A judge in Britain has ruled that not including “non-religious world views” on the new schools’ Religious Studies (RS) course is an “error of law” in need of correcting. The course applies to State-run schools but not to Church-run schools. Mr Justice Warby agreed with the case taken by three families who argued against the omission of non-religious beliefs from the GCSE (General Certificate of...
Twenty-six children died in 2014 who were in the care of the State or were known to care services, the highest number in five years, new figures show. The annual report of the National Review Panel (NRP) details cases of deaths in care, after-care and those known to child protection services. The figures reveal that two young people...
Senator Fidelma Healy Eames has described as “meaningless” the offer by Taoiseach Enda Kenny for a free vote for Fine Gael party members on whether or not to repeal the Constitutional protection for the unborn. Senator Healy Eames told the Seanad: “The offer of a free vote by the Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, is as meaningless as the letter from...
Plans by Enda Kenny to establish a constitutional convention to consider whether or not we should have another referendum on abortion has been attacked by the Pro-Life Campaign. Cora Sherlock of the Pro-Life Campaign said the move would amount to a “charade”. She stated: “The suggestion that the abortion issue could be referred to a ‘Citizens’...
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has upheld the right of a pro-life activist to distribute anti-abortion leaflets near an abortion clinic in Germany. The European Centre for Law and Justice in Strasbourg has welcomed the decision as a victory for free speech. The activist in question, Klaus Guenter Annen, took a case to the ECHR...
A cinema advertising company has been criticised on all fronts for banning a Church of England advert promoting prayer. One of those attacking the decision is David Cameron. Another critic of the decision is atheist, Richard Dawkins. According to The Guardian newspaper, the 60-second advertisement, which shows Christians from various walks of life saying The Lord’s Prayer,...
Independent TD Mattie McGrath has called on the Government to fully clarify its position on the Constitutional protection for the unborn following a number of interventions by ministers in favour of its repeal in recent days. In a statement, Deputy McGrath voiced his concern that on the issue of the 8th Amendment to the Constitution, “there...
Hate crimes against Christians in Europe are more widespread than official reports show, the Vatican’s representative to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has said. In a statement before a sitting of the OSCE in Vienna, Austria, Monsignor Janusz Urba?czyk asserted that “poor attention is given to hate crimes committed against majority...
A number of Irish doctors have added their names to an Amnesty International letter calling on governments worldwide to legislate for abortion. In all, 838 medical professionals from around the world signed the letter, arguing that access to abortion is good for women’s “health and bodily autonomy”. Among the signatories are Dr Veronica O’Keane, Consultant...
A leading Catholic Archbishop in Australia has expressed his alarm at legal moves to sanction a fellow prelate for distributing a booklet defending traditional marriage. Following confirmation by Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commission that it is examining a case brought by a transgender activist against Archbishop Julian Porteous of Hobart, Lifesite News reports that Sydney’s Archbishop Anthony...
