News Aggregator from Padiham C of E Parish

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:34:52 GMT

August has largely been a month of staying put in Birmingham, preparing for my church visits which begin the first weekend of September. Whilst in Karagwe I did not sort my photos into titled folders on my computer so I had a huge task to face even before thinking about preparing a Power Point presentation! It did make me feel sad on occasions, and certainly homesick for Karagwe...

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:57:52 +0200

Dean and Paula Finnie - South Africa. September

The HOPE home based care team receiving further practical training. It was such a joy to have both HOPE team members, prospective carers and spouses of some of our patients together in the same room for the first time receiving training together...

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:46:21 +0200

Dan and Rosie Button - Uganda. September

It has been a while since our last prayer news, as we took a two month "mini-home leave" from mid-June to mid-August. We managed to visit four of our link churches and were glad to make contact with many of you on those occasions...

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:40:56 +0200

norm

The Christian Institute » News

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Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:34:52 GMT

BBC attacked for biased mosque documentary

A national journalist has slammed the BBC for screening a pro-Islamic documentary about a controversial mosque which has previously been linked to Muslim supremacists. Andrew Gilligan, in a comment piece for The Daily Telegraph, accused the broadcaster of airing a “licence-fee-funded, half-hour advertorial” for the East London Mosque which has been linked to the Islamic [...]

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:13:35 +0000

Study claims lap-dancers find practice enjoyable

A controversial study has claimed that lap-dancers enjoy the practice, but an ex-lap-dancer has previously warned it is “degrading” and certainly more than just dancing. Dr Teela Sanders, who led the study, says the women spoken to in the research did not feel exploited. But Milly, an ex lap-dancer, in an interview with The Times [...]

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:55:22 +0000

Obama appeals against federal funds ban on embryo research

President Obama’s administration has formally challenged a court order which temporarily blocks federal funding of embryonic stem cell (ESC) research in the United States. Last week US District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that all ESC research violated a federal law prohibiting federal tax money from being used for research involving the destruction of human [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:07:16 +0000

norm

The Christian Institute » Religious liberty

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Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:34:53 GMT

Govt taskforce aims to cut red tape in voluntary sector

Red tape and bureaucracy which “too often gets in the way” of charities and voluntary groups needs to be cut, the Government has said. Announcing a taskforce to tackle the issue Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd said the burden of regulation needs to be eased so that charities can get on with their work. [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:40:26 +0000

Under-fire EU Directive mired in disagreement

A controversial EU Directive, which Christians fear will undermine free speech and freedom of religion, is being held up in negotiations between European member states. The Directive seeks to outlaw discrimination on grounds including sexual orientation and religion in the provision of goods and services, and includes a harassment provision which threatens free speech. The [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:11:16 +0000

US activists demand RC doctors carry out abortions

A campaign group in America is attempting to force medical professionals, including Roman Catholic doctors and nurses, to go against their consciences and perform abortions. But a US organisation which battles for religious liberty says it will fight such an idea, and sue the US Government if it allows any such action to go ahead. [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:14:26 +0000

norm

The Christian Institute » Medical ethics

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Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:34:54 GMT

Obama appeals against federal funds ban on embryo research

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:07:16 +0000

Two arrests over assisted suicide of disabled man

Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of a severely disabled man at the highly controversial Dignitas facility in Switzerland. Douglas Sinclair, who was suffering from a rare debilitating disorder, is believed to have travelled to the suicide facility in Zurich to end his life in July. And now Northumbria Police have [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:45:31 +0000

Scots end-of-life Bill backed by humanists

A controversial attempt to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland is being supported by a humanist campaign group. The End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill, proposed by independent MSP Margo MacDonald, would allow terminally ill people and those who are “permanently physically incapacitated” to seek assistance in ending their lives. The Humanist Society of Scotland (HSS) [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:38:13 +0000

norm

The Christian Institute » Marriage & family

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Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:34:54 GMT

BBC attacked for biased mosque documentary

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:13:35 +0000

BBC boss: left wing political bias is less prevalent now

The BBC’s content is less politically biased than it previously was, the Director General of the corporation has claimed. Mark Thompson also asserted, despite previous accusations that the corporation has been pushing for the legalisation of assisted suicide, that the BBC doesn’t campaign on political issues. Speaking to the New Statesman Mr Thompson admitted that [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:53:33 +0000

Tatchell repeats call for lower age of consent

‘Homosexual rights’ campaigner Peter Tatchell has repeated his call for the age of consent to be lowered to just 14. His position has been strongly rebuffed in the past, with one commentator saying that sex is for people who can cope with the consequences, “In a word, adults.” Mr Tatchell’s latest comments echo those made [...]

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:58:12 +0000

Top RC adviser slams Britain’s moral decline

Decades of liberal laws pushing the homosexual agenda have taken a devastating toll on the traditional family, according to an influential figure in the Roman Catholic church. Edmund Adamus also warned that Britain is the global centre of the “culture of death”, an expression often used to refer to liberal policies on euthanasia and abortion. [...]

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:21:42 +0000

Welsh Assembly undermines parents in children’s plans

Parents in Wales face not being consulted about new measures affecting the rights of their children, if a Welsh Assembly proposal becomes law. The controversial plans focus on implementing policies recommended by the United Nations, which has previously issued a strong call on the UK Government to ban smacking. The proposal, which is part of [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:53:18 +0000

Pupils to access explicit sex websites in Scottish schools

Thousands of school children are being given the ability to access sexually explicit websites in Scottish schools, according to the Scottish Daily Mail. However, critics have slammed the controversial scheme warning that it undermines parental authority. School children in the NHS Lanarkshire health board area are able to access the health board’s own sexual health [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:13:04 +0000

MP continues Labour crusade for compulsory sex education

Labour MP, Chris Bryant, is continuing his party’s controversial attempts to impose compulsory sex education in schools, despite opposition from head teachers and faith leaders. Mr Bryant plans to introduce a Ten-Minute Rule Bill calling for compulsory sex education in schools. This type of bill is unlikely to become law but critics say the proposal, [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:39:48 +0000

Ed Miliband would scrap free speech safeguard

Free speech laws that allow people to express their opinions about homosexual conduct should be scrapped, Labour leadership hopeful Ed Miliband says. Incredibly, he claims that the law – which has been backed by Parliament on four occasions – makes it harder to convict murderers. His extraordinary comments appear in an opinion article he wrote [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:12:14 +0000

Dawkins calls for more interference in faith schools

Faith schools shouldn’t be allowed to teach religious education (RE) lessons in line with their beliefs, according to atheist campaigner Richard Dawkins. RE is compulsory but not currently part of the National Curriculum, and faith schools have the liberty to determine the content of their RE classes. During an interview with the Times newspaper Professor [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:01:07 +0000

Sexual infections reach a record high in the UK

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have reached historic levels, and the number of teenage pregnancies is also on the rise. Newly released figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have revealed that last year there were 482,696 new diagnoses of STIs in the UK. And experts have expressed alarm at the resurgence of infections such as [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:51:03 +0000

Homosexual tax guide slammed by commentator

A Government guide for homosexual and transgender taxpayers has received a stinging rebuke from a prominent national newspaper commentator. Richard Littlejohn’s comments were prompted by receiving a copy of HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) information booklet for gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual customers. The glossy booklet, which features the gay pride flag on its front [...]

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:51:22 +0000

Probe into ‘same-sex’ priests ice cream advert

An ice cream advert which shows two male priests about to kiss with the line “We believe in salivation” is being investigated by the advertising watchdog. Complaints about the ad, for Antonio Federici Gelato Italiano desserts, have reportedly remarked that it is distasteful to religious believers. The ice cream company’s creative director attempted to defend [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:26:56 +0000

Council offices given to homosexual activist

West Sussex Council has become the first English authority outside London to host a Stonewall employee in its offices, according to local press reports. Dave Small, Stonewall’s Regional Workplace Associate for South East and South West England, will work in Chichester as part of a six-month trial. Last year in nearby Brighton a Sunday school [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:22:28 +0000

Govt-funded group sponsors Irish gay adoption push

An organisation which is heavily funded by British taxpayers is sponsoring a controversial conference promoting the legalisation of same-sex adoption in Ireland. The British Council, which is responsible for promoting British ideas and achievements throughout the world, is backing the Voices for Children conference next month. The conference is being hosted by the campaign group [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:58:57 +0000

Video: Jennifer Aniston under fire for traditional family jibe

Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston has been berated over remarks she made whilst promoting her latest movie Switch, where she plays a woman in her 40s who decides to have a baby using a sperm donor. Watch Fox News host Bill O’Reilly slam Jennifer Aniston’s comments She has been blasted by media commentators, including popular Fox [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:49:27 +0000

Civil partnerships plummet as dissolutions double

The number of civil partnerships being registered annually has fallen and dissolutions have almost doubled, according to official figures. Newly released figures from the Office for National Statistics show that during 2009 6,281 civil partnerships were formed in the UK, a 12 per cent reduction from 2008 when there were 7,169. The figures demonstrate the [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:30:40 +0000

Sperm bank blasted for offering celeb look-a-likes

A US fertility clinic has launched a “Donor Look-A-Like” scheme which allows women to search for sperm donors who they claim resemble celebrities such as Tom Cruise and Will Smith. But the initiative has been criticised by pro-life groups who say it is “another step down the road to the illusion of designer children”. The [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:01:01 +0000

Judge attacks council over forced contraception plan

A judge has blasted a council over its plan to use the police to physically remove a woman with learning difficulties from her home and force contraceptives on her against her will. Mr Justice Bodey warned that the controversial plan resembled “social engineering” and raised “profound questions about state intervention in family life”. The Midland’s-based [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:59:05 +0000

Ruling could force RC adoption agency closure

The last remaining Roman Catholic adoption agency in England and Wales is facing the prospect of closure after losing the latest round in its battle to protect its religious ethos. Of the eleven Roman Catholic adoption agencies operating in 2007, Catholic Care is the only one which hasn’t yet closed down or ditched its religious [...]

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:05:53 +0000

Teachers facing shocking sexual abuse from kids

Teachers in Britain have faced sexual groping, touching and leering from school children, with one teacher even being subjected to a threat of rape by a child, according to disturbing figures. A total of 305 incidents are included in the figures, with one involving an eight-year-old boy who licked a teacher’s leg and touched her [...]

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:53:36 +0000

Authors hit out at society’s ‘pornification’

Even primary school children are being affected by Britain’s hypersexualised society and it is a problem we’re not tackling, two feminist authors have said. Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Kat Banyard and Natasha Walter hit out at the sheer amount of pornography in society. Kat Banyard said: “All the research shows that watching [...]

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:27:41 +0000

No same-sex marriages in California until appeal

The threat of same-sex marriages being conducted in California against the will of the people has been put on hold by an appeal court ruling. A panel of three judges on Monday delayed the implementation of a ruling which would have allowed same-sex marriages in the state from today. Earlier this month a judge outlawed [...]

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:09:42 +0000

‘Social anxiety’ skews same-sex marriage polls

Americans are censoring their own conservative opinions on same-sex marriage when asked about it in surveys, according to the Director of a polling group. Tom Jensen says it would be “frankly impossible” to say that Americans are in favour of same-sex marriage in light of the 31 states which have rejected it in a public [...]

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:12:26 +0000

Happy memories of dad makes sons more stable

Men who hold fond childhood memories of their father are better able to cope with the day-to-day stresses of life, according to a new study. “The message is that father-son relationships are incredibly powerful. When they’re healthy, it’s hugely protective for boys”, said Prof Melanie Mallers who led the research. Prof Mallers, of California State [...]

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:36:11 +0000

Cash strapped Scots council is still funding gay festival

A Scottish council is set to shower thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money on a controversial homosexual arts festival despite facing large budget cuts, according to the Scottish Daily Mail. Glasgow City Council is facing cuts of nearly £200 million, and has begun a cost cutting exercise which is expected to see 2,800 workers leave [...]

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:30:03 +0000

Pop exec slams Britney and Gaga over raunchy videos

Young children are being sexualised by provocative music videos which resemble soft pornography, according to a top music producer. Mike Stock, who helped to launch the career of Kylie Minogue, said: “The music industry has gone too far. It’s not about me being old fashioned. It’s about keeping values that are important in the modern [...]

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:37:51 +0000

Video: Girl guides add voices to anti-sexualisation push

Girl guides want the Prime Minister to act against computer-enhanced pictures in adverts and magazines which present a false impression of women and lead to distorted ideas about beauty. Watch a report on the girl guides’ actions Their call comes amidst mounting concern about the sexualisation of children and as a new survey of girls [...]

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:03:29 +0000

Court overturns Californian marriage protection vote

A judge in San Francisco has outlawed a marriage protection clause to California’s constitution, despite millions of the state’s citizens voting for it. Yesterday Judge Walker controversially ruled that the clause, which makes clear that marriage is between a man and a woman, breaches the US constitution. President Obama has welcomed the court’s ruling, but [...]

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:07:52 +0000

Emma Thompson says mums can’t ‘have it all’

Actress Emma Thompson has spoken out against the pressure to be a great mum and have a full-time career. Speaking to the US edition of Good Housekeeping magazine, the British actress said: “I don’t want your readers ever to think they have to have it all. I think that’s a revolting concept. It’s so false!” [...]

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:38:58 +0000

More than 1,000 11 and 12-year-olds are on the Pill

Over 1,000 girls in the first year of secondary school were prescribed the contraceptive pill last year, according to shocking new figures. This represents a fivefold increase in the past decade, and critics are concerned about the increasing sexualisation of the nation’s children. The figures, from the General Practice Research Database (GPRD), also revealed that [...]

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:47:59 +0000

Over 80,000 suspensions for violence at school

Tens of thousands of school pupils were suspended from English schools last year for attacking their teachers or classmates, according to shocking new statistics. Almost 17,000 of these suspensions involved primary school pupils aged 11 and under, and over 63,000 of them involved children in secondary schools. The Department for Education’s statistics also revealed that [...]

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:45:05 +0000

Video: Corrie’s ‘Christian’ lesbian plot not a ‘phase’

Evidence has emerged of a popular TV soap using a storyline which mimics the language and aims of homosexual lobby groups. Watch a clip of Miss Vincent on ITV’s This Morning programme In Coronation Street a teenage character, who began following Christianity in 2009, embarked upon a lesbian relationship this year. The actress who plays [...]

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:11:19 +0000

Gove to ‘consider’ changes to home education laws

The Education Secretary has pledged to “consider” changing the rules governing home schooling following a controversial report into the death of a severely abused seven-year-old girl. Earlier this week officials from Birmingham’s child protection board released a report which blamed a breakdown of “assessments” and “communication” for adding to the failure to prevent Khyra Ishaq’s [...]

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:41:21 +0000

Airbrushed photos should carry warning says Minister

Photos of impossibly thin women should have to carry a symbol if they have been altered on a computer, Government minister Lynne Featherstone says. She says women are made to feel inadequate by images of flawless stick-thin models staring out at them from magazines. Such images are routinely ‘airbrushed’, meaning the models are slimmed-down or [...]

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:09:43 +0000

Almost 1 in 5 sexually active girls pregnant by 18

Over 80 per cent of 18-year-old girls are sexually active, with almost 1 in 5 of those having been pregnant at least once, new shocking statistics have shown. More than 30 per cent of the pregnant girls went on to have an abortion while almost half had the baby and 18 per cent suffered a [...]

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:36:37 +0000

Pressure for same-sex marriage in Scotland

A controversial campaign to legalise same-sex marriage in Scotland is being pushed for by both the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party. Meanwhile, a Scottish Roman Catholic Bishop has written to David Cameron warning that homosexual unions will never be accepted by the RC church. Homosexual couples in the UK have been able to have [...]

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:16:01 +0000

Ofsted: schools not talking to parents about sex ed

Parents are “rarely” consulted about their children’s lessons involving sex education, a new Ofsted report has said. The study, by the Government’s schools inspectorate, found that some schools were failing to help children to ‘say no’ to sex, in their Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education lessons. However, other conclusions of the report are [...]

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:00:27 +0000

Tories filmed gay shower scene election advert

The Conservative Party produced an election advert which showed two men in a shower ‘coming out’ as Tory supporters. The advert, one in a series of three, was to be shown in cinemas but was dropped for fear of a backlash from grassroots supporters. Two men are shown “grappling in a shower” in one of [...]

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:40:24 +0000

Rom-coms have made us ‘happy-ever-after addicts’

Hollywood romantic comedies give an unrealistic portrayal of relationships and can destroy peoples’ love lives, according to scientists. Researchers concluded that watching countless romantic comedies left couples questioning why their own relationships didn’t match up to the onscreen romances they desired. A poll of 1,000 adults found that almost half said ‘rom-coms’ had ruined their [...]

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:56:25 +0000

Top Lib Dem: same-sex marriage by next election

Senior Lib Dem Simon Hughes has predicted that full same-sex marriage will be legalised before the next general election. Watch the interview with Liberal Democrat deputy leader Simon Hughes Mr Hughes, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, made his remarks in a video interview with Yoosk, a website on which users can question important [...]

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:26:24 +0000

Labour repeats call for sex education for 5-year-olds

A new amendment to the Government’s Academies Bill has been tabled by Labour as part of an ongoing push to force sex education on children as young as five. Former Education Secretary Ed Balls has put forward plans for Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) to be compulsory for all pupils in academy schools. A [...]

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:34:44 +0000

Minister hints at same-sex marriage for transsexuals

Transsexuals could be granted official recognition of their assumed sex and remain married to an existing partner, an equalities minister has suggested. Lynne Featherstone, writing on her blog over the weekend, also revealed that she supports making hostility towards transsexuals an aggravating factor in future prosecutions for ‘hate crimes’. The possibility of transsexuals being allowed [...]

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:15:37 +0000

EastEnders under fire over anti-Christian storyline

The BBC has been forced to defend an EastEnders storyline after outraged viewers accused the corporation of anti-Christian bias. Watch a clip from EastEnders The complaints centre around a plotline on EastEnders which portrays Lucas Johnson, a Christian Pentecostal pastor, as a deranged killer whose deeds are motivated by his Christian faith. Viewers have watched [...]

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:13:35 +0000

Archbishops suffer defeat in row over women bishops

The Church of England’s General Synod has voted against a proposal which would have allowed conservative parishes to remain under the oversight of a male bishop. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York had tabled a proposal which would have created a new class of male-only bishops to oversee parishes unwilling to serve under a female [...]

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:14:09 +0000

Parenting style can curb teenage binge drinking

Children whose parents are both strict and loving are less likely to binge drink, according to research. A team from an American university questioned over 5,000 young people and found those with “authoritative” parents, those who knew their children’s whereabouts and showed warmth and support, were least likely to drink large quantities of alcohol. Stephen [...]

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:55:21 +0000

Call to force sex education on academies rejected

An amendment which would have forced all English academy schools to teach sex education has been defeated in the House of Lords, but similar proposals may return in the autumn. The amendment would have posed a particular threat to primary academies as they do not currently have to teach any sex education. Baroness Massey, a [...]

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:38:56 +0000

Portuguese Playboy depicts Jesus among topless models

Playboy magazine is cancelling its Portuguese edition after it published photos depicting Jesus Christ among topless models. The photos show a long-haired Jesus watching two semi-nude women in a lesbian clinch, standing next to a prostitute and looking over the shoulder of a woman reading a book. The offensive photos, which appeared in Portugal’s July [...]

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:36:18 +0000

Labour MP left red-faced over sex ed complaint

A Labour MP has been left embarrassed after her assistant accidentally issued an email making fun of parents’ concerns about a controversial sex education film. Chris and Pauline Power began campaigning against the “cartoon porn” video, entitled Living and Growing, after seeing a preview of it at their son’s junior school. The video, which is [...]

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:11:14 +0000

New study delivers blow to anti-smacking campaigners

Most adults agree that smacking naughty children doesn’t pose a “high risk” to their welfare, according to a new survey by an anti-smacking children’s charity. The results are likely to be seen as a blow to anti-smacking campaigners who have long tried to convince parents that smacking is detrimental to their children’s welfare. The survey, [...]

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:44:42 +0000

Divorce is contagious for family and friends

Divorce can spread like a virus amongst friends, family and work places, according to new research. Scientists suggest that if an immediate friend, family member or colleague goes through a marriage break-up, a person’s own chance of divorce increases by 75 per cent. The domino effect means that even the marriage breakdown of a friend-of-a-friend [...]

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:54:23 +0000

Govt considers future of ‘religious’ civil partnerships

The Government is considering whether to allow homosexual couples to use religious readings, music and symbols in their civil partnership ceremonies, according to an equalities minister. The review comes in the wake of a controversial amendment to the Equality Act which will allow, but not compel, churches to host civil partnerships. In a written answer [...]

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:58:42 +0000

Boris celebrates ‘abolish the family’ group

The Mayor of London smiled and waved to the crowds on Saturday as he marched under a banner celebrating a radical homosexual group that wanted to wipe out the family. He was parading at the head of London’s annual ‘gay pride’ march which this year marked the 40th anniversary of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF), [...]

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:46:03 +0000

European Court: no right to homosexual marriage

There is no universal right to same-sex marriage, the European Court of Human Rights ruled last week. The court said individual European states may decide for themselves whether to allow homosexual marriage or not. The result is a blow to homosexual activists who hoped for a ruling in their favour that would force all member [...]

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:32:00 +0000

Homosexual liaisons taking place in public steam room

A steam room in a public swimming pool in Islington is being recommended for homosexual liaisons by a gay website which gave it a rating of four out of five stars. The steam room at Islington’s Cally Pool was described as “tucked away round a corner”, making it the “best place for action”. The website [...]

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:55:00 +0000

Ofsted blasted over call for home ed clampdown

A controversial Ofsted report on home education has been slammed by the new Chairman of the influential House of Commons Education Select Committee. Conservative MP Graham Stuart said comments made by Ofsted’s chief inspector Christine Gilbert defending the report were “deeply concerning”. The education watchdog has said it wants legislation which would require “parents to [...]

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:08:37 +0000

Curb sexualisation, for the good of our children

We should all be “up in arms” about the sexualisation of children, the head of a parents’ forum has said. Justine Roberts, who co-founded the influential online group Mumsnet, has called for a clampdown on the culture which pushes sex on children. Writing in The Times, Mrs Roberts said many of the parents on her [...]

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:04:58 +0000

Teach 5-year-olds about sex, say NHS advisers

Five-year-olds should be taught about sex, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is controversially claiming. Only weeks after the previous Government failed in its attempt to force schools to teach Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) to children as young as five, NICE says sex education is important for children’s “wellbeing”. But Norman [...]

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:24:01 +0000

Anger at heels for 3-year-olds

Parents are despairing at moves by supermarkets and fashion chains to sell high heeled shoes for three-year-olds. Recently Primark and Sports Direct were criticised for selling products which could sexualise young girls. Now it has emerged that Asda, Tesco, Next and Gap Kids are selling high heels for girls. Reports say the craze was started [...]

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:14:21 +0000

Bremner: I’m fearful of offending Muslims

Comedians are forced to censor their jokes because they fear a backlash if they offend Islamic fundamentalists, one of the country’s best-known satirists has warned. During an interview for an upcoming BBC documentary Rory Bremner warned that every time he writes a sketch about Islam he fears the retribution of Islamic extremists, and the warning [...]

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:04:28 +0000

Ofcom blasted for giving green light to TV swearing

British audiences are becoming more tolerant of foul language on TV and radio, according to a controversial new report commissioned by the nation’s media regulator. But critics have slammed the research, based on discussions with just 129 people, and warned that it could encourage broadcasters to air even more obscene language. Ofcom’s report claims that [...]

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:21:31 +0000

Inmates are converting to Islam for the perks

Prisoners are converting to Islam to gain better food and the protection of fellow Muslims, according to an official report released today. The document, entitled Muslim Prisoners’ Experiences: A thematic review, follows a poll earlier this week which indicated that many Britons are suspicious of Islam. Muslim Prisoners’ Experiences, which is written by Dame Ann [...]

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:23:40 +0000

Church of England to allow divorcees to be bishops

The Church of England is planning to allow divorced clergy to become bishops for the first time, but critics have branded the move as “utterly unacceptable”. The Church of England currently has a ban on divorced clergy, and those married to divorcees, becoming bishops. But a report in The Sunday Telegraph has revealed the Church’s [...]

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:15:58 +0000

Joan Bakewell slams the commercialisation of sex

Broadcaster Dame Joan Bakewell has conceded that some of Mary Whitehouse’s concerns about the sexual liberation of the 1960s may have been justified. Dame Joan was a long time opponent of Mrs Whitehouse, a devout Christian, who rose to prominence after she took a stand against the declining moral standards on TV. But now, writing [...]

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:30:53 +0000

Archbishop speaks out in lesbian bishop row

The US Episcopal Church should face sanctions for consecrating the Anglican Communion’s first openly lesbian bishop, according to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Dr Rowan Williams’ comments follow the consecration of Mary Glasspool, who is in a same-sex relationship, as the Assistant Bishop of Los Angeles. The consecration represents a breach of the Anglican Church’s moratorium [...]

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:30:27 +0000

Doncaster teens encouraged to show love without sex

Teenagers in Doncaster are being encouraged to list 101 ways to show love without having sex on their prom night. In a refreshing change from the ‘take a fist-full of condoms’ approach, NHS Doncaster has launched an “It’s Your Prom Night – Get it Right” campaign. The campaign aims to encourage youngsters, aged between 15 [...]

Fri, 28 May 2010 15:14:09 +0000

RC leader: coalition Govt has omitted marriage

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has criticised the new Government for failing to support marriage in its policy plan published last week. The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, expressed disappointment that the word “marriage” had been left out of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat programme for Government. He said [...]

Thu, 27 May 2010 17:45:00 +0000

Armed robber ditches crime for a new life serving God

A violent criminal has abandoned his life of crime and is due to become an ordained minister this weekend. Matthew Martinson is currently a curate at St Nicholas Church in Beverley, and he is due to be ordained by the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu on Sunday. Revd Martinson left school without any qualifications [...]

Thu, 27 May 2010 16:45:48 +0000

Parents aren’t devoting enough time to their kids

Parents’ hectic work schedules and financial concerns are creating a generation of neglected children, according to recent surveys. The studies have revealed that parents are devoting, on average, less than an hour each day to their children. One survey, conducted by car insurance provider Admiral, revealed that working parents devote just 36 minutes a day [...]

Thu, 27 May 2010 16:15:06 +0000

Padded bra aimed at 7-year- olds on sale in another store

Parents have slammed a sports store for marketing a padded bra to girls aged seven, just weeks after other shops removed similar controversial products. Sports Direct was criticised for selling the stripy pink bra next to a matching pair of underwear for “7-8 yrs”. Mum Lisa McDermott called the product “disgusting”. Sexualisation Just last month [...]

Mon, 24 May 2010 14:51:28 +0000

11-year-olds set to debate rape, prostitution and porn

School children as young as eleven could be given lessons about rape, prostitution and pornography, but critics have warned that the lessons are “too explicit” for youngsters. Charity Rape Crisis has released educational packs for secondary schools, which can be bought for £100, as part of a campaign to end violence against women. They will [...]

Mon, 24 May 2010 12:05:45 +0000

Jobcentre axes adverts hiring webcam strippers

A Government-run Jobcentre has been forced to remove adverts recruiting webcam strippers, following a flood of complaints. Last week it emerged that jobseekers were being offered up to £100 a day to perform “nude or semi-nude” in front of webcams. Bosses at Jobcentre Plus were accused of luring people into the sex industry by allowing [...]

Thu, 20 May 2010 10:21:42 +0000

Forgiveness after cleaner plunders Christian’s house

A devout Christian has forgiven the Big Issue seller who plundered his home after he showed compassion and employed him to clean his house. Property lawyer Richard Rawsthorn first met James McConnell, a homeless drug addict, while he was selling copies of the Big Issue near Mr Rawsthorn’s office in Manchester. Mr Rawsthorn, a senior [...]

Tue, 18 May 2010 14:48:22 +0000

‘Charlie Condom’ promotes condoms to 13-year-olds

A new children’s character, Charlie Condom, has been created by health chiefs in Southampton to promote condoms to 13-year-olds. Education leaders have slammed the move and others call it “ridiculous”. The character is promoting a scheme, designed to cut the number of teenage pregnancies, which will allow youngsters to collect the contraceptives using a condom [...]

Tue, 18 May 2010 14:17:57 +0000

Irish Government plans to allow transsexuals to marry

The Irish Government is planning to allow transsexuals to marry partners of the same sex. This would mean that a man, if he underwent sex-change surgery to look like a woman, would be legally entitled to marry another man. Ireland’s Minister for Social Protection, Éamon Ó’Cuiv, has confirmed that the Irish Government is committed to [...]

Fri, 14 May 2010 11:35:13 +0000

Family time hit by ‘must-have’ culture

Family time is being squeezed by a ‘must-have’ culture which lavishes kids with the latest gizmos, a leading headmaster warns today. He is also worried that children spend too much time at after-school clubs rather than with their families. Graham Gorton, chairman of the Independent Schools Association will say in a speech today that parents [...]

Thu, 13 May 2010 13:31:21 +0000

Mums angry at plan to show sex ed video to primary kids

Angry mums have blasted a primary school’s plan to show pupils an explicit sex ed video, and warned that it could cause children to experiment sexually. The video, a Channel 4 production called Living and Growing, shows a naked cartoon couple chasing each other around a bed and then having sex, while a voice-over gives [...]

Wed, 12 May 2010 14:22:41 +0000

Raquel Welch: the Pill’s destroyed commitment

Self-proclaimed “aging sex symbol” Raquel Welch has blamed the contraceptive pill for destroying commitment and damaging the institution of marriage. The Hollywood actress said the Pill has given the illusion that sex has no consequences and she cautioned against plummeting moral standards. The four-time married actress is well aware of the irony of her comments. [...]

Tue, 11 May 2010 16:45:29 +0000

Scottish Govt may turn a blind eye to underage sex

Kids as young as 13 should be free to break the law and have underage sex as long as the sex is consensual, draft guidance from the Scottish Government says. The Scottish Government provoked a storm in 2008 when they proposed to legalise oral sex for children aged 13 to 15. It later backed off [...]

Tue, 11 May 2010 15:46:37 +0000

Babies know right and wrong from life’s start

Babies are hardwired to know the difference between right and wrong, according to new research by a Yale University professor. Professor Paul Bloom, a psychologist at Yale University, says that children as young as six-months-old are capable of making the distinction. The research presents a stark challenge to the belief that children are born as [...]

Mon, 10 May 2010 11:59:05 +0000

Families hit by average of £45 a week ‘couple penalty’

Families are facing ‘couple penalties’ of up to double what they incurred in 1997, according to a “startling” new report. The respected Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has released findings showing that the size of couple penalties have increased since 1997-98 with £45 a week being the average penalty incurred now. The couple penalty is [...]

Thu, 06 May 2010 15:36:20 +0000

Irish Civil Partnership Bill is ‘direct attack’ on conscience

Christian registrars who refuse to carry out same-sex civil partnerships could be thrown into jail under proposed legislation being considered in Ireland. A group of 19 church leaders has written to a national newspaper expressing their deep concern at the plans, which they say could also affect owners of B&Bs. The leaders said the Civil [...]

Thu, 06 May 2010 08:36:43 +0000

Cameron’s support for Christian Tory hopeful

A Christian Tory candidate who faced slurs over her church involvement has been backed by party leader, David Cameron. Philippa Stroud is standing for the Conservative Party in Sutton and Cheam, South London. At the weekend The Observer newspaper alleged that she helped establish a church 20 years ago that taught homosexual conduct could be [...]

Wed, 05 May 2010 12:22:07 +0000

Eurocrat: UK should have smacking ban

Smacking should be banned to increase respect for “children’s rights”, a top European official has said. The Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe has reiterated her call for the UK to ban smacking despite warnings from critics who last week said it was simply Government interfering in family life. Concerns have also been [...]

Wed, 05 May 2010 11:28:01 +0000

Tory confusion over ‘same-sex marriage’

The Tories will consider the case for renaming same-sex civil partnerships as ‘marriages’, but David Cameron says his party has no immediate plans to legalise full ‘homosexual marriage’. Yesterday Tory equalities spokeswoman Theresa May launched a document that stated a Conservative-led government would “consider the case for changing the law to allow civil partnerships to [...]

Tue, 04 May 2010 14:00:24 +0000

Mum’s fury as charity offers condoms to kids

Children as young as eight have been offered free condoms by youth workers near a park play area, prompting fury from a local mother. The condoms were distributed by workers from Cornerhouse, a Hull-based sexual health charity, which is largely funded by public money. But local mum Samantha Fuller was left fuming after she discovered [...]

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:53:04 +0000

Dumped by Cameron, now Tory hopeful’s job in peril

A former Tory candidate who was dropped by David Cameron because of his beliefs on same-sex conduct has been suspended from his job as a primary school teacher, according to reports. Philip Lardner’s suspension from work, as reported by Scottish Television (STV), follows a media storm earlier this week after his views on homosexual conduct [...]

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:47:09 +0000

European officials’ bid to outlaw smacking in the UK

Parents who smack their children should be prosecuted for assault, according to bureaucrats from the Council of Europe. But family value campaigners are alarmed that “a vocal minority” of activists are in danger of undermining the authority of parents to discipline their children. Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, said: [...]

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:05:50 +0000

Sexual lyrics lead young girls astray

Sexually explicit song lyrics are encouraging vulnerable young girls to experiment with sex, according to a psychologist. This latest warning by Dr Jane McCartney is likely to add to concern about the increasing sexualisation of the nation’s children. Warning about the dangers of explicit lyrics, Dr McCartney said: “I think it is making children think [...]

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:34:42 +0000

Anger as teenagers give school kids sex ed lessons

Scottish children as young as eleven are receiving sex education from 14-year-olds in a bid to cut teenage pregnancies, but critics have described the scheme as “flawed”. The Health Buddies pilot project, which is taking place in Dundee, involves pupils as young as 14 teaching younger children about issues such as contraception and puberty. The [...]

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:25:22 +0000

Nick Clegg claims Lib Dem values are Christian values

Nick Clegg, a self confessed atheist, has claimed that Christian values are “central” to his policies in an article for a leading church newspaper. However, a Daily Telegraph report of the article, headlined ‘Atheist Nick Clegg discovers religion in time for polling day’, appears to cast doubt on Mr Clegg’s sincerity. Mr Clegg’s comments, which [...]

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:35:51 +0000

Children of divorce still saying ‘I do’ to marriage

A massive 80 per cent of women whose parents divorced still want to get married, according to a survey for a women’s magazine. Asking 2,000 women in their mid-twenties, the Marriage and Wedding Survey for More magazine showed 78 per cent see marriage as the “ultimate commitment”. And most young women believe marriage is the [...]

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:06:39 +0000

More stores to review ‘sexy’ clothes for kids

Several high street stores have pledged to review their product lines after they were accused of stocking clothes that sexualised children. The promise came after one popular high street chain, Primark, was forced to withdraw its padded bikinis for seven-year-olds last week after critics condemned the store for fuelling child sexualisation. It emerged last week [...]

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:22:31 +0000

Age of consent plea from Rolling Stone teen lover

Mandy Smith, who slept with Rolling Stone Bill Wyman when she was just 14, has made an impassioned plea for the age of consent to be raised to protect vulnerable young girls. The appeal stems from Miss Smith’s wild-child teenage years when she first began a sexual relationship with the former Rolling Stone. She was [...]

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:56:18 +0000

First lesbian couple sign child’s birth certificate

Two lesbians have become the nation’s first homosexual couple to jointly sign a child’s birth certificate as parents. But critics are concerned that the move has more to do with the rights of adults rather than the best interests of children. Until recently birth certificates have recorded the names of a child’s biological mother and [...]

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:25:27 +0000

Padded bikinis for 7-year- olds dropped after outcry

Primark has been forced to withdraw padded bikinis for seven-year-olds after critics condemned the store for fuelling child sexualisation. The Children’s Society slammed the popular high street chain for “premature sexualisation and unprincipled advertising”. And a child protection consultant who works to help victims of paedophilia said: “It never fails to amaze me just how [...]

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:15:58 +0000

Tories publish details of marriage tax break

Married couples could receive up to £150 a year in tax breaks under plans revealed by the Conservatives on Saturday. If elected the party say they will offer a partially transferable personal allowance to married couples and same-sex civil partners earning up to £44,000. The proposals have been slammed by the other main political parties, [...]

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:33:52 +0000

Tories ‘happy’ to mull over full gay marriage

David Cameron would be “very happy” to consider changing the law to allow full homosexual marriage, George Osborne has said. The shadow chancellor made the remark in a private meeting with homosexual activist, Peter Tatchell, and others ahead of a pro-homosexual demo to be held outside Tory HQ. A Conservative spokesman has confirmed that Mr [...]

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:00:39 +0000

Govt drops home and sex ed plans

The Government has today bowed to pressure and withdrawn its highly controversial home education and sex education plans for England. It is believed the Conservative Party blocked the sex education plans. Both the Tories and the Lib Dems were opposed to the home education proposals. Under the proposals, sex education was to become a statutory [...]

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:05:14 +0000

Kids taken on school trips to sex clinics

Children are being taken to sexual health clinics for school trips which are designed to be “enjoyable”. But critics have warned that the trips are “normalising promiscuity”. School girls in Great Yarmouth who are identified as being at “high risk of teenage pregnancy” are being selected for the trips to NHS sexually transmitted disease (STD) [...]

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:38:18 +0000

Compulsory sex education ‘undermines’ free society

Imposing lessons about sex on kids as young as five is an attempt to wrest responsibility for bringing up children from parents, according to hundreds of head teachers and faith leaders. Read the letter in full Over 2,000 people have signed a letter to The Sunday Telegraph calling on Parliament to “decisively” oppose Government plans [...]

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:59:58 +0000

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Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:34:54 GMT

Preach The Word - 10th Anniversary - 2000-2010

September 1st 2010 marks the 10th Anniversary of the ministry of Preach The Word. Over the next 10 days we'll be featuring a sermon from each of our 10 years of ministry. Visit the site today to see the first featured sermon from the year 2000, and then take a stroll down memory lane to see what our site looked like at launch, in 2003, 2004 and 2006. Thank you to all our visitors for your encouragement and support throughout the last decade. We look forward, in the will of God, to another 10 years of preaching the Word online and sharing the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:10:50 GMT

NEW SERIES - Life In The Spirit Pt1: Religion Or Relationship?

Join us for the first of our series of studies entitled 'Life In The Spirit'. David Legge takes us through the Apostle Paul's letter to the Galatians, seeking to bring us helpful guidelines for living the Christian life. In this first study, we are asked whether our Christian life is a life of 'Religion Or Relationship?'. Many believers, particularly those who deeply desire to obey God, live their lives in a legalistic manner. Is your Christian experience one of a performance-based set of religious rules, which rob you of your joy? Or do you have a vibrant relationship with God? This sermon is available now in MP3, WMA, video and text formats...

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:10:02 GMT