman Mr Thompson admitted that [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:53:33 +0000

Tatchell repeats call for lower age of consent

‘Homosexual rights’ campaigner Peter Tatchell has repeated his call for the age of consent to be lowered to just 14. His position has been strongly rebuffed in the past, with one commentator saying that sex is for people who can cope with the consequences, “In a word, adults.” Mr Tatchell’s latest comments echo those made [...]

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:58:12 +0000

Top RC adviser slams Britain’s moral decline

Decades of liberal laws pushing the homosexual agenda have taken a devastating toll on the traditional family, according to an influential figure in the Roman Catholic church. Edmund Adamus also warned that Britain is the global centre of the “culture of death”, an expression often used to refer to liberal policies on euthanasia and abortion. [...]

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:21:42 +0000

Welsh Assembly undermines parents in children’s plans

Parents in Wales face not being consulted about new measures affecting the rights of their children, if a Welsh Assembly proposal becomes law. The controversial plans focus on implementing policies recommended by the United Nations, which has previously issued a strong call on the UK Government to ban smacking. The proposal, which is part of [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:53:18 +0000

Concern over teenage abortion rates in Wales

More than half of teenage pregnancies in Wales end in abortion, prompting a call for a change of Government policy on terminations. Almost 60 per cent of pregnant Welsh girls under the age of 16 have an abortion, according to news website Wales Online. Just under half of pregnant under-18s also had a termination. Pressure [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:11:18 +0000

Pupils to access explicit sex websites in Scottish schools

Thousands of school children are being given the ability to access sexually explicit websites in Scottish schools, according to the Scottish Daily Mail. However, critics have slammed the controversial scheme warning that it undermines parental authority. School children in the NHS Lanarkshire health board area are able to access the health board’s own sexual health [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:13:04 +0000

Alcohol causes almost one million hospital admissions

There were almost one million alcohol related hospital admissions in England last year, representing a 65 per cent increase over the past five years. The shocking figure means that almost two people were admitted to hospital for alcohol related harm every minute. The figures also show that alcohol was to blame for almost 16,000 deaths [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:09:05 +0000

Govt taskforce aims to cut red tape in voluntary sector

Red tape and bureaucracy which “too often gets in the way” of charities and voluntary groups needs to be cut, the Government has said. Announcing a taskforce to tackle the issue Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd said the burden of regulation needs to be eased so that charities can get on with their work. [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:40:26 +0000

Under-fire EU Directive mired in disagreement

A controversial EU Directive, which Christians fear will undermine free speech and freedom of religion, is being held up in negotiations between European member states. The Directive seeks to outlaw discrimination on grounds including sexual orientation and religion in the provision of goods and services, and includes a harassment provision which threatens free speech. The [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:11:16 +0000

Sex shop to open next door to school uniform store

A sex shop in Cornwall has been granted a licence despite its location next door to a school uniform shop and in the face of much local opposition. Listen to a BBC interview with the manager of the school uniform shop (Broadcast on Friday 27 August) The firm Mrs Palm Limited wants to open a [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:18:15 +0000

MP continues Labour crusade for compulsory sex education

Labour MP, Chris Bryant, is continuing his party’s controversial attempts to impose compulsory sex education in schools, despite opposition from head teachers and faith leaders. Mr Bryant plans to introduce a Ten-Minute Rule Bill calling for compulsory sex education in schools. This type of bill is unlikely to become law but critics say the proposal, [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:39:48 +0000

Ed Miliband would scrap free speech safeguard

Free speech laws that allow people to express their opinions about homosexual conduct should be scrapped, Labour leadership hopeful Ed Miliband says. Incredibly, he claims that the law – which has been backed by Parliament on four occasions – makes it harder to convict murderers. His extraordinary comments appear in an opinion article he wrote [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:12:14 +0000

Dad recovers from ‘locked-in’ syndrome

A pensioner has overcome all the odds and amazed doctors by recovering from an illness which left him completely paralysed from head to toe. Graham Miles, who felt he had been “left to die” by medical staff, was suffering from ‘locked-in syndrome’ after having a massive stroke. But now the resilient 66-year-old is walking and [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:04:03 +0000

US activists demand RC doctors carry out abortions

A campaign group in America is attempting to force medical professionals, including Roman Catholic doctors and nurses, to go against their consciences and perform abortions. But a US organisation which battles for religious liberty says it will fight such an idea, and sue the US Government if it allows any such action to go ahead. [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:14:26 +0000

Atheist doctors more likely to hasten patients’ deaths

Atheist doctors are almost twice as likely to make decisions which speed up the deaths of their patients than their religious colleagues, according to a new study. The research, published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, also revealed that doctors with a strong faith were less likely to discuss treatments that would speed up their [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:05:23 +0000

Dawkins calls for more interference in faith schools

Faith schools shouldn’t be allowed to teach religious education (RE) lessons in line with their beliefs, according to atheist campaigner Richard Dawkins. RE is compulsory but not currently part of the National Curriculum, and faith schools have the liberty to determine the content of their RE classes. During an interview with the Times newspaper Professor [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:01:07 +0000

Sexual infections reach a record high in the UK

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have reached historic levels, and the number of teenage pregnancies is also on the rise. Newly released figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have revealed that last year there were 482,696 new diagnoses of STIs in the UK. And experts have expressed alarm at the resurgence of infections such as [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:51:03 +0000

Homosexual tax guide slammed by commentator

A Government guide for homosexual and transgender taxpayers has received a stinging rebuke from a prominent national newspaper commentator. Richard Littlejohn’s comments were prompted by receiving a copy of HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) information booklet for gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual customers. The glossy booklet, which features the gay pride flag on its front [...]

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:51:22 +0000

Donors could get up to £800 for their eggs

Women could be paid up to £800 for donating their eggs to fertility clinics under a controversial new proposal from the UK’s fertility regulator. The proposal is one of a number of options being considered by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) in an attempt to address a current shortage of egg and sperm [...]

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:00:15 +0000

C of E calls for BBC to appoint religion editor

The Church of England has called on the BBC to appoint a religion editor to bring more depth to the Corporation’s religious output. Bishop of Manchester Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, the Church’s senior communications spokesman, said that it made little sense for areas such as arts and science to have editors, but not religion. And [...]

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:30:39 +0000

Coalition to focus more on abstinence in drugs policy

The Government says a “new approach” is needed on drug abuse, one which focuses on helping addicts to get completely drug-free. Home Office minister James Brokenshire has set out the strategy, also saying that heroin substitute drug methadone would be used less widely than previously. The last Government was slammed for its ‘harm prevention’ method [...]

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:04:34 +0000

US judge halts federal funding of embryo research

A judge has temporarily blocked the federal funding of embryonic stem cell (ESC) research in the United States, warning that it went against federal law. The ban represents a blow to Barack Obama who caused a storm of controversy last year when he issued guidance allowing the use of federal funds to be expanded for [...]

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:30:18 +0000

Video: student who was told to change beliefs loses case

A student at a US University who was told to change her beliefs on sexual ethics or leave her course has lost a legal challenge against the University, although she is now set to appeal. Watch Jennifer Keeton talk about her story Jennifer Keeton, who is studying for a degree in counselling at Augusta State [...]

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:55:44 +0000

Binge drinking is fuelling abortions and promiscuity

Women who binge drink are more likely to have an abortion or take the morning-after pill, according to new research. Research by University College London has revealed that binge-drinking women were 40 per cent more likely to have had at least one abortion over the past year. The study also revealed that women who drink [...]

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:05:06 +0000

Probe into ‘same-sex’ priests ice cream advert

An ice cream advert which shows two male priests about to kiss with the line “We believe in salivation” is being investigated by the advertising watchdog. Complaints about the ad, for Antonio Federici Gelato Italiano desserts, have reportedly remarked that it is distasteful to religious believers. The ice cream company’s creative director attempted to defend [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:26:56 +0000

Video: temporary ban for ‘legal high’ drugs

Powers to quickly put in place year-long bans of so-called ‘legal highs’ will be given to the Home Office as part of an overhaul of current drugs legislation. Watch an ITN News report on the temporary ban And alcoholics and drug addicts who refuse treatment could have their welfare benefits withdrawn under plans being considered [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:26:53 +0000

Council offices given to homosexual activist

West Sussex Council has become the first English authority outside London to host a Stonewall employee in its offices, according to local press reports. Dave Small, Stonewall’s Regional Workplace Associate for South East and South West England, will work in Chichester as part of a six-month trial. Last year in nearby Brighton a Sunday school [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:22:28 +0000

Govt-funded group sponsors Irish gay adoption push

An organisation which is heavily funded by British taxpayers is sponsoring a controversial conference promoting the legalisation of same-sex adoption in Ireland. The British Council, which is responsible for promoting British ideas and achievements throughout the world, is backing the Voices for Children conference next month. The conference is being hosted by the campaign group [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:58:57 +0000

Video: study casts new light on organ donation

The practice of harvesting kidneys from bodies where the heart is still beating has been challenged by new research. Watch a BBC report on the story Researchers from the University of Cambridge have found that kidneys which were taken after the heart had stopped beating were just as good as those taken from patients with [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:28:21 +0000

Lottery winning woman is now poor but happy

A woman who won a £2 million Lottery jackpot as a teenager has revealed how her life spiraled into drug addiction, depression and attempted suicides. Callie Rogers, now 22, said she had hoped the money would help her put the troubles of a broken home behind her, but instead she said the money only brought [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:13:29 +0000

Video: Jennifer Aniston under fire for traditional family jibe

Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston has been berated over remarks she made whilst promoting her latest movie Switch, where she plays a woman in her 40s who decides to have a baby using a sperm donor. Watch Fox News host Bill O’Reilly slam Jennifer Aniston’s comments She has been blasted by media commentators, including popular Fox [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:49:27 +0000

Civil partnerships plummet as dissolutions double

The number of civil partnerships being registered annually has fallen and dissolutions have almost doubled, according to official figures. Newly released figures from the Office for National Statistics show that during 2009 6,281 civil partnerships were formed in the UK, a 12 per cent reduction from 2008 when there were 7,169. The figures demonstrate the [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:30:40 +0000

Coalition eases up on onerous equality duty

Public bodies like the police and schools will not be forced to meet centralised targets for homosexual, transsexual and religious equality, the Government says. Instead, public sector organisations will be allowed to decide for themselves how best to implement the new equality duty rushed into law by the previous Government. The Government Equalities Office says [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:30:26 +0000

Sperm bank blasted for offering celeb look-a-likes

A US fertility clinic has launched a “Donor Look-A-Like” scheme which allows women to search for sperm donors who they claim resemble celebrities such as Tom Cruise and Will Smith. But the initiative has been criticised by pro-life groups who say it is “another step down the road to the illusion of designer children”. The [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:01:01 +0000

Judge attacks council over forced contraception plan

A judge has blasted a council over its plan to use the police to physically remove a woman with learning difficulties from her home and force contraceptives on her against her will. Mr Justice Bodey warned that the controversial plan resembled “social engineering” and raised “profound questions about state intervention in family life”. The Midland’s-based [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:59:05 +0000

Video: BBC’s Gosling charged with wasting police time

Ray Gosling, a BBC presenter who claimed on TV to have ended the life of his homosexual lover in a ‘mercy killing’, has been charged with wasting police time. Watch Ray Gosling’s ‘confession’ Mr Gosling had claimed that he had smothered his same-sex lover as the man lay seriously ill in hospital with AIDS. But [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:57:12 +0000

Illegal porn being sold in local corner shops

Hundreds of illegal pornographic magazines and DVDs have been discovered for sale in corner shops across Tyneside. Trading Standards Officers have seized scores of items which had been packaged to include what are believed to be illegal hardcore pornographic DVDs. The officers also discovered a series of unclassified pornographic films which should only have been [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:49:18 +0000

Ruling could force RC adoption agency closure

The last remaining Roman Catholic adoption agency in England and Wales is facing the prospect of closure after losing the latest round in its battle to protect its religious ethos. Of the eleven Roman Catholic adoption agencies operating in 2007, Catholic Care is the only one which hasn’t yet closed down or ditched its religious [...]

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:05:53 +0000

Paxman: contestants know little about the Bible

Jeremy Paxman says the current crop of contestants on the BBC’s University Challenge don’t know much about the Bible. Speaking to the Radio Times Mr Paxman noted contestants have replaced knowledge about the Bible and classics with facts on computing and science. He said: “It’s interesting to see how, as years go by, they know [...]

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:48:45 +0000

Teachers facing shocking sexual abuse from kids

Teachers in Britain have faced sexual groping, touching and leering from school children, with one teacher even being subjected to a threat of rape by a child, according to disturbing figures. A total of 305 incidents are included in the figures, with one involving an eight-year-old boy who licked a teacher’s leg and touched her [...]

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:53:36 +0000

Authors hit out at society’s ‘pornification’

Even primary school children are being affected by Britain’s hypersexualised society and it is a problem we’re not tackling, two feminist authors have said. Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Kat Banyard and Natasha Walter hit out at the sheer amount of pornography in society. Kat Banyard said: “All the research shows that watching [...]

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:27:41 +0000

Taxpayers fund sex trip for disabled man

A 21-year-old man with learning disabilities is set to use taxpayers’ money to travel to Amsterdam and have sex with a prostitute. Funds for the visit are being taken from a £520 million Government scheme designed to empower those with disabilities, but critics have expressed dismay at the use of public funds to pay for [...]

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:57:44 +0000

No same-sex marriages in California until appeal

The threat of same-sex marriages being conducted in California against the will of the people has been put on hold by an appeal court ruling. A panel of three judges on Monday delayed the implementation of a ruling which would have allowed same-sex marriages in the state from today. Earlier this month a judge outlawed [...]

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:09:42 +0000

Tory blog slams Labour’s attack on Christian liberty

Christians were subjected to discrimination and exclusion from public life by the former Labour Government, according to an influential Conservative website. Writing on the Conservative Home blog former aid worker Dr Martin Parsons also cautioned that the Conservative Party’s attitude towards Christianity may have cost them an overall majority in this year’s election. Dr Parsons [...]

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:38:21 +0000

Critics blast top doc’s ‘misguided’ drugs stance

A call to legalise drugs by the outgoing president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has been blasted by critics who say legalisation would simply result in more people taking drugs. Professor Sir Ian Gilmore suggested that weakening the law on dangerous substances such as heroin, cocaine and cannabis would “reduce crime and improve [...]

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:05:18 +0000

Two registrars subjected to investigation over beliefs

Two registrars at Lambeth Council are under investigation because they swapped shifts in order to accommodate their religious beliefs over homosexual civil partnerships. The informal arrangement came to light when it was praised as an example of good practice during a diversity training seminar. But a homosexual colleague complained, and the pair are now being [...]

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:32:40 +0000

‘Social anxiety’ skews same-sex marriage polls

Americans are censoring their own conservative opinions on same-sex marriage when asked about it in surveys, according to the Director of a polling group. Tom Jensen says it would be “frankly impossible” to say that Americans are in favour of same-sex marriage in light of the 31 states which have rejected it in a public [...]

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:12:26 +0000

Sending Bibles to judges ‘puts Sharia law to shame’

Thousands of Bibles are being sent to Scottish law courts and judges as part of a campaign urging them to reflect on the Christian virtues of justice and mercy. But Terry Sanderson, head of the National Secular Society, blasted the scheme saying it “could put the Sharia laws of the Middle East to shame”. The [...]

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:44:13 +0000

Tory MP sponsors ‘Erotica’ dinner in the Commons

A Conservative MP has come under fire for sponsoring a “smutty” dinner in the House of Commons on behalf of an x-rated entrepreneur, according to the Daily Mail. Andrew Rosindell MP is sponsoring Savvas Christodoulou’s controversial “Erotica House of Commons Dinner”, which will be followed by an x-rated ‘after-party’, on 2 October. The hosting of [...]

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:16:46 +0000

Boots plans to sell morning-after pill over the internet

Britain’s largest chemist is planning to sell the morning-after pill over the internet, but critics have warned that the scheme is “grossly inappropriate”. Boots is planning to sell the controversial drug, usually sold under the brand name Levonelle, through a new website which enables people to buy certain medications without the need for a prescription. [...]

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:02:38 +0000

Students hit out at Prof’s views about homosexuality

A distinguished British professor is facing a backlash from students at St Andrews University because of his stance on homosexuality. Prof Roger Scruton was appointed quarter-time professorial fellow in moral philosophy and is due to take up his new role in the spring. But the university’s students’ association has hit out at comments Prof Scruton [...]

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:15:44 +0000

Church open-air meetings safe from Parades Bill

Changes have been made so that church open-air meetings in Northern Ireland will not be affected by a proposed Parades Bill, it was announced yesterday. Before the changes, the draft Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill would have required any meeting of 50 or more people in a public place to apply for permission at [...]

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:01:26 +0000

Happy memories of dad makes sons more stable

Men who hold fond childhood memories of their father are better able to cope with the day-to-day stresses of life, according to a new study. “The message is that father-son relationships are incredibly powerful. When they’re healthy, it’s hugely protective for boys”, said Prof Melanie Mallers who led the research. Prof Mallers, of California State [...]

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:36:11 +0000

Govt to expand promotion of abortions abroad

The Government is planning to expand its promotion of abortion services in developing countries, according to the International Development Secretary. Andrew Mitchell launched a public consultation on the Government’s controversial plans to increase the availability of “family planning” last month. The consultation, which includes a proposal to promote so-called safe abortions, has faced fierce criticism [...]

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:32:55 +0000

PM backs Manchester’s bid to ban sale of cheap booze

David Cameron says he is “very supportive” of a plan to introduce minimum pricing for the sale of alcohol in the Greater Manchester area. Cut-price booze has long been blamed for fuelling the devastating effects of binge-drinking on the nation. A group of ten local authorities in and around Manchester is hoping to introduce a [...]

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:30:21 +0000

Cash strapped Scots council is still funding gay festival

A Scottish council is set to shower thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money on a controversial homosexual arts festival despite facing large budget cuts, according to the Scottish Daily Mail. Glasgow City Council is facing cuts of nearly £200 million, and has begun a cost cutting exercise which is expected to see 2,800 workers leave [...]

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:30:03 +0000

Pop exec slams Britney and Gaga over raunchy videos

Young children are being sexualised by provocative music videos which resemble soft pornography, according to a top music producer. Mike Stock, who helped to launch the career of Kylie Minogue, said: “The music industry has gone too far. It’s not about me being old fashioned. It’s about keeping values that are important in the modern [...]

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:37:51 +0000

Corrie’s Jack Duckworth to exit in assisted suicide plot

Coronation Street veteran Jack Duckworth will leave the show in a controversial assisted suicide plotline, it has been revealed. The storyline is likely to fuel fresh debates over the issue of assisted suicide, and critics are concerned that mainstream soaps are being actively lobbied to push a liberal agenda. Popular TV programmes like Coronation Street [...]

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:35:16 +0000

Doc who assisted in suicide deemed fit to practice again

A Scottish GP who prescribed sleeping pills to an elderly patient so that she could kill herself has controversially been declared fit to practice by a medical watchdog. The decision, which comes amid fresh calls for the police to re-open an investigation into the suspicious deaths of two patients in a separate case, is likely [...]

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:45:52 +0000

‘Homosexual marriage’ is real goal for Irish Greens

Civil partnership legislation in Ireland is just a stepping stone to the Green Party’s real goal of full ‘homosexual marriage’, admitted John Gormley, the Minister for the Environment. The controversial Irish Civil Partnership Bill was signed into law by President Mary McAleese last month, exposing registrars to a fine and/or prison if they refused to [...]

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:40:18 +0000

Lib Dems to vote on ‘same sex marriage’ party policy

The Liberal Democrats will use their first party conference in Government to push a vote to make full ‘same-sex marriage’ official party policy. The motion also calls for the law to allow heterosexual couples to remain married if a transsexual spouse legally changes their sex by gaining a gender recognition certificate. Senior figures in the [...]

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:39:18 +0000

Church charity to receive £5 million grant from Govt

A prominent Christian charity is set to receive £5 million in Government funds, which will be the largest public grant allocated to a church group in recent years. The Tablet, a Roman Catholic newspaper, has revealed that the Church of England’s Church Urban Fund is expected to receive the money later this year. The news [...]

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:51:10 +0000

Abortion provider offers its staff free terminations

One of Britain’s leading abortion providers is offering its employees free abortions as part of a highly controversial benefits package. The free abortions, which are also available to employees’ partners and children, are part of the benefits package offered by Marie Stopes International (MSI). However, the inclusion of terminations as a perk of working for [...]

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:00:49 +0000

UN report reveals 4 per cent of Scots using cocaine

Scotland has the most widespread cocaine use in Europe with almost four per cent of the adult population taking the drug, according to a shocking UN report. The UN report put Scotland sixth in terms of opiate use worldwide, only behind countries such as Afghanistan and Russia. Critics said the report shows the Scottish Government’s [...]

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:09:54 +0000

Tory teacher warned over homosexuality comments

A teacher and former Tory candidate who said homosexuality is not the norm and Christians shouldn’t be penalised for their views has been given a written warning by his employer. Philip Lardner, who was dumped by David Cameron because of his opinions, intends to appeal against the warning for the sake of other teachers. In [...]

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:58:39 +0000

British muslim children in danger of ‘Talibanisation’

Something must be done to stop the alarming ‘Talibanisation’ of young British muslims, warns the chair of the British Muslims for Secular Democracy (BMSD). Yasmin Alibhai-Brown said: “Make no mistake, Taliban devotees are in our schools, playgrounds, homes, mosques, political parties, public service, private firms and universities. “And if we are to have any hope [...]

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:12:47 +0000

Moderate Muslim groups ‘share al-Qaeda’s goal’

Many mainstream Islamic groups who denounce violence and terrorism still want to bring Britain under Islamic control, a leaked security report warns. The report, called “Preventing terrorism, where next for Britain?”, was produced confidentially by think-tank Quilliam and given to the Government’s Office for Security and Counter Terrorism. The document says the ideology of non-violent [...]

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:55:12 +0000

Labour leadership contender criticises Christian registrar

A Labour leadership candidate has slammed Christian registrar Lillian Ladele – who was bullied at work and disciplined for her religious stance on homosexual civil partnerships. Diane Abbott also told homosexual news website, pinknews.co.uk, that she is “in favour of same-sex marriage” and removing the safeguards on homosexual men giving blood. Miss Abbott accused Miss [...]

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:33:30 +0000

Halal-only menu for London primary schools sparks row

Harrow Council in London has provoked a storm of protest after announcing plans to prefer Islamic halal-only menus in the borough’s state primary schools. Parents are outraged that meat prepared according to Islamic Sharia law is being pushed on non-Muslim children. Contracts signed with the council’s preferred catering company, Harrison’s, stipulate that only halal meat [...]

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:27:36 +0000

Trans criminal will not go to jail: it’s too ‘awkward’

A transsexual man who harassed his neighbours for five years will not be jailed because a judge has agreed that prison would be “awkward and dangerous” for him. Jan Krause, who lives as a woman, monitored his neighbours’ movements and even erected a roof-mounted device which emitted a high-pitched whine in the direction of his [...]

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:40:47 +0000

Video: Girl guides add voices to anti-sexualisation push

Girl guides want the Prime Minister to act against computer-enhanced pictures in adverts and magazines which present a false impression of women and lead to distorted ideas about beauty. Watch a report on the girl guides’ actions Their call comes amidst mounting concern about the sexualisation of children and as a new survey of girls [...]

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:03:29 +0000

Court overturns Californian marriage protection vote

A judge in San Francisco has outlawed a marriage protection clause to California’s constitution, despite millions of the state’s citizens voting for it. Yesterday Judge Walker controversially ruled that the clause, which makes clear that marriage is between a man and a woman, breaches the US constitution. President Obama has welcomed the court’s ruling, but [...]

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:07:52 +0000

Former ‘locked-in’ patient speaks of her will to live

A mother of two has revealed how she never lost her will to live after an illness left her paralysed and unable to speak for 18 months. Kerry Pink was left suffering from a condition known as ‘locked-in syndrome’ by an undiagnosed neurological illness when she was just 35. Mrs Pink, writing in the Daily [...]

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:53:59 +0000

Video: TV soap launches 15-year-old transsexual story

Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks is gearing up for a transsexual storyline in which a 15-year-old girl decides she “wants to be a boy”. Watch actress Victoria Atkin talk about her Hollyoaks storyline The storyline comes in the wake of ITV’s Coronation Street which used a storyline that mimicked the aims and language of homosexual lobby [...]

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:56:19 +0000

ITV’s call girl show harms anti-trafficking message

A Scottish woman’s campaigner has slammed the popular portrayal of prostitution as an empowering enjoyable activity in shows such as Secret Diary of a Call Girl, warning that it is putting women in danger. Ann Hamilton, head of the Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance (TARA), warned that such shows, accompanied by the increasing popularity of scantily [...]

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:34:00 +0000

Watchdog ruling upholds controversial abortion ad

Britain’s first televised advert for abortion services has been cleared by the advertising watchdog despite the ad generating over a thousand complaints. The commercial, by abortion provider Marie Stopes International (MSI), provoked a storm of controversy when it was aired on Channel 4 earlier this year. Critics warned that the 30-second ad was misleading and [...]

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:47:43 +0000

Video: Prof back to work after row over RC teaching

A popular professor who was barred from teaching at a US university after he explained Roman Catholic beliefs on homosexuality during a course on Catholicism has been reinstated. Watch a CBN news report on the story The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a US-based religious liberty organisation, has supported the professor, Kenneth Howell. David Hacker, from [...]

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:20:56 +0000

Emma Thompson says mums can’t ‘have it all’

Actress Emma Thompson has spoken out against the pressure to be a great mum and have a full-time career. Speaking to the US edition of Good Housekeeping magazine, the British actress said: “I don’t want your readers ever to think they have to have it all. I think that’s a revolting concept. It’s so false!” [...]

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:38:58 +0000

Video: Govt bans adverts for sex jobs from jobcentres

Adverts for jobs that involve sexual stimulation have been banned from taxpayer-funded jobcentres in response to “significant public concern”. Watch a BBC interview with Mr Grayling The ban, which was announced yesterday, means that the Jobcentre Plus network will no longer advertise jobs that involve “direct sexual stimulation” – such as strippers and lap-dancers. Chris [...]

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:45:55 +0000

First ‘embryonic’ stem cell treatment to go ahead in US

Stem cells derived from human embryos are set to be used on people for the first time in a series of clinical trials on those suffering from spinal cord injuries. The move has been approved by the Obama administration, but will be fiercely resisted by those opposed to the harvesting of stem cells from embryos, [...]

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:32:27 +0000

Video: US Christian woman dissuades would-be robber

A Christian shop manager stopped an armed would-be robber by talking about her faith in Jesus. Watch an ITN report Nayara Goncalves, who runs a mobile phone shop in Florida, told the armed man, who has now been named as Israel Camacho, about her Christian belief and said he shouldn’t attempt to rob people. CCTV [...]

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 09:10:38 +0000

Heretical BBC comedy is ‘rather good’ says Rowan Williams

An adult BBC Two comedy about an inner city liberal vicar is “really rather good”, according to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Watch a behind the scenes film on Rev Rowan Williams said the show, “Rev”, reveals “something about the continuing commitment of the church to run down and challenging areas” as well as depicting someone [...]

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:54:35 +0000

David Miliband in favour of full homosexual marriage

Labour leadership hopeful David Miliband has said he wants “to change the definition of marriage”. Mr Miliband, MP for South Shields, said he was in favour of same-sex marriage, commenting it was the “next step in our mission for equality”. But the move would impose the new definition on society and could cause a surge [...]

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:51:07 +0000

More than 1,000 11 and 12-year-olds are on the Pill

Over 1,000 girls in the first year of secondary school were prescribed the contraceptive pill last year, according to shocking new figures. This represents a fivefold increase in the past decade, and critics are concerned about the increasing sexualisation of the nation’s children. The figures, from the General Practice Research Database (GPRD), also revealed that [...]

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:47:59 +0000

Second ‘legal high’ drug NRG-1 has been banned

A second so-called ‘legal high’, NRG-1, has been banned and made a Class B drug, the Government Minister for Crime Prevention James Brokenshire has announced. The substance is similar to Mephedrone, which was banned in April after being linked to a spate of young deaths in the UK. The Government’s drugs watchdog, the Advisory Council [...]

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:59:07 +0000

Scots police force to ramp up ‘hate crime’ work

A Scottish police force has launched a campaign to clamp down on ‘hate crimes’ and ‘hate incidents’. But critics are concerned that ‘hate crime’ initiatives are straying into issues of civil liberty by confusing disagreement with hatred. Earlier this month a report by the Civitas think-tank warned that Christians are being unfairly targeted for hate [...]

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:46:39 +0000

One of UK’s earliest babies celebrates her 21st birthday

A woman who was born days before the upper abortion limit has just celebrated her 21st birthday, and voiced her support for a reduction in the termination limit. Jessica Phelan was born 23 weeks and four days into her mother’s pregnancy, and her comments add to calls for changes to the abortion law. Miss Phelan [...]

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:15:47 +0000

Video: slammed EastEnders storyline ‘not about religion’

An EastEnders storyline which portrays a Christian pastor as a murderer is not “demoting” the faith, the actor who plays the character has claimed. Watch Don Gilet talk about his EastEnders character Over 100 Christians have already complained to the BBC over the plot which shows Pentecostal preacher Lucas Johnson attacking his wife, failing to [...]

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:04:07 +0000

Over 80,000 suspensions for violence at school

Tens of thousands of school pupils were suspended from English schools last year for attacking their teachers or classmates, according to shocking new statistics. Almost 17,000 of these suspensions involved primary school pupils aged 11 and under, and over 63,000 of them involved children in secondary schools. The Department for Education’s statistics also revealed that [...]

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:45:05 +0000

Hope for future of ‘locked-in’ patients

People who are almost completely paralysed could soon be able to drive an electric wheelchair, type messages to their loved ones and surf the web, thanks to new research by Israeli scientists. The research is likely to bring fresh hope to those affected by ‘locked-in syndrome’, a condition which locks an intact mind into a [...]

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:15:34 +0000

Scots school pupils in drink and drugs shame

At least 550 Scottish school children, including primary aged pupils, are being thrown out of class for using drugs or alcohol each year, new figures disclose. Of Scotland’s 32 councils only nine authorities reported back with figures, suggesting numbers could be much higher. A Sunday Post report reveals that children in Scotland are more likely [...]

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:50:49 +0000

Scots IVF clinic makes move towards designer babies

A Scottish fertility clinic could soon allow women to genetically screen their unborn children and discard those with defects. However, the controversial scheme has drawn criticism as a further step towards the creation of designer babies. Doctors at the Glasgow Centre for Reproductive Medicine (GCRM) claim that the genetic screening of IVF embryos would lessen [...]

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:00:42 +0000

Pro-lifers cautious over new NI abortion consultation

Pro-lifers have expressed a guarded welcome to a new consultation on abortion laws in Northern Ireland (NI). The consultation has been released by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and is the latest in a long-running legal battle over the issue. And while SPUC, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, [...]

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:41:52 +0000

‘Mercy killing’ mum to appeal murder conviction

A mother who was given a life sentence for the ‘mercy killing’ of her brain damaged son is appealing against her conviction for murder. Frances Inglis killed her son Thomas by injecting him with a lethal dose of heroin in November 2008 after a previous attempt to kill him failed. Last week Mrs Inglis appeared [...]

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:14:20 +0000

Govt taskforce aims to cut red tape in voluntary sector

Red tape and bureaucracy which “too often gets in the way” of charities and voluntary groups needs to be cut, the Government has said. Announcing a taskforce to tackle the issue Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd said the burden of regulation needs to be eased so that charities can get on with their work. [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:40:26 +0000

Under-fire EU Directive mired in disagreement

A controversial EU Directive, which Christians fear will undermine free speech and freedom of religion, is being held up in negotiations between European member states. The Directive seeks to outlaw discrimination on grounds including sexual orientation and religion in the provision of goods and services, and includes a harassment provision which threatens free speech. The [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:11:16 +0000

US activists demand RC doctors carry out abortions

A campaign group in America is attempting to force medical professionals, including Roman Catholic doctors and nurses, to go against their consciences and perform abortions. But a US organisation which battles for religious liberty says it will fight such an idea, and sue the US Government if it allows any such action to go ahead. [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:14:26 +0000

Obama appeals against federal funds ban on embryo research

President Obama’s administration has formally challenged a court order which temporarily blocks federal funding of embryonic stem cell (ESC) research in the United States. Last week US District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that all ESC research violated a federal law prohibiting federal tax money from being used for research involving the destruction of human [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:07:16 +0000

Two arrests over assisted suicide of disabled man

Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of a severely disabled man at the highly controversial Dignitas facility in Switzerland. Douglas Sinclair, who was suffering from a rare debilitating disorder, is believed to have travelled to the suicide facility in Zurich to end his life in July. And now Northumbria Police have [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:45:31 +0000

Scots end-of-life Bill backed by humanists

A controversial attempt to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland is being supported by a humanist campaign group. The End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill, proposed by independent MSP Margo MacDonald, would allow terminally ill people and those who are “permanently physically incapacitated” to seek assistance in ending their lives. The Humanist Society of Scotland (HSS) [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:38:13 +0000

BBC attacked for biased mosque documentary

A national journalist has slammed the BBC for screening a pro-Islamic documentary about a controversial mosque which has previously been linked to Muslim supremacists. Andrew Gilligan, in a comment piece for The Daily Telegraph, accused the broadcaster of airing a “licence-fee-funded, half-hour advertorial” for the East London Mosque which has been linked to the Islamic [...]

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:13:35 +0000

BBC boss: left wing political bias is less prevalent now

The BBC’s content is less politically biased than it previously was, the Director General of the corporation has claimed. Mark Thompson also asserted, despite previous accusations that the corporation has been pushing for the legalisation of assisted suicide, that the BBC doesn’t campaign on political issues. Speaking to the New Statesman Mr Thompson admitted that [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:53:33 +0000

Tatchell repeats call for lower age of consent

‘Homosexual rights’ campaigner Peter Tatchell has repeated his call for the age of consent to be lowered to just 14. His position has been strongly rebuffed in the past, with one commentator saying that sex is for people who can cope with the consequences, “In a word, adults.” Mr Tatchell’s latest comments echo those made [...]

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:58:12 +0000

Preach The Word - 10th Anniversary - 2000-2010

September 1st 2010 marks the 10th Anniversary of the ministry of Preach The Word. Over the next 10 days we'll be featuring a sermon from each of our 10 years of ministry. Visit the site today to see the first featured sermon from the year 2000, and then take a stroll down memory lane to see what our site looked like at launch, in 2003, 2004 and 2006. Thank you to all our visitors for your encouragement and support throughout the last decade. We look forward, in the will of God, to another 10 years of preaching the Word online and sharing the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:10:50 GMT

NEW SERIES - Life In The Spirit Pt1: Religion Or Relationship?

Join us for the first of our series of studies entitled 'Life In The Spirit'. David Legge takes us through the Apostle Paul's letter to the Galatians, seeking to bring us helpful guidelines for living the Christian life. In this first study, we are asked whether our Christian life is a life of 'Religion Or Relationship?'. Many believers, particularly those who deeply desire to obey God, live their lives in a legalistic manner. Is your Christian experience one of a performance-based set of religious rules, which rob you of your joy? Or do you have a vibrant relationship with God? This sermon is available now in MP3, WMA, video and text formats...

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:10:02 GMT