Speaking at a pastoral congress in Germany, Cardinal Martino deplored the prejudice and hatred being meted out to Romany and travelling people (often called "gypsies") in many parts of Europe, and called on churches to support them.

GMTV presenter Lorraine Kelly has said she believes that education for all, rather than schools divided on religious lines, in what Scotland needs to overcome sectarianism and to build lasting community.

Those who defend discriminatory practices for faith schools are losing the argument on principle, in terms of community cohesion and on the research evidence about standards, says Andrew Copson. Let's open schooling up for all.

Accord is bringing together Christians who favour a change in policy around faith schools, giving priority to openness and inclusion. Their voices are not always heard in the polarised debate about schooling which Acord wishes to redirect in a more positive direction.

Christians should be working for non-discrimination in faith schools because the Gospel is a message of sacrificial love not selfishness, says Simon Barrow. The Accord coalition's proposed reforms offer a constructive way forward.

The government is being urged to reform faith schools to ensure they cannot discriminate against pupils and teachers on religious grounds and to give a clear commitment to inclusive, community-wide education for all Britain's pupils.

The Methodist Conference has received a major report challenging the Church to eliminate discrimination in an increasingly diverse Christian community.