Religion News http://orange-order.co.uk Thu, 17 May 2012 14:09:56 +0000 2000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40513-free-presbyterian-church-leaders-horrified-by-%e2%80%98tacky%e2%80%99-loyd-webber-jesus-christ-superstar-musical/ http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/church-leaders-horrified-by-tacky-musical-1-3849269

Published on Thursday 17 May 2012 08:32

A NEW arena tour version of a controversial musical production has been slammed by Free Presbyterian leaders as “plummeting to new depths”.

Since it was premiered in London’s West End four decades ago, Jesus Christ Superstar has provoked angry protests from many Christians who deem the show to be distasteful and blasphemous. The latest incarnation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber production will see the actor playing Jesus selected by public vote on a prime-time television show.

Following a series of programmes broadcast across the UK on ITV1, the actor coming out on top will join a cast containing former Spice Girl Melanie C and Radio One’s Chris Moyles.

Lloyd Webber will chair the panel of judges, whittling the contestants down to the final batch to face the public vote.

The first stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar was an arena tour in America in 1971.

Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church the Rev Ron Johnstone said he was “absolutely shocked and horrified” at Biblical themes being used in this way.

“While I wouldn’t want it done with other religions, I just couldn’t see them getting away with that with other ethnic or religious groups in Britain,” he said.

“Why do they offend a large section of the population who look upon our Lord and Saviour as God the Son, and who look upon it as blasphemy? Obviously we will make our opposition known.”

The Rev Ian Brown, convenor of the Government and Morals Committee in the Free Presbyterian Church, said irrespective of the number or calibre of celebrities lined up for the new show “the underlying problems remain”.

He added: “Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s basic purpose has never changed. Basically the idea of the whole opera is to have Christ seen through the eyes of Judas, and Christ as a man, not as a god.

“And the fact that Christ himself is just as mixed up and unaware of exactly who he is, as Judas is.

“This statement positions the opera in a long line of historic assaults upon the wonderful person, life and work of God’s well beloved Son.

“In the latest idea to maximise the advertising of this production – auditions for the role of Jesus being decided by the public by means of an ITV primetime show – it is guaranteed that this show will be more tacky and insulting to Christ than ever.

“Through this vehicle of their creation, Rice and Webber present Jesus as a mere man, not God; as a mixed up man who had little true idea as to who He was or what He had come to do; as a man surrounded by myth (‘an awful lot happened in Christ’s life that could easily be legend’); and as an impure man, engaged in an illicit relationship with Mary Magdalene.

“Each of these allegations is contrary to the biblical description of Christ – a calculated attack on One who is ‘Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens’ (Hebrews 7:26).”

The new tour opens in London in September and reaches the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on October 9.

Free Presbyterians protested at Belfast’s Grand Opera House in November last year during a stage production of the musical.]]> Thu, 17 May 2012 14:09:56 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40513-free-presbyterian-church-leaders-horrified-by-%e2%80%98tacky%e2%80%99-loyd-webber-jesus-christ-superstar-musical/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40488-queen-should-remain-defender-of-the-faith-bbc-poll/ Queen 'should remain Defender of the Faith' - BBC poll
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18056322
By Alex Strangwayes-Booth
BBC News

The Queen defended the role of the Church of England in a speech at Lambeth Palace

Almost % of people in England support a religious role for the Queen, a BBC poll suggests.

In a poll by Comres to coincide with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, 79% of respondents said she still had an important faith role.

Meanwhile, 73% said she should continue as supreme governor of the Church of England and keep the Defender of the Faith title first given to Henry VIII.

Comres polled 2,591 people about links between the Church and monarchy.

About 25% of those polled thought the Queen and future monarchs should not have any faith role.

Common values
The Queen's first Jubilee engagement of the year was at a multi-faith reception at Lambeth Palace, where she defended the role of the Church of England.

Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote

I don't think that in a multicultural society we should be telling people that actually you are excluded from this”

Graham Smith
Republic
She said the Church was often misunderstood and under-appreciated.

"Its role is not to defend Anglicanism to the exclusion of all other religions, instead the Church has a duty to protect the free practice of all faiths in this country," she said.

A few weeks later she made her first Jubilee visit to Leicester, where she was greeted by Indian drummers, a Zimbabwean choir and a traditional brass band.

She also attended a service at Leicester Cathedral.

The Bishop of Leicester, the Right Reverend Tim Stevens, said it was no coincidence that she went to the city at the start of her Jubilee year.

"What we saw in Leicester was the power of that arrangement to hold people together from different faiths, if you disestablish the Church and disconnect the Church from the monarchy, it gives the impression there are almost no values we share in common at all."

Farooq Murad, the general secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, said the Queen's role in the Commonwealth meant other faith communities felt at home with her leadership of the Church of England.


The Bishop of Leicester said the Queen's visit to the city was a reminder of common values
"The largest Muslim countries, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, are part of the Commonwealth and (people) arrive here having heard of the British monarchy from their fathers and grandfathers to the extent that many of them fought for the British Empire - we feel strong Christian values are good for us, we are very much on the same grounds."

But Graham Smith, from the campaign group Republic, which wants to get rid of the Monarchy, said it was discriminating against other religions.

"I don't think that in a multicultural society we should be telling people that actually you are excluded from this," he said.

"Our head of state has even recently spoken out in defence of the Church of England. I think that's not right in a society where most people don't identify with that.

Words of fire
"It becomes exclusive and it locks ordinary people out from the institutions and the ceremonies of state."

In last year's Christmas broadcast, the Queen quoted the Bible and spoke of God sending Jesus as a saviour who taught forgiveness.

Canon Anthony Kane has monitored the Queen's Christmas broadcasts and said her personal faith remained strong.

"The fact that she speaks with a personal faith is in itself a significant action and the way that she links world events to that faith is something a preacher would want to do," he said.

The Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Richard Chartres, who gave the sermon at the wedding of the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge, warned of the danger of doing away with the Queen's title.

"If you have a political culture which rigidly excludes the voice of faith from rational dialogue in the open, what you do is push that huge energy into places where people speak words of fire together and that is one of the ingredients for growing fanaticism," he said.

The poll for BBC local radio found opinion divided on the suggestion by Prince Charles that he might change the religious role of the monarchy.

He has called for greater understanding between people of different faiths and said he would personally rather see his role as Defender of Faith, not the faith.

When asked if Prince Charles should change his title if he becomes king, only half of the respondents thought that he should.]]> Wed, 16 May 2012 08:39:24 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40488-queen-should-remain-defender-of-the-faith-bbc-poll/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40416-advertising-standards-authority-persecutes-his-grace-over-coalition-for-marriage-advert/

FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2012
Advertising Standards Authority persecutes His Grace over Coalition for Marriage advert
http://www.archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/advertising-standards-authority.html



Sign the petition here:- http://c4m.org.uk/


Apparently there have been a number of complaints about one of the advertisements His Grace carried on behalf of the Coalition for Marriage. He has been sent all manner of official papers, formal documentation and threatening notices which demand answers to sundry questions by a certain deadline. He is instructed by the ‘Investigations Executive’ of this inquisition to keep all this confidential.

Since His Grace does not dwell in Iran, North Korea, Soviet Russia, Communist China or Nazi Germany, but occupies a place in the cyber-ether suspended somewhere between purgatory and paradise, he is minded to ignore that request. Who do these people think they are?

The advertisement in question is reproduced above. His Grace would like to make it clear to the ASA that he is reproducing this allegedly ‘offensive and homophobic’ advertisement as an educative illustration of allegedly offensive and homophobic advertising; not as an offensive and homophobic advertisement per se. Naturally, His Grace apologises in advance to all those who find this educative illustration offensive and homophobic, for it is never his intention to be either offensive or homophobic. But those of you who do find it offensive and homophobic are free not to visit His Grace’s blog whenever you wish.

The specific complaint relates to:
c. An online ad, seen on the blog of ‘Archbishop Cranmer’, featured photos of couples on their wedding day on the first frame. The second frame stated “I do”. The third frame stated “70% of people* say keep marriage as it is ... (Source: ComRes poll for Catholic Voices)”. The final frame stated “Help us keep the true meaning of marriage. PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION Click here ... Coalition for Marriage”.
The 'Issue' here is that 24 anonymous complainants, 'including the Jewish Gay & Lesbian Group' (doubtless disclosed to give weight to the allegations), challenged whether the claim '70% of people say keep marriage as it is'. However, His Grace is not required to respond to that point, since he did not conduct the research. But it transpires that 10 of these 24 complainants objected that the ads were ‘offensive’ and ‘homophobic’, and he is requested to respond to these allegations ‘under CAP Code (Edition 12) rules 3.1 and 3.3 (Misleading advertising), 3.7 (Substantiation) and 4.1 (Harm and offence)’.

He is informed:
We intend to deal with the complaint as a formal investigation, which means it will be considered by the ASA Council. We will then draft a recommendation for the Council based on your response to us. Once the Council has made a decision, the adjudication will be published on our website.

...We require you to explain your rationale for the ad and comment specifically on the points raised in the attached complaint notification...
They need to see ‘robust documentary evidence to back the claims and a clear explanation from you of its relevance and why you think it substantiates the claims. It is not enough to send references to or abstracts of documents and papers without sending the reports in full and specifically highlighting the relevant parts explaining why they are relevant to the matter in hand’.

His Grace is asked specifically thttp://www.archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/advertising-standards-authority.htmlo respond to the allegation that this:



this:


this:


and this:


are ‘homophobic and offensive’.

His response must be in writing, ‘preferably by e-mail’, by 21 May (typed in bold). If His Grace is unable to comply, he must ‘explain why you are unable to respond sooner and agree a timetable for your response’.

And then we get: ‘If you are not the right person to deal with this letter please tell us and pass the letter on to someone who is.’ His Grace is minded to respond that inflicting such an inquisition on an already appallingly-persecuted long-dead archbishop is perhaps not appropriate. He could then ‘pass the letter on to someone’ he thinks might be the ‘http://www.archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/advertising-standards-authority.htmlright person’, wondering for how long he might string this out...

His Grace is further minded to respond that he has neither fear of nor hatred for the gay and lesbian community, though he is a little pissed off with 10 of them. They could easily have emailed His Grace with their complaint, and we could all have had a jolly good chinwag about the whole thing. Instead, they called in the Gestapo to censor the assertion that marriage is a life-long union between one man and one woman, in accordance with the teaching of the Established Church, the beliefs of its Supreme Governor, and the law of the land.

But to say so is now, apparently, ‘offensive and homophobic’.

Well, His Grace won’t be censored. He is further minded to provide the ASA with a copy of his well-publicised ‘bottom line’ (from the right-hand margin):
Freedom of speech must be tolerated, and everyone living in the United Kingdom must accept that they may be insulted about their own beliefs, or indeed be offended, and that is something which they must simply endure, not least because some suffer fates far worse...
Unless, of course, we are no longer free, our democracy is no longer liberal, and it is now an offence to express the moderate view of the majority and promote the orthodox teaching of the Church of England Established.

------------

FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2012
State persecution of dead preachers - 1686 and 2012
http://clydesburn.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/state-persecution-of-dead-preachers.html

You couldn't make it up. In 1686 the Covenanter minister Alexander Peden - a faithful minister in rural Scotland who like so many of his contemporaries had been branded an 'enemy of the state' by the regimes of Charles II and his brother James II - died peacefully having evaded capture (including spending time in County Antrim) for many years. Enraged by this, his body was dug up by the authorities:

'...Peden was buried in Auchinleck kirkyard but forty days later dragoons heard of his death and his place of burial. They exhumed his body and took it to Cumnock on horseback. They intended to hang his corpse on the gallows as a warning to others, this did not happen though as the plan was upset with the intervention of the Earl of Dumfries, he feared an uprising from the people of Cumnock and Peden was buried at the foot of the gallows as a final mark of disgrace...' (excerpt from Cumnock.net)

Today I have heard that an English-based blogger who operates under the name of the great English Reformer Archbishop Cranmer (biography of the original Cranmer here) is being pursued by the Advertising Standards Authority for daring to place an advert for Coalition for Marriage on his blog. Cranmer's is an articulate and popular blog on themes of faith and current affairs. You can read about it here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Cranmer
http://www.archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/advertising-standards-authority.html

The original Thomas Cranmer was burned at the stake in Oxford, where today you can visit the 'Martyrs Memorial'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrs%27_Memorial

Here is the 'offensive' advert. If you are inclined to support the campaign, click here to do so. And D A Carson's latest book, The Intolerance of Tolerance, might be of interest to you.
http://c4m.org.uk/?cranmer

]]> Mon, 14 May 2012 14:16:45 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40416-advertising-standards-authority-persecutes-his-grace-over-coalition-for-marriage-advert/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40407-heterosexual-marriage-i%e2%80%99m-sorry-you-can%e2%80%99t-discuss-that/ Cristina Odone is a journalist, novelist and broadcaster specialising in the relationship between society, families and faith. She is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies and is a former editor of the Catholic Herald and deputy editor of the New Statesman. She is married and lives in west London with her husband, two stepsons and a daughter. She has recently launched the website freefaith.com.


Heterosexual marriage? I’m sorry, you can’t discuss that
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cristinaodone/100157628/heterosexual-marriage-im-sorry-you-cant-discuss-that/
By Cristina Odone Society Last updated: May 14th, 2012
151 Comments Comment on this article

The Law Society has banned an event to discuss marriage

Natural orators can scrawl a few words on the back of a taxi receipt minutes before they’re to perform, and then entrance a large audience with passionate rhetoric and hilarious jokes. Not I. Days in advance, I have to prepare myself, writing out a speech word for word – and even then I can’t sleep the night before or eat on the day. So perhaps I should be grateful to the Law Society for banning the conference I was going to speak at on May 23. The event, sponsored by the World Congress of Families, was a discussion of marriage entitled “One man. One woman. Making the case for marriage for the good of society”. Sir Paul Coleridge, the High Court judge, and Phillip Blond, of the influential ResPublica think tank, were among the speakers.

Now the Law Society refuses to let the event take place on the society’s premises. It is “contrary to our diversity policy”, it explained in an email to the organisers, “espousing as it does an ethos which is opposed to same-sex marriage.” The heterosexual union may be the only legal form of marriage in this country, but the Law Society regards it as discriminatory.

Never mind that the World Congress of Families event was clearly presented as a “colloquium”, or discussion, rather than a platform for anti-gay marriage campaigners. Even to discuss marriage between “one man, one woman” as the basis of a good society is intolerably contentious these days. The Law Society was happy to host a debate on assisted dying — still illegal in this country — last month. But marriage? THAT incendiary subject cannot be broached in public.

Soon, subversives who wish to talk about the love that dare not speak its name will be driven underground; they will have to identify themselves with a secret handshake, hold meetings in bug-proof cells and speak in code.

Andrea Williams, the organiser of the World Congress of Families event, tells me she’s looking for a new venue. I fear only a catacomb will do.

Improve schools instead
I suspect the Coalition will find the Law Society’s veto exasperating: anyone who wants to improve lives in this country knows that the traditional family is key. So much so that David Cameron and Co are introducing £100 vouchers for parenting classes, available at Boots. I’m all for improving parenting – the price of not doing so is too high. I’m just not convinced that the parents who would most benefit from these classes will take up the offer, whether it is available through the chain of chemists or the local social worker. Much better for the Coalition to put that money into improving schools: a good education gives the young self-confidence, know-how and a feeling that they belong. The jury is still out on whether the state can teach parenting; but it can improve teaching. And it must.

Lamontations

Norman Lamont celebrated his 70th birthday with a reception at the House of Lords last week. The former chancellor was once a portly figure with signature bushy eyebrows and an intellectual’s disregard for couture. But in paying tribute to their father, Lord Lamont’s children, Sophie and Hilaire, revealed that he has undergone a transformation. He now has regular sessions with a personal trainer and has discovered a penchant for Ray-Bans. Indeed, as he took to the podium to thank his guests, Lord Lamont looked every inch the fit and fashionable grandee. Although David Cameron and William Hague made an appearance (as did the indefatigable Nancy Dell’Olio), the guest list swelled with Thatcher’s men rather than the Coalition’s. Michael Howard, Cecil Parkinson, Leon Brittan, Jeffrey Archer and John Gummer were all in attendance — prompting one guest to sigh: “For a moment, I thought we were in power again.”]]> Mon, 14 May 2012 12:57:57 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40407-heterosexual-marriage-i%e2%80%99m-sorry-you-can%e2%80%99t-discuss-that/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40282-warning-gay-weddings-will-harm-schools/ http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/education/warning-gay-weddings-will-harm-schools.17433275
Andrew Denholm
Education Correspondent
Plans to allow same-sex marriages will undermine teaching in Catholic schools, church representatives have warned.


The Catholic Education Commission believes Scottish Government proposals will make it impossible for teachers in denominational schools to teach according to church doctrines.

The warning comes days before Michael Russell, the Education Secretary, faces a tricky appearance at the annual conference of the Catholic Headteachers' Association of Scotland.

The Scottish Government has been consulting on whether to let churches hold same-sex weddings. Currently, same-sex couples can enter a civil partnership, but the ceremony cannot be conducted in a church or other religious premises.

The Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland oppose the idea. Islamic clerics from the Council of Glasgow Imams called it an attack on their faith.

Michael McGrath, director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service, said: "Despite the First Minster's rhetoric of support for faith communities and for denominational schools, this Government's actions appear to be designed to undermine both.

"While the First Minister has expressed his admiration of Catholic schools for their moral teaching, it is ironic that this legislation attempts to set aside one major item of Christian moral teaching – the sanctity of marriage as a covenant between husband and wife.

"This understanding of the sanctity of marriage is divinely ordained in Church doctrine and underpins the teaching of marriage in Catholic schools across the world."

Mr McGrath said in Scotland's 373 Catholic schools, teachers provided opportunities for learning about the "complementarity of man and woman" and the rearing of children within the family setting "ideally with a mother and a father".

He added: "The commission, in its response to the consultation, has expressed significant concern that, if such legislation were enacted, it would become impossible for teachers in Catholic schools to teach conscientiously, according to the doctrines of the Catholic Church, as parents expect them to do.

"While the right of teachers in faith schools to promote the doctrines of a school's denominational body is recognised in the Equality Act 2010, the commission is concerned that teachers would be compelled to teach according to the policies of their employers – local councils.

"Such policies would certainly require the teaching of marriage as a legal contract, rather than any doctrinal understanding of marriage as a Sacrament."

In January, leaders of the Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green and Conservative parties signed a pledge supporting a campaign to legalise same-sex marriage.

The Scottish Government then held a 14-week public consultation on the issue and said it "tends towards the view" that same-sex marriage should be introduced, but that faith groups and their celebrants should not be obliged to solemnise the ceremonies.

A spokesman said the Government is now analysing responses to the consultation and considering what to do next.

He added: "We have given an assurance that all opinions will be listened to, no final views have been reached and therefore no decisions have been taken. The analysis of the responses will be published later in the spring."]]> Thu, 10 May 2012 12:02:17 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40282-warning-gay-weddings-will-harm-schools/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40280-questions-over-paisley-attendance-at-service/ http://www.newsletter.co.uk/community/letters/questions-over-paisley-attendance-at-service-1-3824685

Published on Thursday 10 May 2012 08:48

I WAS interested to see Dr Paisley and Mervyn Storey MLA at the recent Diamond Jubilee service in St Patrick’s Parish Church in Ballymena, especially as prayers were offered by a Roman Catholic priest, Fr Delargy.

Back in 1981 I recall that Dr Paisley refused to attend the wedding of Prince Charles because a Roman Catholic cleric was taking part.

One is tempted to ask, what has changed in the last 31 years?

Has the Church of Rome returned to the Bible, or has the Free Presbyterian Church changed its position vis-à-vis the Church of Rome, and now regards it as a fellow Christian Church?

Indeed, what is the Free Presbyterian Church going to do about such flagrant flouting of its standards by a former moderator and a current ruling elder?

I await further developments with interest.

Concerned Free Presbyterian]]> Thu, 10 May 2012 11:48:13 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40280-questions-over-paisley-attendance-at-service/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40276-roman-catholic-church-statement-on-this-world-revelations/ http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/roman-catholic-church-statement-on-this-world-revelations-1-3795780

Published on Wednesday 2 May 2012 08:35

It is critical to note that Cardinal Brady’s comment in 2009 that he would resign if by his action children were put at risk was specifically in response to a question about if he was a Bishop with overall responsibility for dealing with allegations at the time of his action or inaction – but he wasn’t a Bishop in 1975, he was a priest who was asked by his own Bishop to record evidence in a process that was headed by more senior clergy than him.

Fr Brady had no authority over Brendan Smyth and the inquiry he was asked to assist in was under the management of his Bishop, not him. It would be disingenuous to report the 2009 quote in any other way.

Even today, in the State’s own guidelines for responding to allegations of abuse against children, it is the ‘Designated Person’ in the organisation who has the responsibility for reporting the matter to the civil authorities, not the person who first receives or notes the details of the allegation, as Fr Brady did in 1975.

Even according to today’s State and Church guidelines, Fr Brady would not be the person with responsibility for making a report to the civil authorities.

That responsibility at the time rested with the only people who had the authority to stop Brendan Smyth, namely the Abbot of his Monastery in Kilnacrott, to whom Bishop McKiernan reported the evidence collected by Fr Brady.

Fr Sean Brady believed the boys in 1975. He acted quickly by reporting all available information to his Bishop, Bishop Francis McKiernan so that action could be taken against Fr Brendan Smyth by his Abbot Kevin Smyth.

It would be totally disingenuous to suggest that Fr Brady, in 1975, had the power to stop Brendan Smyth or a ‘Managerial’ or ‘Designated Person’ role.

It is also important to note that those who were in charge of the Church Inquiry in 1975 and the then Fr Sean Brady, who was asked to assist in it as a ‘notary’ or note taker, were working without the benefit of any guidelines on responding to abuse of children from either the State or the Church.

It would be unreasonable and grossly unfair to judge the actions of those at that time by the standards of the clear guidance from the State and the Church that only came into existence some 20 years later.

Prior to and following the Church inquiry in 1975, Fr Brady was not aware of any additional allegations concerning Brendan Smyth.

Cardinal Brady worked full time in Rome from 1980 to the mid 1990s. Cardinal Brady was shocked, alarmed and disgusted when he first become aware of further reports of abuse by Brendan Smyth in the 1990s.

Cardinal Brady has apologised publicly and privately to all victims of abuse.

Cardinal Brady has, with other Bishops and Church leaders, led and developed robust child safeguarding policies and practices since 1996, which includes the policy of reporting such allegations to the civil authorities.]]> Thu, 10 May 2012 11:42:27 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40276-roman-catholic-church-statement-on-this-world-revelations/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40269-obama-says-same-sex-couples-should-be-able-to-marry/ Obama says same-sex couples should be able to marry
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18014102
Obama: "Same sex couples should be able to get married"

US President Barack Obama has ended months of hedging on the issue of gay marriage by saying he thinks same-sex couples should be able to wed.

He has become the first sitting US president to back gay marriage.

Mitt Romney, the Republican who is set to challenge Mr Obama for the White House in November's elections, promptly said he was against gay marriage.

In recent days, Vice-President Joe Biden and cabinet member Arne Duncan had expressed support for gay unions.

A Gallup poll on Tuesday suggested that 50% of Americans were in favour of legalising gay marriage - a slightly lower proportion than last year - while 48% said they would oppose such a move.

President Barack Obama has been forced out of the closet. Few doubted that he was in favour of gay marriage but "don't ask, don't tell" had worked well enough up until now.

The media didn't ask him. And he certainly wasn't going to tell.

I am told his campaign staff really thought they could get away with not touching this hot button issue, and go through until election night leaving his views draped with hazy protestations about the ongoing "evolution" of his views.

I have trouble believing that they thought he could avoid the question until November. But there is no doubt that the rapid evolution of his views into the limelight was not intelligent design.

Unless you see Vice-President Joe Biden as the creator of presidential frankness.

Read more from Mark
Hope and change?
The interview with ABC News was apparently hastily arranged as Mr Obama came under mounting pressure to clarify his position on the issue.

"At a certain point, I've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married," Mr Obama told ABC.

He pointed to his administration's commitment to increasing rights for gay citizens. He cited the repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy and said his administration had dropped support for the Defense of Marriage Act.

"I've stood on the side of broader equality for the LGBT community. I hesitated on gay marriage in part because I thought civil unions would be sufficient," Mr Obama said.

He said he had changed his views after seeing gay members of his own staff who were in "incredibly committed monogamous relationships", and service personnel who felt constrained by not being able to wed.

Mr Obama also said discussions with his own family had helped the "evolution" of his views on the issue.


Romney: Position on marriage is the same position I had as governor
"There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and... Malia and Sasha, it wouldn't dawn on them that somehow their friends' parents would be treated differently," Mr Obama said.

"It doesn't make sense to them and frankly, that's the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective."

In 2010, Mr Obama said his views on the issue were "evolving", a stance that had frustrated gay rights supporters and donors.

His comments aired on Wednesday come a day after North Carolina approved a constitutional amendment effectively banning same-sex marriage or civil unions.

Continue reading the main story
US gay marriage laws


Same-sex marriage has been passed in New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Iowa, Vermont, Washington DC, Connecticut, Maryland and Washington
Thirty-one US states have banned same-sex marriage through law or constitutional amendment
The Obama campaign had opposed that measure, which was passed with 61% in favour and 39% against.

In the US, 31 states have passed constitutional amendments or legislation against same-sex marriage.

Meanwhile, Mr Romney set the stage for an election year clash over the polarising social issue by saying he was against gay marriage.

The former Massachusetts governor told a Fox News affiliate: "I do not favour marriage between people of the same gender, and I do not favour civil unions if they are identical to marriage other than by name.

"My view is the domestic partnership benefits, hospital visitation rights, and the like are appropriate but that the others are not."]]> Thu, 10 May 2012 11:00:06 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40269-obama-says-same-sex-couples-should-be-able-to-marry/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40221-westminster-committee-criticises-referendum-question/ Westminster committee criticises referendum question
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-17982560

The MPs claimed supporters of independence were acting as "player and referee"

Scotland's Future
The Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster has criticised the Scottish government's proposed question in the independence referendum.

The MPs said the wording suggested by the Scottish government is "biased".

They carried out research, which they said indicated voters were more likely to respond "yes" to the question than to possible alternative versions.

The SNP has said the exercise carried out by the MPs was "devoid of credibility".

The Scottish government has indicated that the question to be put to voters in 2014 is likely to be: "Do you agree that Scotland should become an independent country?"

The committee said it found that adding the phrase "or disagree" reduced the number of voters giving a positive response.

Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote

The ballot paper will be subject to testing during autumn and winter this year, and we will be delighted to receive advice from the Electoral Commission and other electoral professionals”

Scottish government spokesman
It also tested a third version of the question, which read: "Should Scotland become an independent country or should it remain part of the United Kingdom?"

This further reduced the number of voters saying "yes".

The chairman of the committee, Ian Davidson MP, said: "We cannot have a contest in which separatists are both player and referee.

"That goes against every notion of fairness and transparency.

"It must be for the Electoral Commission, an experienced and neutral body, to oversee the process and, crucially, to test alternative questions and words to make sure that any referendum question will be clearly understood."

A spokesman for Scottish government minister Bruce Crawford said: "This exercise is devoid of credibility."

He added: "The Scottish government's proposed referendum question is straightforward and fair - as acknowledged by Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson - and the 'agree' formulation was also used in Labour's 1997 devolution referendum, and is the same wording used by the Tory/Lib Dem coalition for local referendums in England.

"As set out in the consultation document, the ballot paper will be subject to testing during autumn and winter this year, and we will be delighted to receive advice from the Electoral Commission and other electoral professionals."]]> Wed, 09 May 2012 11:03:49 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40221-westminster-committee-criticises-referendum-question/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40216-unease-in-church-of-ireland-at-gay-row-motions/ http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/unease-in-coi-at-gay-row-motions-1-3812884

Published on Saturday 5 May 2012 09:00

THE Church of Ireland’s General Synod will next week discuss motions by a liberal bishop and a conservative bishop which would push back a decision about the church’s position on homosexuality.

The church’s ruling synod, which meets annually for three days of discussions and decision-making, will convene in Dublin on Thursday for the first time since the News Letter revealed that a serving Church of Ireland cleric had last summer entered a civil partnership.

Dean Tom Gordon’s same-sex union led to a furious backlash among conservative and evangelical church members, most of whom are in Northern Ireland. Some even said that the issue threatened a split in the church.

However, in recent months most of those people have publicly gone silent after the church’s bishops instigated a lengthy consultation process, which included a behind-closed-doors conference in March to discuss homosexuality.

That two-day conference did not come to a resolution on whether the church would either accept gay relationships or hold them to be sinful.

Now two bishops – one each from the evangelical and liberal wings – have co-authored motions which seek to keep all sides happy.

However, the attempted compromise – which will be discussed next week – has caused deep unhappiness among some evangelicals and particular anger among gay rights activists.

Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson, a liberal, and Bishop Harold Miller, an evangelical, have moved three motions.

However, despite running to 600 words, the motions do not even mention the words “gay”, “homosexual”, or “civil partnerships”.

They recognise that “no other understanding of marriage” has been provided than the church’s traditional “one man with one woman” Canon 31 and that therefore “faithfulness within marriage is the only normative context for sexual intercourse”.

It adds that clergy should be “wholesome examples and patterns to the flock of Jesus Christ” but adds that it “welcomes all people to be members of the church”.

The motions oppose “bigotry, hurtful words or actions and demeaning or damaging language” in relation to sexuality.

It also asks the church’s standing committee to “progress work on the issue of human sexuality in the context of Christian belief” and to bring a proposal to next year’s synod.

The carefully-worded motions have not satisfied some evangelicals as none mention the fact that a serving church minister is in a civil partnership, of which his bishop approves, and therefore the church will have de facto accepted that clergy can enter same-sex unions.

However, some gay members of the church are also angry at what they see as a fudge.

Gerry Lynch, a parishioner at St George’s in Belfast, said that he felt belittled by the motions.

Mr Lynch, who is a spokesman for the Changing Attitude pro-gay lobby group but was speaking personally, told the News Letter: “As a gay Christian this reads to me as a bunch of bishops dumping me over the hedge with the croziers about my love life.

“The bishops promised nine years ago that they would listen to LGB [lesbian, gay, bisexual] people before judging their relationships. Here we have a judgmental resolution while the listening process is now delayed for another year.”

He added: “Liberal southern bishops may well have read this as a compromise.

“History is littered with examples of motions that worked in practice completely different from how they were intended. This is a pretext for witch hunts of gay clergy and this is a pretext for barring gay people from receiving communion. Those who dismiss this possibility are being naive.”

The motions, which will be debated on Thursday, will need to pass the church’s House of Bishops, the House of Clergy and the House of Laity to become formally accepted by the church.]]> Wed, 09 May 2012 10:54:32 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40216-unease-in-church-of-ireland-at-gay-row-motions/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40204-half-a-million-sign-petition-defending-traditional-marriage/ http://c4m.org.uk/

Half a million sign petition defending traditional marriage
Posted: Monday, May 7, 2012, 12:49 (BST)
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/half.a.million.sign.petition.defending.traditional.marriage/29827.htm

A petition launched in defence of traditional marriage has passed the half million mark.

More than 500,000 people have signed the petition from the Coalition for Marriage (C4M) calling upon the Government to retain the current definition of marriage between one man and one woman.

The petition has now been signed by more people than voted in the local elections in Birmingham or Manchester.

It was launched in opposition to the Government's plan to widen the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.

A consultation into gay marriage was launched in March but the Government stated at the time that the purpose was to discern how to implement the change, not whether it should go ahead.

Colin Hart, Campaign Director of C4M, said the Government’s plans were "radical and profoundly undemocratic".

“Changing marriage is not like raising or lowering the rate of VAT. It would have profound implications at all levels of society, and for all age groups," he said.

“Marriage has been the bedrock of society for a thousand years. The Government should pause for thought before they unravel an institution that has served Britain so well.

“In today’s turbulent, fast-moving world, the continuity of marriage as a union between one man and one woman is something we should be celebrating, not changing.”

“This campaign proves that the British people reject the Government’s plans to change the definition of marriage. With half a million signatures, they must listen to their voters.”

The campaign group’s new milestone was reached as Chancellor George Osborne promised to "focus on the things that really matter".

Mr Hart welcomed the comments by the Chancellor and described them as a “watershed moment for the campaign to save marriage”.

Polls by ComRes have found a widespread lack of support for the Government's plans.

One survey conducted in the run-up to last week's local elections found that three-quarters of David Cameron’s constituents who voted for him at the general election oppose his plans to redefine marriage.

Sixty-five per cent of people in his Witney constituency agreed that marriage should continue to be defined as a lifelong exclusive commitment between a man and a woman.

Seventy-two per cent agreed that same-sex relationships should be legally recognised through civil partnerships rather than through redefining marriage.

More than half (56%) said that Cameron’s decision to make legalising same-sex marriage a priority left him “out of touch with ordinary voters”.

Andrew Hawkins, the Chief Executive of ComRes, said: “Perhaps the most disturbing finding for Conservative strategists, however, is that SSM plays particularly badly among large numbers of its disaffected 2010 voters.

“People who voted Conservative in 2010 but do not intend to now are ‘less likely’ to vote for that Party than ‘more likely’ on the basis of this policy by a ratio of just under three to one.

“In other words, while this policy encourages some 12per cent of former Conservative voters to be more likely to return to the fold, fully 32 per cent say it makes them less likely to do so.”

Mr Hart said the Government seemed to be accepting that they were wrong on gay marriage.

"The Government has instigated a consultation on their proposals, saying that the consultation was about how not if. Until now they have refused to listen to those who opposed redefining marriage. I hope that this flawed decision will now be reversed.”]]> Wed, 09 May 2012 10:30:58 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40204-half-a-million-sign-petition-defending-traditional-marriage/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40008-jim-shannon-dup-mp-sunday-trading-laws-must-not-be-eased/ http://www.newsletter.co.uk/community/letters/sunday-trading-laws-must-not-be-eased-1-3795808

Published on Wednesday 2 May 2012 08:43

I RECENTLY spoke in the debate on Sunday trading relaxation in Westminster.

Although this doesn’t apply to Northern Ireland, and I have been assured by our DSD Minister Nelson McCausland that this will not be coming into play here, I spoke during the debate as it was clear that we needed to take a stand. There are very real fears that whilst this relaxation of law is only for eight weeks during the Olympics, this is just a test run to see what responses are and to pave the way for a permanent change.

As someone with experience trying to juggle family life with the pressure pot of a business, I understand the need for a time of rest.

It would seem to me that we should be encouraging families to sit together and watch the Olympics – not force either mummy or daddy into another shift at work.

The fact of the matter is that people who do not want to work a Sunday are increasingly being pressured to do so.

With more shifts, it will soon be impossible for workers to have a Sunday with their family or at their church, and this is something which I cannot in all conscience support.

It also means that those workers who perhaps share the load and work a few hours every other Sunday will now be made to feel like they have no choice but to work every Sunday.

In this economic climate, people are fearful about retaining their jobs and subsequently are fearful about annoying management. Whilst the management may not force them per se, it is clear that there is a mentality which says if they do not do as they are asked, they will miss out on other shifts and a black mark will be put against their name.

David Cameron has said that we need to emphasise our Christianity and go back to being that Christian country that we were once famed as being.

This move will not encourage people to enjoy their family life, their attendance at church and the inspiration of their preachers, and their day of rest after a hard week’s work and this is what we must promote if we are ever again to be that great nation that we once were.

Jim Shannon

MP for Strangford]]> Wed, 02 May 2012 09:34:32 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/40008-jim-shannon-dup-mp-sunday-trading-laws-must-not-be-eased/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39956-scottish-council-elections-300000-leaflets-sent-out-by-group-opposed-to-gay-marriage/ http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-council-elections-300-000-leaflets-sent-out-by-group-opposed-to-gay-marriage-1-2265328?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
Cardinal Keith OBrien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, at a Scotland for Marriage protest last year. Picture: Greg Macvean
By Andrew Whitaker
Published on Monday 30 April 2012 11:44

A GROUP opposed to plans to legalise gay marriage will deliver leaflets to almost 300,000 homes ahead of this Thursday’s local council elections.

Scotland for Marriage - which is supported by some religious groups - opposes the Scottish Government’s proposal to extend the definition to same-sex couples.

The campaign said it hopes to leaflet every house in Glasgow and have put the cost of doing so at £15,000.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, said: “The Government launched a consultation and two-thirds of those who replied said ‘no’.

“I hope they listen and abandon this crazy plan to dismantle marriage, which has only ever meant the union of a man and a woman.”

However, Tom French, policy co-ordinator for the Equality Network, said there is “widespread support across Scotland’s faith communities for equal marriage.”

He said: “The Scottish Parliament should recognise this and bring forward legislation that allows both religious and civil same-sex marriages.

“Opponents of equality should remember that religious freedom cuts both ways, and whilst no faith group should be required to conduct same-sex marriages, it is equally important that none are prevented from doing so.”]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:04:32 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39956-scottish-council-elections-300000-leaflets-sent-out-by-group-opposed-to-gay-marriage/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39943-in-germany-they-perform-half-as-many-terminations-as-we-do-why-are-we-so-keen-on-them/ MARY WAKEFIELD10 SEPTEMBER 2011
http://www.spectator.co.uk/essays/all/7223008/lets-bring-the-abortion-debate-to-life.thtml

In Germany, they perform half as many terminations as we do. Why are we so keen on them?

No one ever really expected Nadine Dorries’s ill-fated abortion bill to succeed — not after the Lib Dems had made a fuss, and the PM had withdrawn his support with his usual principled grace. But what’s more surprising has been the strange and unpleasant consensus which has risen up from the debate about the bill, and has been twisting into the minds and out of the mouths of journalists all week — not just on the left, but across the centre too, and throughout Westminster. The consensus that’s taken shape seems to be this: that abortion is not just a necessary evil, but a jolly good thing. That being pro-choice no longer means just accepting that a woman has a right to decide, but that abortion must be celebrated and all doubters deemed religious nut jobs.

Well, let me put my cards on the table straightaway (I have two cards as it happens). The first is that I am a religious nut job. I’m Catholic and a convert to boot. But whether you believe it or not, my religion isn’t the cause of my concern. For one thing, most Catholics were hostile to the Dorries amendment (which they see as a measly sop and a tactical mistake). For another, you don’t have to be Catholic, or even Christian, to think it odd to adopt a completely cavalier attitude towards the unborn. I thought this long before I considered the Church, and considered the Church because of it.

Nadine Dorries and Frank Field’s amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill, in case it passed you by, was designed to try to ensure that groups who counselled young women about abortions were different from the groups who actually provided them. And the first sign that a new orthodoxy was forming was the completely disproportionate reaction to this suggestion. To anyone who thinks abortion is sad — not disgraceful or criminal, just sad — the amendment seemed at least worthy of debate. If I wanted larger bosoms, say, I’d definitely seek a second opinion from someone other than the boob-job merchant. How much more important then, when it’s babies, and a woman’s future peace of mind, at stake?

One in every five pregnancies currently ends in abortion, there were 189,574 last year — seven of embryos with cleft palates; eight of babies over 24 weeks, aborted because they had musculoskeletal problems like club foot. It just shouldn’t be controversial to think fewer would be better. Marie Stopes (who provide both counselling and abortions in the UK) ran an advertisement last year — the first one ever by an abortion clinic — which showed a series of beautiful, affluent-looking women for whom it seemed as if an inconvenient pregnancy was a cloud on an otherwise perfect life. It seemed, in that little clip, for all the world as if an embryo were a sort of venereal disease that could be cleared up by the topical application of a pleasant, scented cream.

There must be women for whom the decision not to abort is the right one, especially given the mental health issues many women suffer afterwards — are they best advised by Marie Stopes? I’m not sure. There’s also evidence that a slightly more sober approach to abortion lowers the rate dramatically. In Germany, for instance, the physician must be separate from the counsellor and a woman must wait three days between her decision and her op. Their abortion rate is half ours. So, what is wrong with offering independent counselling?

Well, said the commentariat, first of all, it’s absolute nonsense to say that we need fewer abortions. Second, those who frown on abortion might be awarded contracts. Christians for example. It was as if Christians, even Anglicans of the bell-ringing, country church variety, were a terrorist-style threat. Last Saturday, the Guardian ran a strange set of diagrams linking Dorries and Field to organisations they suspected of having Christian tendencies: a mish-mash of photos linked by accusatory arrows, of the sort usually used to describe Islamist networks. But this isn’t just a lefty phenomenon. Health minister Anne Milton actually wrote to all Tory MPs telling them that ministers were voting ‘no’ to the amendment, signalling quite clearly that she expected them to, too. The Times 2 headline was: ‘Why can’t Nadine Dorries just relax about abortion?’

Then there was the Fox-hunt. While the PM was executing his U-turn, Dr Fox piped up and said: ‘I would certainly support any amendment that saw the number of abortions fall in the UK. I think the level is far too high.’ Instead of commending him on an uncharacteristic burst of common sense, a Halloo! went up across Fleet street and spread across the Twittering classes. What on earth does Fox mean, ‘too high?’ What a bigot! What a misogynist!
But it doesn’t make you a bigot to be melancholy about the considered killing of 200,000 embryos a year — whether they’re baked-bean sized or bigger — it just makes you human. It does not make you a misogynist or a neo-Victorian to think that abortion shouldn’t be morally equivalent to contraception. Every rational man or woman in this country, gay or straight, old or young, should be sad, not jubilant about the rate and extent of abortion in the UK.

The particularly aggressive voices on the pro-abortion side come from women who fear a return to the bad old bullying days of back-street abortions, before the 1967 Act. ‘If MPs want to help women then they can make access to abortion and contraception more efficient,’ said Suzanne Moore in the Guardian. ‘Who has the authority over my body — some geezer in the House of Commons or me and my doctor? I feel no shame [about her abortion] and I refute this language of “care”. You want a definition of the nanny state? How about one that thinks it OK to poke around in your uterus?’

Hey ho Suzanne, you’d better stay angry, because otherwise you might have to think. And even a short think reveals the weirdness here. I don’t want MPs poking around in my uterus either, but there’s got to be a stage during pregnancy when a baby can no longer be thought of as part of a woman’s ‘body’. If Suzanne’s right that a foetus has the same moral status as a kidney, then does she also think it’s okay to sell it, say to medical science — and without whispering a word to its father? But don’t fathers have rights too? Is this really the best of politically correct, 21st-century thinking?

The fact is that unless you’re a fan of infanticide you’ve got to agree that somewhere along the slippery ascent from that little Alka-Seltzer of pluripotent cells to the birth of an actual baby, your child becomes human. I’d take a guess that most men and women feel it’s a sliding scale, that each month adds another dollop of personhood, each month brings us closer to a duty to care for him or her. The logic of this is that when a embryo dies it’s a sad thing, the end of an iota of personhood, not a cause for celebration.

Here I’ll put my other card on the table: I was a premature baby, my twin brother and I were born over two months early, at around 29 weeks. We were tiny and I was covered in hair like a spider. As we fought for our lives in incubators, at that time in the mid-Seventies, the abortion limit was just a week earlier: 28 weeks. As we struggled to breathe, elsewhere, a few of our tiny, spidery peer group were being killed. And so I feel this one personally, from the perspective of the voiceless pre-born. And I feel it’s crucial to keep this perspective in mind for fear of otherwise sleep-walking into some terrible normality.

If you’re still convinced that all abortions, even the late ones for babies with hare-lips, are good, then here’s a question: how do you feel about killing kittens? I ask because it’s often abortion’s greatest fans who feel most indignant on behalf of animals. They’ll go to the wall to save a chicken-killing fox from hounds, but sod the babies. There was a story last year about a group of scientists who had decided that dolphins were so intelligent that they should be given official rights. ‘The neuroanatomy suggests psychological continuity between humans and dolphins and has profound implications for the ethics of human-dolphin relations,’ said the zoologist. Well great, let’s fund an inquiry into dolphin rights, I’m all for it. But what about that group of pre-born living beings whose neuroanatomy might suggest an even greater psychological continuity with our own?

If you want cold-blooded reason, look at it another way. A utilitarian calculus would, I’m pretty sure, tell you that the most ethical thing to do with an unwanted pregnancy, what would make most people most happy, is for the reluctant mother to carry an unwanted baby to full term and give it up for adoption. The adopted parents will be thrilled, and their happiness has every chance of lasting a lifetime — longer than the biological mother’s discomfort. And then there’s the child’s happiness to consider. It’s daft to ask which it would prefer — what would you prefer? Anyone would rather be adopted than aborted. To suggest otherwise is to spit in the eye of life.

That’s what I think of this very gung-ho attitude to abortion — it’s just bloody ungrateful. A spit in the eye of life. Yes, nature’s pretty cruel, but no sane, well-fed bitch would kill her healthy puppy because its lip was twisted. There’s a tragicomic horror about a society in which every year a few couples undertake the incredible business of making a new human, only to throw it away because a tiny bit of it’s folded wrong, and you know, the corrective operation might leave a scar. But far worse is a society in which even to raise some doubts about this is to be considered a laughable lunatic. The best and only explanation I can come up with is that secretly we all know this; we know the current consensus is wrong, but it’s just easier to stay in denial.]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:24:11 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39943-in-germany-they-perform-half-as-many-terminations-as-we-do-why-are-we-so-keen-on-them/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39941-ireland-rejects-abortion-law-reform/ http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2012/04/ireland-rejects-abortion-law-reform
Posted: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:25

The lower house of the Irish Parliament has rejected a private member's bill to ease the Republic's abortion laws. In a vote of 109 to 20, the Dáil rejected the bill brought by Clare Daly of the opposition Socialist Party that would permit "termination of pregnancy where a real and substantial risk to the life of the pregnant woman exists."

Ms Daly had urged the Dáil to bring Ireland in line with a 2010 European Court of Human Rights ruling that held the country's failure to implement the existing constitutional "right" to abortion was a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

In 1992 the Irish courts legalized abortion in limited circumstances in the "X" case. However, successive governments have declined to enact legislation codifying the country's abortion laws.

The below video provides accurate factual information on abortion in Ireland.]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:13:35 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39941-ireland-rejects-abortion-law-reform/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39939-is-rationality-the-enemy-of-religion/ http://www.nature.com/news/is-rationality-the-enemy-of-religion-1.10539
A provocative study linking religious disbelief to analytical thinking requires some careful analysis itself, says Philip Ball.

26 April 2012

Psychologists Will Gervais and Ara Norenzayan aren’t trying to make mischief, but their latest work on the psychology of religious belief is sure to fan the flames of debate.

Their study, published in this week's issue of Science1, offers evidence that when people engage in analytical thinking, they are less likely to express strong religious beliefs. In other words, the more you’re inclined to think a problem through rather than to rely on gut instinct, the less likely you are to capitulate to belief in supernatural agencies.

The authors, who are based at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, are clear that they aren’t pronouncing on the value of religious belief, nor suggesting that such beliefs are inherently irrational (let alone that they’re untrue). 'We’re just saying', they seem to insist.


A belief or disbelief in religious figures is underpinned by complex cognitive processes that researchers are only beginning to investigate.
GETTY
But such honest disclaimers won’t prevent some atheists from asserting that the study shows that religion is the result of bad reasoning, if not downright stupidity, for which the only cure is a hefty dose of analytical sobriety. (My experience is that it seems to be extreme views of any sort, whether religious or the opposite, that are the real enemy of analytical thinking.)

What this valuable and stimulating study reveals, however, is the difficulty of subjecting religious belief to scientific scrutiny. It is important that we make the effort to do so — not least to understand how and why religion may promote ignorance, bigotry and conflict. The problem is that it is nearly impossible to devise any investigation of ‘religious belief’ per se, because it takes so many forms and rarely consists of a coherent and consistent set of principles, even in a particular individual. It is like trying to study what makes people ‘artistic’ or ‘nice’.

Primed and ready
That is why the objections and caveats to this study are so obvious, albeit no less pertinent. The researchers’ general approach was to test volunteers — in some cases, Canadian undergraduates, in others, as the paper explains, a “nationwide (though nonrepresentative) sample of American adults recruited online”. Both sets of volunteers constitute only a limited sample, as Gervais and Norenzayan acknowledge.

During the tests, volunteers were either engaged in a task that surreptitiously elicited analytical thinking, or were given a control task. They were then asked if they concurred with a series of statements about religion, such as “I believe in God” or “I don’t really spend much time thinking about my religious beliefs”.

These 'priming' tests were of varying degrees of subtlety. One involved looking at Rodin’s famous sculpture The Thinker, or for the control group, a visually similar but conceptually dissimilar image of a classical Greek athlete. Another involved a word-sorting test, in which the words might or might not be associated with analytical thinking (‘reason’, ‘ponder’ and so on). It is well established that such priming can elicit specific modes of thought; for example, improving performance in analytical tests2.

One of the attractions of this approach is that it can say something about causation. One isn’t simply examining whether atheists have a greater tendency to think analytically, but trying to detect whether fostering analytical thought increases disbelief. Apparently it does, and to that extent, it supports the view that scientific training might reduce religiosity.

But what kind of religiosity? The authors state that they “focused primarily on belief in and commitment to religiously endorsed supernatural agents” — they examined beliefs in God, the devil and angels. That, of course, already assumes a Judaeo-Christian context, but there are plenty of devout believers who have no need of angels or the devil, and some who perhaps have no need of a belief in God in a traditional or Christian sense (Max Planck was one such example).

This hints at the key problem, which is (or ought to be) as much a quandary for religion itself as for scientific studies of it. Almost all of the questions in Gervais and Norenzayan's study related to religion as a literalist folk tradition — an aspect of lifestyle. This is how it manifests in most cultures, but that barely touches on religion as articulated by its leading intellectuals: for Christianity, say, philosophers such as Thomas Aquinas, David Hume, Immanuel Kant and George Berkeley. The idea that the beliefs of those individuals would have vanished had they been more analytical is, if nothing else, amusing. Gervais and Norenzayan’s findings should help to combat religion as an indolent obstacle to better explanations of the natural world. But it can’t really engage with the rich tradition of religious thought.]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:58:37 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39939-is-rationality-the-enemy-of-religion/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39935-videos-anti-abortion-activists-laud-tory-mp%e2%80%99s-bid-to-revisit-rights-of-unborn-law/ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/anti-abortion-activists-laud-tory-mps-bid-to-revisit-rights-of-unborn-law/article2415038/?utm_medium=Feeds:%20RSS/Atom&utm_source=Politics&utm_content=2415038
GLORIA GALLOWAY
OTTAWA— From Friday's Globe and Mail
Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2012 2:50PM EDT

Anti-abortion activists do not understand why there has been such an outcry over a motion by a Conservative MP who wants Parliament to debate the point at which a human being is created.

The contentious issue of legalized abortion returns to the floor of the House of Commons on Thursday evening as MPs weigh in on the motion by Conservative MP Stephen Woodworth to establish a committee to determine when life, as defined by the Criminal Code, begins.

The Ontario Tory argues the currently law, which declares babies to be human at the moment they have fully emerged from the birth canal, is archaic.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made it clear he does not want to abortion debate re-opened and said during Question Period Thursday he would vote against the motion. But he has not interfered with Mr. Woodworth’s efforts.

All the Conservative backbencher is asking for is that the law be brought into sync with science, Mary Ellen Douglas, the Ontario president of the Campaign Life Coalition, said in a telephone interview. “That is a very reasonable request. And perhaps that is the reason why Mr. Harper hasn’t put his foot down to this point.”

Her organization has a notice about the Commons debate on the front page of its website. The argument that life begins at conception is one that anti-abortion lobby has been making for years.

“Here we are in 2012 with people thinking it’s alright to say that you’re not a human being until you are fully emerged from the womb,” Ms. Douglas said. “I just watched my new grandchild’s four-D ultrasound and here is the baby turning around in real time. Science has progressed to show us the humanity of the child.”

Even a Grade 8 science text will tell you that life begins when the sperm meets the ovum, she said. “The wool has to come off their eyes eventually and they have to see that this is a human being and, it being a human being, the next step is that it deserves to be protected.”

Which is, of course, why groups that favour legalized abortion are so opposed to Mr. Woodworth’s motion – to the point of holding a noisy protest on Parliament Hill on Wednesday.

“It’s quite insulting and offensive, really, because it is a direct attack on women’s rights,” said Joyce Arthur, the executive director of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada. “This is a debate we had back in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. It’s been settled for decades. It’s unbelievable that we have to go back to this again.”

Canada currently has no laws on abortion and thus there are no legal restrictions governing the procedure. Mr. Harper said during the spring election campaign that a Conservative government would not bring forward any legislation to restrict access to abortion and that any such legislation would be defeated.

But that gives little comfort to Ms. Arthur. There are many Conservative MPs who are likely to support the motion, she said, “so there is a danger there and I don’t think we should just dismiss it.”

And despite the benign wording of the motion, Mr. Woodworth is clearly making an end-run at criminalizing abortion, she said.

“We have also been taking a lesson from what’s been going on in the United States for the last number of years, and especially in the last year or two. The attack on women’s rights has been really intense down there. It’s crazy. It’s a war on women,” Ms. Arthur said. “And it’s a lesson to us in terms of fighting back and not giving an inch when it comes to women’s rights.”]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:37:39 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39935-videos-anti-abortion-activists-laud-tory-mp%e2%80%99s-bid-to-revisit-rights-of-unborn-law/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39934-archbishop-gives-thanks-for-queen-who-does-god/ Posted: Friday, April 27, 2012, 11:02 (BST)
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/archbishop.gives.thanks.for.queen.who.does.god/29765.htm

Queen Elizabeth II receives a bunch of flowers from 4-year-old Bessie Frazer as she leaves Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff, during a visit to Wales as part of a UK-wide tour to celebrate her Diamond... PA
The Archbishop of Wales has expressed his thanks to the Queen for continuing to uphold the Christian faith in national life.

In an address at the start of the Queen's two-day visit to Wales, Dr Barry Morgan praised the Queen for 'doing God' in public in spite of changing public opinion.

“Over the last 60 years, amidst all the shifting sands of public opinion and different viewpoints, you have regarded the Christian faith as the rock on which you have been able to draw strength and comfort," he said.

"It is a reminder to the rest of us that this country has been shaped by the Christian faith and that that faith is still important in our national life.

“There has been a tendency in our society in recent years to believe that we, as a country, ‘don’t do God in public life’ and as one government minister recently put it ‘Faith has been neglected, undermined and yes even attacked by governments. Religion has tended to be air brushed out of our national life and world view'.

“You have never been ashamed to confess your personal allegiance to Jesus Christ, whatever the prevailing political climate.”

More than 600 people were at Llandaff Cathedral for the service of thanksgiving to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The Archbishop also praised the Queen's commitment to serving the nation and her “sheer stamina and determination”.

He said, “With the advent of modern communications, the demand has been to be more visible and available than ever at all kinds of events and places.

"By so doing, individuals from every stratum of society have felt that they mattered, for the monarch, in the words of one person ‘gives a human face to the operations of Government’. She reminds all of us that the ideal of public service is timeless.”]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:32:24 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39934-archbishop-gives-thanks-for-queen-who-does-god/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39932-same-sex-marriage-not-a-human-right-says-gay-columnist-in-irish-times/ Tuesday, April 24th, 2012
http://www.churchservices.tv/news/articles?feedtype=newsarticle&artid=10082

The redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples is not in the best interests of children, according to a column in last Friday's Irish Times.

The column, by commentator Richard Waghorne (pictured), who is himself gay, says that same-sex marriage would mean that marriage would lose, “its nature as the one institution supported by society because it is the family form which on average gives a child the most advantageous upbringing.”

He writes, “Altering the focus of marriage from children to relationships disadvantages future generations to a no more necessary end than the further march of an increasingly cavalier and triumphalist liberalism.”

It comes amid increasing moves within the main political parties to push same-sex marriage.  Both the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil Árd Fheiseanna passed motions in favour of legalising same-sex marriage.  No voices opposing same-sex marriage were permitted to speak at the Fine Gael Árd Fheis.

Responding to arguments made in the Irish Times by Kieran Rose of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) last week, Waghorne rejects the suggestion that marriage for same-sex couples is, “a basic human right.”

He says that Mr Rose’s suggestion that this right is to be found in the UN Charter of Human Rights and, “other human rights treaties,” is based “on no more than assertion.”  He writes, “Recently, France’s Supreme Court has found that no discrimination is implied in the distinction between marriage and partnership provisions.

“The European Court of Human Rights has found there is no right to gay marriage in the European Convention on Human Rights and this does not amount to discrimination.

“In considering gay marriage, it is essential to see treating different situations differently in no way constitutes discrimination.”

Waghorne also says that not all homosexual people believe in the introduction of gay marriage.

He states, “As for claims raised in the name of the gay community, I would prefer if someone with whom I share nothing but sexual orientation did not use that rather uninteresting fact to raise in my name political claims I and others do not share.”

He says that gay marriage advocates are engaged in, “the co-option of human rights language by an increasingly hegemonic strain of intolerant liberalism,” and pointed out that certain rights were being portrayed as being more important than others.

“Whereas the “right to marriage” as pertaining to couples of the same sex is a recent invention, the right of a child to both a mother and a father where possible is not,” he said.

by Tom O'Gorman]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:17:15 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39932-same-sex-marriage-not-a-human-right-says-gay-columnist-in-irish-times/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39895-archbishop-of-york-john-sentamu-at-ulster-covenant-conference-in-belfast-organised-by-presbyterian-church/ 4/12

Archbishop of York John Sentamu at Ulster Covenant conference in Belfast organised by Presbyterian Church

The Anglican Archbishop of York the Rev Dr John Sentamu joined Presbyterian Moderator the Rev Dr Ivan Patterson and North Belfast Presbyterian cleric the Rev Lesley Car Belfast City Hall this week


THE Anglican Archbishop of York the Rev Dr John Sentamu gave the keynote address this week at a conference in Belfast City Hall examining Christian covenants today, organised by the Presbyterian church in Ireland.

Christian citizenship was discussed in the light of the signing of the Ulster Covenant 100 years ago.

The Uganda-born prclate said: “Any understanding Christian citizenship must take into account that we are citizens of Christ's Kingdom. We belong to Christ and we owe our loyalty to Him. Yet if we are tempted to conclude that this releases us from obligations as human citizens of a modern state, we need to think again."

“Christian citizenship today involves being willing to participate at every level in the societies in which we are based whilst holding fast to the values of Christ‘s Kingdom. It is integral to Christian discipleship."

“At a national level, Christian public engagement with politics will involve what I call ‘critical solidarity‘. ‘This means that the Church stands in solidarity with those who are its elected representatives. However, it is a critical solidarity because it is unafraid to ask questions when necessary to maintain a vision ufwhat the world could be if God's call to humanity is taken seriously."

The archbishop also reflected on the need to put. God back at the centre of our thinking and the importance of volunteering.

He said: “Whilst some churches and church leaders will fulfil a national role in this capacity, every Christian is called to be an active citizen, seeking to contribute to the building of policies and structures in which all people may flourish. This involves not just voting in elections. but being willing tu play a direct part in helping build communities which work.

More people volunteer their time to projects, groups and initiatives run by the church in local communities than any other single organisation in our country."

Archbishop Sentamu also raised concerns about barriers to development of mutual flourishing in societies and the negative term of tolerance.

He said: “A distressing and evil aspect of our political and civic life today is that so many people feel excluded. We need to understand the reasons for this sense of exclusion otherwise we cannot hope, as Christian citizens. to build societies that are safe, generous and magnanimous. The implications of exclusion, whether it is actual or perceived, can have terrible consequences."

Closing his address, the Archbishop explained: “We are still in the glorious season of Eastertide in which we celebrate Christ's victory over sin and death by the Cross and his resurrection.
“This is the most important image for us to hold on to. For it is in the transforming love of Christ that we are given a sign of how we too may change and be agents of‘ change in our communities."

The conference was attended by church clerics and Ulster and Republic politicians from across the political divide.

“The conference is not just to look back at historical events but to help us learn from events of the past lhruugh the eyes of a wide range of opinions as they reflect on what it means to demonstrate Christian citizenship today," explained the Rev Lesley Carroll, Convener of the Presbyterian church and Society committee that organised the event.
]]> Sat, 28 Apr 2012 17:34:40 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39895-archbishop-of-york-john-sentamu-at-ulster-covenant-conference-in-belfast-organised-by-presbyterian-church/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39889-overseas-anglicans-in-call-for-radical-change-and-elected-head/ 28-4-12

Overseas Anglicans in call for radical change and elected head

THE Archbishop of Canterbury could be stripped of his role as head of the global Anglican Communion, leaders representing 40 million worshippers have signalled in a scathing attack on a liberal drift within the Church.

A coalition of bishops and leaders from Africa, the Americas and Australasia said it was time for a “radical shift" in how the church is structured away from models of the “British Empire".

They criticised what they called “revisionist attempts" to abandon basic doctrines on issues such as homosexuality and “turn Christianity merely into a movement for social betterment".

They said it was now clear that the Church of England leadership had failed to hold the 77 million strong worldwide Anglican Communion together, leaving it in “crisis". Their criticism came at a London conference of 200 clergy and laity from 30 countries this week to discuss what they called the “present crisis moment" in the church.

The meeting of leaders of the Ft-Ilowship of Confessing Anglicans comes amid growing warnings a split over issues such as homosexuality. It is the first such meeting since 2008 when more than 200 bishops boycotted the Lambeth Conference in protest at the presence of bishops from the US Episcopal Church, which had consecrated the first openly gay Anglican bishop.

This week's meeting takes place as the search for a successor to present Canterbury archbishop the Rev Dr Rowan Williams gets under way. It emerged yesterda_'; that the Ugandan-born Archbishop of York. Dr John Sentamu - who is popular with traditional evangelicals - had entered the race by standing aside from the body which will make the appointment.

They also announced plans for larger international gathering next year. in what is likely to be seen as an alternative to the 10-yearly Lambeth Conference. hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

In a joint communique they said next year's gathering should be “a dynamic force for restating the gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of revisionist attempts to change basic doctrines and turn Christianity merely into a movement for social betterment".
rn
They also outlined plans for an overhaul church structures. replacing the Archbishop of Canterbury as chairman of the worldwide Anglican primates with an elected chairman.

Archbishop Eliud Wabukala. leader of 13 million Anglicans. said there needed to be a “radical shift" in how the church is run.

Archbishop Nicholas Okoh. the leader of 23 million Anglicans in Nigeria. said that while the historic position of the Archbishop of Canterbury would always be respected he should be seen as “one of" many primates. Likening the overhaul to the in which the Commonwealth new elects its leadership. he said: “It is the same thing. the church of independent countries - no longer the British Empire - must make some changes."

He added: “It is not something that should remain permanent that the Archbishop of Canterbury - whether he understands the dynamics in Africa or not - remains the chair and whatever he says. whether it works or not. is an order.

“No I think if we are to move forward we have to reconsider that position.”

He added: “At the moment it seems that the Church in England isn't carrying along everybody in the communion and that is why of, course, you can see that there is a crisis. so ifwe must solve the problem we must change our system.” Australian prelate. Archbishop Peter Jensen said it would be wrong to consider the Archbishop of Canterbury as “leader” of the Anglican church. something, he said. represented an “Anglocentric view of the world".


--------

23 April 2012 Last updated at 12:42
Leaders of a dissident Anglican movement meet in UK
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17811524

The FCA was founded following the Gafcon conference in 2008

Leaders of a worldwide dissident Anglican movement are meeting in London to discuss how to sustain traditional Christian beliefs.

The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA) grew out of concern over developments in some national Churches.

Many Anglicans, particularly in Africa, object to the ordination of gay bishops in the US.

Some 200 delegates from 29 countries are expected to attend the leadership conference at a south London church.

'Biblical teaching'
The FCA was founded following the Gafcon (Global Anglican Future) conference in Jerusalem in 2008.


Dissident Anglicans are meeting at St Mark's church

The fellowship was an attempt by more traditional Christians to re-assert what its leaders regard as authentic biblical teaching.

The conference is being held at St Mark's church in Battersea Rise.

One of the participants, Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen, has described the FCA as "the only game in town".

"It is a point of rallying Anglicans from around the world. Of exciting them again about the gospel of Jesus.

"It is the mainstream. It represents, the people involved in it, represents the vast majority of Anglicans," Archbishop Jensen told BBC correspondent John McManus.

Archbishop Jensen said he appreciated that the current head of the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, has had a difficult job in trying to keep the organisation united in the face of widely-differing world views.
]]> Sat, 28 Apr 2012 17:13:22 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39889-overseas-anglicans-in-call-for-radical-change-and-elected-head/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39860-cofe-launches-jubilee-events-website/ CofE launches Jubilee events website
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/cofe.launches.jubilee.events.website/29759.htm
Posted: Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 13:31 (BST)

The Church of England has launched a new website to help people find their nearest community and parish events during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Churches across the country are planning street parties and other activities as part of the celebrations over the four-day holiday in June.

JubileeNearYou.com is based on a similar website run successfully by the Church of England last Christmas to direct people to local church services and festivities.

The Church of England's 16,000 churches are being invited to add details of their celebrations to the website.

Some parishes have decided to support other community events such as the Big Lunch, rather than host their own celebrations.

The extended Jubilee holiday culminates with a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on the morning of 5 June.

The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, and members of the Royal Family, will attend the service conducted by the Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Rev Dr David Ison. The sermon will be preached by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

A special prayer for the Diamond Jubilee will be included in the service.

]]> Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:28:08 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39860-cofe-launches-jubilee-events-website/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39848-prince-of-wales-given-irish-prayer-book-gift-in-belfast/ Prince of Wales given Irish prayer book gift in Belfast
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17860803

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited one of Belfast's oldest churches

The Prince of Wales has made a return visit to the oldest Church of Ireland in Belfast, to view the progress of restoration work at the building.

Prince Charles first visited St George's Church in High Street 21 years ago, but on Thursday he was accompanied by his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall.

The couple met a number of dignitaries and the Prince was presented with a gift of The Book of Common Prayer.

He was also given a copy which had been translated into the Irish language.

It was titled Leabhar na hUrnai Coitinne.

The Irish language featured prominently in the visit and Prince Charles met members of An Cumann Galeach na h-Eaglishe (Guild of the Irish Language) and Marie Andrews, the director of Abuba, an Irish language children's theatre company.

Arabic
Ms Andrew said when she spoke to the prince he showed great interest in the Irish language.

"I was very impressed by him that he was so interested, and wanted to know, you know, how you said particular things"

The church has held two of services in Irish and more are planned over the coming year.

She told BBC Radio Ulster: "He told me as well that he was learning Arabic.


The Prince was given a copy of the Book of Common Prayer translated into Irish
"I said to him, 'well if you can learn Arabic you can learn Irish, you know'".

St George's Church dates from the early 1800s and is situated close to the Albert Clock in Belfast city centre.

Bombs
It had sustained significant damage in a number of city centre bombs during the Troubles, but a project to repair and restore the 19th century building is almost complete.

On arrival at the church, the royal couple were greeted by Dame Mary Peters, who is the Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast.

They also spoke to members of the church restoration committee and were briefed on the ongoing restoration work by the architect Stephen Leighton.

The rector of St George's, Rev Brian Stewart, said Prince Charles had first visited the church in 1991.

"He saw the building as it then was, bearing all the marks and scars of various bombs of the Troubles.

"The building has since been extensively restored inside and out and work is ongoing, even up to the present day, and he was delighted to see that", Rev Stewart said.

The duchess was given a gift of cards, a posy of flowers and gingerbread men which were made and presented to her by local schoolchildren.

The couple signed the visitors' book before leaving the church.

]]> Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:43:10 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39848-prince-of-wales-given-irish-prayer-book-gift-in-belfast/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39771-all-cornish-beliefs-should-be-celebrated-in-schools-diocese-of-truro-says/ All Cornish beliefs should be celebrated in schools, Diocese of Truro says
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-17804422

Druids, Wiccans, Shamans and Heathens are among groups classed as modern Pagans

Cornwall's heritage and religious beliefs should be celebrated in Cornish schools, according to a director at the Church of England's Diocese of Truro.

Sue Green, director of education, said Cornwall's heritage was "quite unique" and must be celebrated.

The director said the syllabus suggested if there was an important religious aspect of beliefs such as Paganism, teachers should "explore it".

"We must celebrate the spiritual and religious heritage for our children."

Ms Green said: "For many of our schools there will be children who come from Pagan families and we wouldn't want those children to feel marginalised."

But she added, that "no school is being told to teach about Paganism".

In Cornwall, the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) looks at what should be taught in schools in the fields of faith and belief.

It is made up of religious representatives, local authorities and teaching associations and SACREs in some parts of the UK have representatives of modern Pagan religion, which includes Wiccans, Druids, Shamans, Sacred Ecologists, Odinists and Heathens.

Cornwall councillor Loveday Jenkin, who sits on the panel as a local authority representative, said it was right that children learned about all aspects of faith and religion.

"Paganism is recognised as a faith and all faiths should be respected," she told BBC News.
]]> Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:17:35 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39771-all-cornish-beliefs-should-be-celebrated-in-schools-diocese-of-truro-says/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39761-archbishop-of-york-victim-of-naked-racism-claims-ally/
Archbishop of York victim of 'naked racism', claims ally
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9218901/Archbishop-of-York-victim-of-naked-racism-claims-ally.html

The early favourite to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury is the victim of “naked racism” by critics who are trying to besmirch his name, one of his closest supporters has claimed.

Dr Sentamu has spoken in the past about his experience of racism but stressed that any abuse came from outside the Church Photo: Getty
By Richard Eden, and Edward Malnick9:00PM BST 21 Apr 20121636 Comments

The outspoken Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, was born in Uganda and is the only black bishop in the Church of England. A former aide, who is about to become the Church’s director of communications, said there was a “stark contrast” between the way Dr Sentamu was portrayed and the treatment of other bishops.
“At its best, the besmirching of John Sentamu has revealed that strand of snobbery which views outsiders as lacking class, diplomacy or civility — in other words 'not one of us,’” said the Rev Arun Arora.

“At worst, it has elicited the naked racism which still bubbles under the surface in our society, and which is exposed when a black man is in line to break the chains of history.”

His allegation of an “anonymous whispering” campaign against Dr Sentamu has the potential to be hugely damaging to the Church.

It recalls the last time that the Church sought a new Archbishop of Canterbury, in 2002, when the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, then Bishop of Rochester, was described as a “Paki Papist” by an unidentified cleric.

Dr Sentamu has spoken in the past about his experience of racism but stressed that any abuse came from outside the Church.

However, two bishops who spoke to The Sunday Telegraph on condition of anonymity drew, unprompted, on Dr Sentamu’s African birth in their criticism — one likening his temperament to that of an “African chief”.

He said: “I think Sentamu is clearly going to be a very strong front-runner, although I think there are also the people who are not quite sure that he is suitable in terms of the way he behaves, because he is quite tribal and the African chief thing comes through.

“My preferred candidate would be [the Bishop of] Norwich, who is very level-headed, sensible and would actually do the job well and has a lot more kind of stability. You wouldn’t know where you were with Sentamu, whereas you would with Norwich.”

The second bishop, who is retired, said Dr Sentamu had some “outrageous moments” which had been “balanced” out by Dr Rowan Williams.

He added: “There is something in Sentamu which retains his African views and approach, which can be at one time an asset and another time can be a problem.”
The retired bishop said Dr Sentamu’s African background was apparent in “his understanding around issues of human sexuality”. The Archbishop has opposed Government proposals for same-sex marriage.

Last night, The Sunday Telegraph gave both bishops the opportunity to put their comments on the record but they declined. Both denied their comments were racist.

Their words will be seized on by supporters of Dr Sentamu, who fear a whispering campaign against him.

He was immediate favourite to become Archbishop of Canterbury when Dr Williams announced his departure last month, but is now in third place with bookmakers, behind the Bishop of Coventry and the Bishop of Norwich.

The comments by Dr Sentamu’s former aide were published on Mr Arora’s blog on March 23, before his new appointment was announced.

Dr Sentamu, a former barrister and judge, has campaigned against racism and advised the Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry.

In 2000, he criticised police after an officer refused to justify stopping him and searching his car near St Paul’s Cathedral.

Earlier this year, he received racist emails after speaking out against plans to legalise same-sex marriage.

]]> Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:44:34 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39761-archbishop-of-york-victim-of-naked-racism-claims-ally/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39752-crossmaglen-church-of-ireland-rededication-service-at-historic-border-church/ http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/rededication-service-at-historic-border-church-1-3763182

�/Pearcemedia- 22thApril 2012 Pearcemedia Northern Ireland - Mandatory Credit - Photo Mark Pearce Sunday afternoon saw the Church of Ireland's Creggan Parish Church celebrating its Re-Dedication following a �90,000 restoration of the church and its Pipe organ . Organist Laurence Evans. Mandatory Credit Photo Mark Pearce

Published on Monday 23 April 2012 08:17

THE tiny Church of Ireland congregation of Crossmaglen yesterday rededicated their church building – with a third of guests coming from the Roman Catholic community.

“The Protestant community in this area is small in numbers but we are making a big impact,” said the secretary of Creggan Church of Ireland, Kenny Donaldson. The church itself is located about 1.5 miles north-east of Crossmaglen town.

“We have only about eight families, which means some 13-15 people at each service. But we are regularly being held up as an example of how to get things done, for larger parishes who feel they cannot achieve anything.”

And Kenny is not just making idle talk. Yesterday’s service marked the official rededication of the listed church building after a £90,000 restoration programme, funded by various grant sources.

The congregation also runs a busy community centre which holds events several nights a week for all members of the community.

“There has been a decline in the congregation since I was a child,” said Kenny. “About 25 years ago we had a congregation of 25-30 people. In 1960 our morning service would have had 130-140 people.”

In more recent times he puts the decline in part down to people not marrying and living out their lives as singles.

“Perhaps such people wanted to marry within their own community,” he said.

“A couple of families also moved out of the area for their own reasons some years ago. The security situation during the Troubles may have been a factor and they may have felt there was a risk attached, although my own family could count the numbers of sectarian experiences we have had on the fingers of one hand.”

Since the Sixties, three Church of Ireland churches in the area have closed.

The site of Killeavy in Meigh which had been running from 1831 to 1972 is now under guardianship of Newry and Mourne District Council and is in a bad condition, Kenny says. The Jonesborough church, 1732-1978, is “not in great condition” either while the Forkhill church, 1767-1990, has been converted into a family home, he says.

There were over 90 guests at yesterday’s service at Creggan, a good number of them being from the Freeduff and Newtownhamilton Presbyterian Church a few miles away, which itself has a small congregation of around 25 to 30 members.

“A third of the congregation today were from the Roman Catholic community,” he said. “A similar proportion of people from the nationalist community would regularly attend events.”

Part of the reason, he said, was that the graveyard and church predates the Reformation and that the Catholic community have burial rights and family connections with the graveyard.

“We have the names of all the rectors here dating back to 1483,” he said.

The antiquity of the church regularly draws in many tourists.

The church was probably founded with the arrival of members of the extended O’Neill clan around 1450, who built their castle at Glassdrummond. All traces of the pre-Reformation church have now disappeared but the O’Neill family vault is still there, housing the remains of clan members. It is likely the vault was originally situated underneath the earlier church.

The historic graveyard is also the burial place of three 18th century Gaelic Irish poets – Art MacCooey, Pádraig Mac Aliondain and Séamus Mór Mac Murphy.

“On Saturday we had a tourist bus trip to the graveyard and a day of music and song in the church. We may be small in numbers but we are secure in our place in this community,” said Kenny.]]> Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:57:28 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39752-crossmaglen-church-of-ireland-rededication-service-at-historic-border-church/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39741-mp-john-glen-in-gay-cure-charity-row/ MP John Glen in 'gay cure' charity row
http://www.bbc.co.uk...tshire-17810958

Conservative MP for Salisbury, John Glen uses interns from the Christian CARE charity

A Wiltshire MP has said he will not be bullied into cutting ties with a charity that sponsored an event where a "cure" for homosexuality was discussed.

Salisbury Conservative MP, John Glen uses interns from the Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) charity.

In 2009 it backed an event which held talks on "therapeutic approaches to and understandings of same-sex attraction" and "mentoring the sexually broken".

Campaigner Phillip Dawson has petitioned MPs to cut ties with CARE.

Since it was launched, about 9,000 people have signed the petition and five MPs have cut ties with the charity.

Mr Dawson said: "At the heart of the campaign, is the simple point that we think that MPs are there to wipe out discrimination and not to encourage it".

He said he would like Mr Glen to "sever links" with CARE.

"I'd like him to explain to his constituents, who I'm sure, like me, will be upset and appalled by the fact that he's involved with a charity that supports the notion of a gay cure, and sees people in same sex relationships as sinners."
CARE runs an internship programme which sees some young people from the organisation work in the offices of MPs.

'Smear campaign'
Mr Glen, who was a CARE intern himself, said that the views expressed at the conference were those of one specific lecturer and were not advocated by the charity.

He said: "CARE did not use this term 'gay cure', they wouldn't use that term nor would my intern nor would I, so we're not going to be bullied into giving up links with an organisation that does a great deal of good on the basis of a smear campaign.

"I'm not going to back down on something I think is the right thing to do."

In a statement, CARE said their "leadership programme is a well respected training initiative for Christian graduates, they seek placements in the best interests of interns without discrimination and irrespective of the policy or theological views of Parliamentarians''.]]> Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:29:16 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39741-mp-john-glen-in-gay-cure-charity-row/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39740-thousands-of-attempts-to-hack-abortion-provider-bpas/ Thousands of attempts to hack abortion provider BPAS
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17765904

Almost half the IP addresses of the computers used in the hacking attempts came from the US

Thousands of attempts have been made to hack into the computers of Britain's largest provider of abortion services, BPAS, the BBC has learned.

Last month, a man was jailed for stealing the details of 10,000 women who had sought advice from BPAS.

In the five weeks since his arrest, 2,500 other attempts have been made to hack into BPAS's systems.

BPAS said all these hacking attempts had been foiled. It reassured women that their details remained safe.

BBC correspondent Michael Buchanan said that research into the IP addresses of the computers used during the attempted hacking had revealed that almost half came from the United States.

But he said that the nature of hacking meant it was not possible to say the hackers were based in the US.

'Completely unacceptable'
Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry - a pro-choice campaigner - said the hacking attempts were completely unacceptable.

She urged the police to prosecute anyone who attempted to break into the advisory service's computers.

On 13 April, James Jeffery, from Wednesbury, West Midlands, was jailed for two years and eight months after pleading guilty to breaking into the BPAS website.

The 27-year-old said he acted after two women he knew had abortions that he "disagreed" with.

Southwark Crown Court was told he intended to publish the data, including names, email addresses and telephone numbers, on an online sharing site but got cold feet.

Jeffery was jailed for two years and eight months.

The court heard that 60,000 women contact BPAS every year and 53,000 have abortions under their supervision.]]> Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:28:57 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39740-thousands-of-attempts-to-hack-abortion-provider-bpas/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39708-kirk-moderator-visits-church-partners-in-china/ http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news/articles/moderator_visits_church_partners_in_china

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Right Reverend David Arnott, is visiting Church of Scotland partners in China. His visit began over Palm Sunday weekend in Yunnan Province in the South West of China.

After preaching at the graduation service of the Longchuan Bible Training Centre the Moderator visited a number of villages where the Amity Foundation, one of the Church of Scotland’s partner organisations, works to improve the lives of locals.

The programmes they run include working with families and people living with HIV, and providing the support which enables women to improve the prospects of their villages and communities.

The Moderator’s trip is the first extensive official visit to China in two decades to support the World Mission Council (WMC) in its relationships with the churches and Christian communities in China. The WMC is actively involved in China and develops relationships with churches, seminaries and the Amity Foundation.

One example of a strong connection between the two countries is that of the Xiadao Congregation in Nanping and Ness Bank Church in Inverness, which formed a twinning relationship in 2008. The congregations have been in regular e-mail contact and, as their relationship has developed, have been able to share difficult circumstances and uphold each other in prayer.

The Moderator is visiting the newly built campus of the Northeastern Seminary and preaching in the Dongguan Church on Easter morning.



Here is a full account of the Moderator’s first few days in China:

“On Palm Sunday I preached at the graduation service at Longchuan Bible Training Centre in South West China, close to the border with Burma. People from the Liso minority community and local churches and villages attended.

“Amity Foundation, a partner organisation of ours, and China Christian Council assist by providing some books and Bibles in Liso and Chinese but there is no library. Rev Luke Li and her husband Rev Cao Onesimus translate and write all the teaching materials. Churches send students to study at the centre and after training for a four year cycle of either three months or ten months each year they return to work as volunteers in their home churches.

“Most students are in their 20s and there are equal numbers of men and women. Students and staff share cooking and cleaning responsibilities. There are thousands of these Bible Training Centres across China. This one was short of funds and resources but rich in vision and commitment.

“On Monday I visited a few villages in Longchuan County where the Amity Foundation is working with those living with HIV and AIDS. One component of the programme is a microcredit scheme funded by the Church of Scotland HIV Programme. People who have to be on ARV drugs, are no longer taking illegal substances, and meet certain other criteria are given a small 12 month loan – usually in the region of £200 or £300 – guaranteed by someone in the village, perhaps the head of the village or the village doctor. With the money buy pigs, goats or plant sugar cane and use their profits to buy more and so on. This scheme really allows families and individuals who have been ostracised or destitute get back on their feet.

“Later on Monday we went to Mada where the Amity Foundation have helped the women of that village and a neighbouring village to totally transform their prospects with funding and technical expertise. These were once the poorest villages in the county, with such a bad reputation that men from Mada struggled to find a wife.

“The women started irrigation, clean water and agriculture projects growing qumquats in an orchard. Young people got involved in road building and cultural activities. Relationships were strengthened, and neighbours started to help and support each other. What is fascinating is to see how the villagers now have confidence in themselves. Pride is taken in the village itself and in individuals.

“For a very small financial outlay the Church of Scotland is working with the Amity Foundation and the communities in Mada and to turn lives around, help communities to help themselves, and getting government agencies involved. They are seeing the quality of the work the Amity Foundation is doing and want to be involved.”]]> Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:19:52 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39708-kirk-moderator-visits-church-partners-in-china/ http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39707-oxford-universitys-bodleian-and-the-vatican-libraries-to-digitise-15-million-ancient-texts/ Oxford University`s Bodleian and the Vatican Libraries to digitise 1.5 million ancient texts
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-17687947

Most of Bodleian's manuscripts of Greek classical authors date from the 15th and 16th Centuries

Oxford's Bodleian Libraries and the Vatican's Biblioteca Apostolica plan to digitise 1.5 million ancient texts to make them available online.

The two libraries announced the four-year project after receiving a £2m award from the Polonsky Foundation.

Dr Leonard Polonsky said his aim was to ensure researchers and the public have free access to historic and rare texts.

Greek manuscripts, 15th Century printed books and Hebrew early printed books and manuscripts will be digitised.

The three subjects were chosen "for the strength of the collections in both libraries and their importance for scholarship in their respective fields", a Bodleian spokeswoman said.

The libraries say the digitisation will "virtually unite" materials that have been dispersed between the two collections over the past few centuries.

Sarah Thomas, Bodley's librarian, said: "Transforming these ancient texts and images into digital form helps transcend the limitations of time and space, which have in the past restricted access to knowledge.

"Scholars will be able to interrogate these documents in fresh approaches as a result of their online availability."

'World's heritage'
Two thirds of the material will come from the Vatican Library and the rest from the Bodleian.

The University of Oxford's Bodleian Libraries form the largest university library system in the UK and includes the famous principal library, the Bodleian.


The Vatican Library's Greek manuscripts include works by Homer, Sophocles, Plato and Hippocrates
Founded by Thomas Bodley, it first opened to scholars in 1602 and its combined collections include more than 11 million printed items.

A large number of its early printed books (incunabula) and Greek manuscripts originate from Italy and the project will focus on digitising these.

The Vatican Library was founded in 1451 by Pope Nicholas V "for the common convenience of the learned".

It is a private institution not attached to a university or academic institution.

The Vatican Library preserves more than 180,000 manuscripts, 1,600,000 printed books, 300,000 coins and medals, and 150,000 prints, drawings and engravings.

Many of the first books printed in Rome between 1467 and 1473 are still preserved in the Vatican Library, which also houses a copy of the entire Bible written about 1100 in Italy.

The Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Lord Patten of Barnes, said: 'We are very grateful to Dr Polonsky for his insight into the importance of widening access to the fundamental texts which have had a major impact on the development of civilisation.

"By making these collections available online we give the wider public access to a small, but significant part of the world's heritage.'"

Monsignor Cesare Pasini, the prefect of the Vatican Library, said: "Thanks to the far-sighted and generous support of the Polonsky Foundation, two of the oldest libraries in Europe will join forces in an innovative approach to digitisation driven by the actual needs of scholars and scholarship."]]> Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:17:00 +0000 http://orange-order.co.uk/topic/39707-oxford-universitys-bodleian-and-the-vatican-libraries-to-digitise-15-million-ancient-texts/