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In the News

  • Parliament: The future of civil partnership
    January 10th, 2017

    This Commons Library briefing paper considers the calls made by some for civil partnership to be made available to opposite sex couples

    Civil partnership and marriage across the UK

    In England, Wales and Scotland, same sex couples have the option to marry or to register a civil partnership if they wish to gain legal recognition for their relationship. In Northern Ireland, same sex couples may register a civil partnership but may not marry. Across the UK, opposite sex couples may marry but they may not register a civil partnership.

    Read more.

  • YouGov: Combining human cells and animal embryo; Inviting someone for a first date
    January 10th, 2017

    Scientists are hoping to implant human stem cells in an animal embryo so that it will grow specific human organs. The approach could, in theory, provide ready-made replacement for a diseased heart or liver – eliminating the wait for a human donor and reducing the risk of organ rejection. Do you approve or disapprove. 

    Read more. 

  • Christian Today: North Korea Heads Big Rise In Christian Persecution Worldwide
    January 10th, 2017

    Christian persecution is rising rapidly across Asia, with a dramatic increase in India and surrounding countries, according to Open Doors.

    India, Yemen, Bangladesh and Laos have witnessed the biggest rises in Christian persection, the persecution charity's latest World Watch List reveals.

    North Korea tops the list again, as it has for the past 15 years.

    Read more. 

  • Christian Institute: Street preacher celebrates 'wonderful result'
    January 10th, 2017


    A Christian street preacher has been cleared of threatening and abusive behaviour relating to comments he made about homosexual conduct.

    Gordon Larmour's trial lasted just one hour as the judge ruled there was insufficient evidence against him and delivered a not guilty verdict at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.

    The Christian Legal Centre, which represented Larmour, praised the verdict as a "wonderful result", for both Larmour and for "Christian evangelists in the UK".

    Read more. 

  • Birmingham Mail: 'Trojan Horse' extremists are still infiltrating schools across the country, says Government adviser
    January 10th, 2017

    Religious extremists are infiltrating schools across the country in a similar way to the Trojan Horse scandal in Birmingham, MPs have been warned.

    Government adviser Dame Louise Casey, who published a major review on community integration across Britain in December, said people with a religious agenda were imposing their ideas on schools.

    Her report warned that Birmingham has some of the most segregated schools in the country, with pupils overwhelmingly from just one ethnic group despite the huge diversity of the city’s population.

    Read more. 

  • BBC: Transgender prison deaths: Watchdog calls for action
    January 10th, 2017

    A spate of transgender prisoner deaths highlights the need for action to be taken, a watchdog has said.

    The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman said jails should be more flexible and proactive in managing such inmates.

    Ombudsman Nigel Newcomen said although his office had investigated relatively few deaths and complaints, numbers were on the rise.

    Read more. 

  • The Gospel Coalition: What Christianity Alone Offers Transgender Persons
    January 10th, 2017

    A day barely passes without transgender issues hitting the news. It might be a human interest feature about someone transitioning from one sex to another, and how they’ve been received (or not) by their communities. It might concern the politics of rights for transgender men and women, and which restrooms should be available to them. It might have to do with complex discussions about the causes of and treatments available for transgenderism. But one thing’s for sure: This issue isn’t going away anytime soon, and we Christians can’t afford to avoid it.

    Yet many of us will want to. We know we’re treading on hugely sensitive ground. We know we’re dealing with areas of deeply personal pain for many men and women, and we will be wary of saying things that might add to that pain.

    Read more.

  • BBC: 'Bonfire of children's rights' Bill opposed
    January 9th, 2017

    A Bill described as "a bonfire of child protection rights", which would let councils opt out of key legal duties to children, is being debated on Tuesday.

    The Children and Social Work Bill would let local councils apply to set aside children's rights and checks on care to try out innovative ways of working.

    The government argues it is a bold approach to removing red tape.

    Read more.

  • Guardian: Greg Clarke says gay footballers could come out together at start of season
    January 9th, 2017

    Greg Clarke, the Football Association chairman, has spoken to gay footballers and suggested the idea of a group of players coming out together.

    Clarke said last year that he "wouldn’t recommend" a footballer coming out at the moment because of the risk they would be verbally abused, but believes several players sharing the spotlight may be the answer. "I put the message out there that if a number of top-level pros want to come out, why don’t we synchronise it? So one person doesn’t have to come out on their own," he said in an interview with the Times newspaper.

    "The Premier League, the Football League and the FA could do it at the start of the season. At the start of the season everybody thinks it is their season, the crowds are happy, the sun is shining. I was asked [recently] if football is ready for top-level pros to come out and I said I’m not sure we were."

    Read more.

  • Telegraph: Islamic school downgraded by Ofsted after its pupils did not know who Theresa May and Hillary Clinton were
    January 9th, 2017

    An Islamic school has been downgraded by Ofsted after its pupils did not know who Theresa May and Hillary Clinton were when quizzed by inspectors.

    The independent, all-boys Darul Hadis Latifiah school was branded inadequate across all areas, as the school watchdog concluded pupils were "not prepared for life in modern Britain" and many were unable to name the country's Prime Minister.

    Inspectors also found CCTV cameras in the school toilets and a book which "promoted inappropriate views" on how girls and women should behave in the Bethnall Green school.

    Read more.