For most of his adult life, Ahmed Qassim al-Ghamdi worked among the bearded enforcers of Saudi Arabia. He was a dedicated employee of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice — known abroad as the religious police — serving with the front-line troops protecting the Islamic kingdom from Westernization, secularism and anything but the most conservative Islamic practices.
In the News
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July 10th, 2016
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July 10th, 2016
Unscrupulous fertility clinics are routinely charging desperate couples £1,000 extra for an unnecessary treatment that may actually hinder their chance of becoming parents, say experts.
Doctors are increasingly pushing a lab technique called ICSI, where a single sperm is injected directly into the egg.
Critics say the scientific method should be a 'last resort' only for couples where the man has severe fertility problems. But instead, they say, some profit-hungry clinics are recommending ICSI as an additional treatment for most couples – even when they will not benefit from it.
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July 10th, 2016
Moments after giving birth, her son not yet in her arms, Lolita Wästerlund had an urgent fear. “Does he have a really big nose?” she near screamed. Her partner Patrik, and the doctors and nurses who had performed the caesarean, looked bemused. Almost a year on, Lolita – or Lollo to her friends – shakes her head at the memory. "It’s a funny question, but in one picture during the ultrasound it looked like he had a really, really big nose. But they said: 'No, his nose is just perfect.' What a question!"
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July 10th, 2016
The Church of England is to break with centuries of tradition by allowing vicars to swap clerical robes for casual attire at services.
The General Synod gave preliminary approval to controversial new rules that would permit clergy to dress down for weddings, funerals and Sunday services so they can reach out to modern worshippers.
The reforms, which are expected to be finally approved by the Church next year, have already been attacked by critics who fear clergy will undermine the dignity of their calling by wearing football shirts or jeans at solemn occasions.
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July 10th, 2016
Mormon missionaries will remain in Russia despite the country’s new anti-terrorism law, which will put greater restrictions on religious work starting later this month.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said missionaries will respect a measure that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law this week.
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July 9th, 2016
Thousands of couples a year are being denied a church wedding because of “completely crazy” restrictions on the use of some of England’s oldest and most beautiful places of worship, the outgoing ecclesiastical heritage guardian has warned.
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July 9th, 2016
The United Reformed Church has voted overwhelmingly to allow same-sex couples to marry in its buildings.
Members of the URC's ruling general assembly voted in favour at a meeting in Merseyside, although individual churches will not be forced to comply.
The URC becomes the largest Christian organisation in Britain to offer same-sex weddings in its churches.
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July 9th, 2016
A handful of hardline conservatives in the Church of England are expected to boycott two days of private discussions on same-sex relationships at the General Synod in York.
Reflecting bitter divisions within the church over the issue, a small number of conservative evangelicals will refuse to take part in the discussions, which open on Sunday and are mediated by 23 expert facilitators hired from the worlds of international diplomacy and business.
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July 9th, 2016
The largest single provider of schools and academies in England has today launched a bold and ambitious vision for education at General Synod. The Church of England educates 1 million pupils in 4700 schools and has plans to open another 125 schools in the next five years. Speaking at Synod, the lead Bishop for education, Stephen Conway, Bishop of Ely, said the vision will equip the Church in the current wider education framework: 'With the opportunity to shape and enhance our provision and to influence the debate about what education is for; to open new schools and develop existing schools; and to provide radically new approaches to how we function as a movement for education and train teachers and leaders to share that vision.'
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July 8th, 2016
The Anglican Church of Canada will vote Monday on a resolution to change the denomination's definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.
The Church's canon defines marriage as being between one man and one woman, but Resolution A051-A1 calls for the removal of the words "union of man and woman" and "husband and wife" and to be replaced by the word "partner."
If passed, the resolution would also allow clergy to officiate same-sex marriages "if it's authorized by the diocean bishop."