Policy Areas - Religion and Society

Senior Evangelical Anglican bishop is annoyed by 'bullying' tactics

staff writers — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:00:32 +0100

The Rt Rev Dr Tom Wright, a leading Evangelical Anglican bishop in the Church of England has said that the tactics of a new factional network within Anglicanism amount to "bullying".

Discrimination in religious schools

Press Office — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:29:43 +0100

Responding to the broader concern attached to a high court judgement issued on 2 July 2008 (see 'Faith Schools judgment fails to consider human rights angle'), Simon Barrow, co-director of the UK r

Pope and Patriarch tread St Paul's road to greater unity

Ecumenical News International — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:05:40 +0100

Pope Benedict XVI and the Orthodox ecumenical patriarch Bartholemew are seeking to put differences aside in order to encourage a growing global vision of Christian unity in a divided world, using St Paul as an exemplar.

The law on a wing and prayer

Shawn F. Peters — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:52:55 +0100

Should parents who choose to treat their children's illnesses with prayer rather than medicine be charged with abuse, neglect, or even manslaughter when their children die? Shawn F. Peters explores the issues.

Fracas at London church meeting about hardline Anglican group

staff writers — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:10:35 +0100

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell says that he was "violently ejected" from a major London evangelical church after seeking to mount a protest against a hardline Anglican group.

Outrage at free speech clamp on Pope's Australia visit

staff writers — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:33:53 +0100

Civil libertarians are infuriated at special regulations coming into force for the upcoming Catholic World Youth Day event in Sydney, Australia, where Pope Benedict XVI will be the guest of honour.

Service marks 60th anniversary of NHS

Agencies — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:14:52 +0100

A service at Westminster Abbey has been held to mark the 60th anniversary of the National Health Service. During the event the Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute describing it as the "noblest manifestation of the character of our country".

Whose mission is it anyway?

Simon Barrow — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:21:32 +0100

Some section of the Anglican Communion are convinced that only their narrow vision of what is permissible in faithfulness to the Christian message is adequate, says Simon Barrow. But they are confounded by the biblical texts they claim loyalty to.

Young theologians offer inspiration for global church of the future

agency reporter — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:51:13 +0100

Ideas for "bringing unity down to earth", "communicative action" and a "theology of the wilderness" were among the winning entries submitted for an essay contest on Prospects for Ecumenism in the 21st Century.

Prayers for United Reformed Church minister still missing in Slovenia

agency reporter — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:44:35 +0100

The congregation of missing Penarth minister, the Rev David Fox, are holding vigils of prayer at 5pm each day, as they wait for news of him. He disappeared more than a week ago, while on a walking holiday in Slovenia.

Archbishop of Canterbury says GAFCON declaration 'problematic'

staff writers — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:13:45 +0100

The Archbishop of Canterbury has responded to the GAFCON declaration which proposes forming a council of bishops to provide an alternative to churches they say are preaching a 'false gospel' concerning homosexuality.

Church children to keep adults on track

agency reporter — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:06:25 +0100

When adults bend their minds to weighty issues at the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church in Edinburgh in two weeks time, they’ll have the help of children to keep them to task.

Comment on 'Bad Faith' faith schools report

Press Office — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:19:56 +0100

Responding to today's report 'Bad Faith' by Cristina Odone for the Centre for Policy Studies, Jonathan Bartley, director of the religious thinktank Ekklesia said:

Report on faith schools 'fails to address issues of inclusion'

staff writers — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:54:57 +0100

The British Humanist Association (BHA) and the religious thinktank Ekklesia are amongst those who have today criticised as 'misguided' a report on faith schools published today by the Centre for Policy Studies

The other side of US religion and politics

Simon Barrow — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:45:08 +0100

We hear a lot about the 'religious right' in the USA. But what about religious opinion of the centre and left?