Skip to content

Archive site notice

You are viewing an archived copy of Christian Concern's website. Some features are disabled and pages may not display properly.

To view our current site, please visit christianconcern.com

In the News

  • Anglican Ink: Irish synod to debate apology for failure to support gay couples
    May 4th, 2017

    The Church of Ireland's General Synod is set to debate tomorrow a private member's motion that would apologize for its refusal to give sacramental support to same-sex couples. Scheduled for Friday afternoon, 5 May 2017, Motion 12 asks Synod meeting at the South Court Hotel in Limerick to acknowledge the "injury felt by members of the church who enter into loving, committed and legally recognised, same-sex relationships, due to the absence of provision for them to mark that key moment in their lives publicly and prayerfully in church".

    It further "respectfully requests the House of Bishops to investigate a means to develop sensitive, local pastoral arrangements for public prayer and thanksgiving with same-sex couples at these key moments in their lives, and to present their ideas to general synod 2018, with a view to making proposals at general synod 2019."

    In 2012 Synod reaffirmed the church's traditional understanding as being between one man and one woman. Subsequent meetings created a select committee to examine the theological issues surrounding same-sex relations.

    Read more.

  • Christian Today: New Bishop of Sodor and Man announced as 'focus of unity' for Church
    May 4th, 2017

    Downing Street has announced the new Bishop of Sodor and Man as the Ven Peter Eagles, currently archdeacon for the army.

    Eagles replaces Robert Paterson, who retired as bishop in November last year.

    Currently an honorary canon of Salisbury Cathedral, Eagles said he was 'thrilled and deeply honoured' by the appointment.

    Read more.

  • Policy Options: Mandating physicians to participate in assisted suicide
    May 4th, 2017

    Of all the jurisdictions worldwide that permit some form of assisted suicide, Ontario stands alone in mandating that physicians participate in it.

    Assisted suicide, or "medical assistance in dying" (MAID), as it is now known, was decriminalized in certain specific circumstances as a result of the Supreme Court's 2015 decision in Carter v. Canada and has been implemented through Bill C-14, which amended relevant sections of the Criminal Code in 2016.

    But does permitting what was once a criminal activity now mean that all health care professionals must participate? Not according to the Supreme Court. In Carter the Court affirmed that nothing in its ruling would compel physicians to participate in assisted dying. Bill C-14 similarly affirmed that nothing in the amendments would affect the constitutional guarantee of freedom of conscience and religion.

    Read more.

  • Solicitors Journal: New parliament a 'perfect opportunity' to introduce no-fault divorce
    May 4th, 2017

    The UK's leading political parties should commit to modernising family justice in their respective manifestos, family lawyers have said ahead of the forthcoming general election.

    Resolution, which represents around 6,500 family lawyers, has put forward four proposals to party leaders, which it claims 'will make a huge, positive difference to the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people that separate each year'.

    In a letter to each of the major parties, Nigel Shepherd, the national chair of Resolution, calls for MPs to commit to: providing cohabiting couples basic legal rights; ensuring fair access to the family justice system; giving people more financial clarity on divorce; and introducing no-fault divorce.

    Read more.

  • Mail: Ex-soldier posted message on Facebook as he ends life
    May 4th, 2017

    An ex-soldier who once arrested IRA boss Martin McGuinness posted a final message on Facebook before ending his life at Dignitas which read: 'Dying to do this.'

    David Nigel Casson, 62, went to the assisted dying clinic in Switzerland to end his life after a 10-year battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

    His wife Julie Casson added his parting message to his public profile on his behalf so he could explain his brave decision.

    Read more.

  • World: Too young to cross a street but old enough for a sex change
    May 4th, 2017

    More than 200 children under the age of 14 died in the United States in 2014 after being struck by a car. Another 8,000 suffered injuries, according to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis.

    A new research study conducted at the University of Iowa has determined children younger than 14 do not possess the cognitive skills and judgment to safely cross a street. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published an excerpt of the study in its Daily Briefing, a nod some physicians found ironic, given the organization's support for transgender treatment.

    "This same AAP, however, also frequently promotes the claim that children this age or younger are cognitively capable of deciding that they are the wrong sex," noted Michelle Cretella, president of the American College of Pediatricians, a conservative alternative to the AAP. "Moreover, the AAP also deems children cognitively competent to consent to puberty blockers, toxic sex hormones, and mutilating sex reassignment surgery."

    Read more.

  • Christian Institute: More than half of MSPs oppose assisted suicide: Survey
    May 4th, 2017

    The majority of MSPs oppose assisted suicide, according to a recent survey.

    It showed that 56 per cent of MSPs either "strongly oppose" or "somewhat oppose" any change to the law to allow physician-assisted suicide.

    The survey was conducted by Dignity in Dying Scotland.

    Read more.

  • Evening Standard: Douglas Murray on immigration, Islam and identity
    May 4th, 2017

    Douglas Murray hopes his new book, The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam, won't be seen as incendiary.

    Given that it opens with the line "Europe is committing suicide", it's hard to see how it won't. Murray is a gay, English Right-wing journalist who has written books about Lord Alfred Douglas, Neo-conservatism and Lord Saville's Bloody Sunday Enquiry. More controversially, he is an overt critic of Islam and of mass migration into Europe who does not mince his words. "You only have two options: to say what you think or be quiet. The second has never come naturally and what people don't want to say is often the most interesting thing to write about," says Murray, taking a sip of his cappuccino.

    Broadly speaking, his thesis is that the unprecedented levels of migration into Europe coming at the same time as the continent has lost faith in its beliefs and identity will result in its downfall. The combination of guilt about our past, declining birth rates and the demise of traditional Christian values, together with the abject failure of multiculturalism, means Europe as we know it will cease to exist within the lifespans of most people alive today.

    Read more.

  • Times (£): Lecturers 'failing to report students over radicalisation'
    May 4th, 2017

    Lecturers and teachers have been criticised by a terrorism expert for their reluctance to sound the alarm about students at risk of radicalisation.

    Lord Carlile of Berriew, QC, said that shop assistants and cleaners at airports were happy to report suspicions to the authorities and questioned why educationalists were reluctant to do the same.

    The University and College Union, which represents lecturers, and the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers opposed a law requiring universities and schools to refer students to the Prevent programme, which helps vulnerable people to escape radicalisation.

    Read more.

  • Evening Standard: Muslim and LGBT communities to mark Ramadan with meal at Pride in London festival
    May 3rd, 2017

    The capital's LGBT and Muslim communities will meet to mark Ramadan as part of this year's Pride in London festival.

    The Big Gay Iftar, at St Andrew's Church in Southwark, will see participants join in the traditional Islamic sunset evening meal.

    Pride in London said the event on June 24, open to anyone, will allow people "to talk to one another, learn about each others' faiths, cultures and sexualities and spread some love."

    Read more.