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In the News

  • Times (£): Christmas party liaisons see rise in emergency contraception
    December 18th, 2016

    Christmas parties are being blamed for increased levels of unprotected sex and a dash to pharmacists to get prescriptions of the morning after pill.

    NHS Scotland figures show that in each year between 2013-14 and 2015-16 prescriptions for emergency contraception were 7-10% higher in December than in November, rising over the period last year from 7,363 to 7,879.

    In Scottish health board areas containing cities and those hosting large Hogmanay celebrations, the annual rise has been as much as 16% (Greater Glasgow and Clyde) and 13% (Lothian). Within the NHS Grampian area the increase was 14% in 2013-14, while in 2015-16 Forth Valley recorded a rise of 16% and NHS Lanarkshire a rise of 20%.

    Read more. 

  • Times (£): Our excluded need to feel more British, and we can help them by Sajid Javid
    December 18th, 2016

    When I was about eight years old I went to see my family GP in Bristol. I wasn’t unwell; I didn’t need medical help — I was there to serve as interpreter for my mum, who, a decade after arriving from Pakistan, could still speak only the most basic English.

    Eventually she decided that enough was enough. Today she’s completely fluent and her life has improved immeasurably as a result.

    Read more. 

  • Anglican American Council: What are the limits of Anglican Diversity by Phil Ashey
    December 17th, 2016

    This week it has been reported that the Bishops of the Church of England have been meeting to discuss the proposals of the controversial Pilling Report. The Pilling Report recommends that the Mother Church of the Anglican Communion extend its liturgical blessing to same sex civil partnerships, perhaps even same-sex civil marriages. If the Bishops decide to do so, they will be breaking the traditional Christian teaching that all sexual practice outside (heterosexual) marriage, including same-sex sexual practice, is sinful and contrary to God’s will revealed in Scripture. This is the starting point for the Church of England Evangelical Council’s recent essay to the Bishops and the wider Church, Guarding the Deposit: Apostolic Truth for an Apostolic Church (2016). 

    Read more. 

  • Telegraph: Government child sex abuse inquiry to interview paedophiles as victims hit out at 'insulting' decision
    December 16th, 2016

    Child sex abuse victims have condemned as "insulting" the decision to consult paedophiles as part of the Government’s £100 million national inquiry.

    Professor Alexis Jay, the inquiry’s chairman, yesterday unveiled her long-awaited review following a series of crises that have dogged the abuse investigation, admitting its progress had been "too slow".

    But campaigners have accused Prof Jay of watering down victims’ public evidence sessions while adding an extra research project that will conduct interviews with convicted paedophiles.

    Read more. 

  • NSS: MP says Government's silence over Louis Smith heralds 'unwritten blasphemy law'
    December 16th, 2016

    Conservative MP Charles Walker has sharply criticised the media for unleashing "a torrent of venom" against Louis Smith, and said the Government was "nowhere to be seen" when it should have been defending free expression.

    Mr Walker said the Government's silence over the hounding and death threats against Louis Smith "heralds, de facto, the reintroduction of an unwritten blasphemy law, enforced by threat and thuggery."

    He said the episode "shamed our nation and its laws."

    "In our liberal and open society, freedom of worship marches hand in hand with the freedom to lampoon religion. Quite simply, that is the deal."

    Read more. 

  • Telegraph: Fidelity will no longer be marriage requirement under draft Italian law
    December 16th, 2016

    Married couples in Italy will no longer have to pledge fidelity to each other under a draft law being considered by Parliament.

    MPs are considering an amendment to article 143 of Italy's civil code which would remove the word "fidelity" from Italian marriage contracts.

    The promise not to cheat is a "cultural legacy from an outdated and obsolete view of marriage, family, and the rights and duties of spouses", according to a dozen senators backing the bill.

    Read more. 

  • Irish News: Ashers bakery to pursue 'gay cake' appeal at Supreme Court
    December 16th, 2016

    Christian bakers found to have unlawfully refused to make a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan are to press ahead with attempts to take their case to the Supreme Court, it was confirmed today.

    Lawyers for the McArthur family can now petition directly for a hearing in London after being formally refused leave to appeal by senior judges in Belfast.

    Ashers' Baking Company was also ordered to pay limited costs in the landmark legal battle with customer Gareth Lee.

    Read more. 

  • Spectator: Murdered Christians are 2016’s least fashionable minority by Damian Thompson
    December 16th, 2016

    The murderers and persecutors of Christians have had a good year. With one exception – the killing of Fr Jacques Hamel in July as he celebrated Mass in a church in Normandy – the world has continued to look away as Islamists and other fanatics have slaughtered followers of Jesus Christ.

    I don’t mean that we consciously look away – we simply don’t know about most of these atrocities. There are no celebs out there ‘raising awareness’; they’re too busy weeping over Brexit and Trump. In one attack last June, 460 Christians died. Can you tell me where it happened? I couldn’t have, until yesterday, when I did a Google search in preparation for today’s Holy Smoke podcast.

    Read more. 

  • BBC: Children 'left at risk by government reform delay'
    December 16th, 2016

    Children are being left "at risk of harm" because of the government's failure to develop "credible" plans to improve child protection, MPs warn.

    "Urgent" action is needed to end the variations in the quality of help for vulnerable children in England, the Public Accounts Committee says.

    The MPs called for the publication of detailed plans to transform child protection services.

    The government says it has a relentless focus on keeping children safe.

    Read more. 

  • BHA: Friends, family, food, and giving - the real meaning of Christmas revealed
    December 16th, 2016

    Spending time with family, giving presents, and food and drink: these three things define Christmas for most people in Britain, according to new research by YouGov commissioned by the British Humanist Association (BHA). The research showed that 91% of the British population celebrate Christmas in some shape or form, but that only 1 in 5 Brits (22%) said that celebrating the birth of Christ makes Christmas an important time, suggesting that Christmas has become a fundamentally secular festival for most.

    The survey asked people for which, if any, of twelve possible reasons Christmas is important to them and people could select as many reasons as they wished. Attending a religious service was the least selected response (15%) and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ was the second-least selected (22%). This is compared with 76% who identified Christmas with spending time with family and 63% who said giving presents to friends and/or family was important.

    Read more.