The tax increases announced in the Budget yesterday will hit one-income married couples harder than single people, except at low income levels, and also will continue the effect of tax individualisation. A married family with children and one income of €45,000 will pay an additional €1,070 per annum in tax and charges whereas a single...
The ongoing legal battle over Proposition 8, an amendment to the Californian constitution affirming the traditional definition of marriage, has run into yet more controversy after it emerged that one of the judges is married to a prominent anti-Prop 8 activist. Prop 8, which was passed by popular vote in 2008, and struck down by...
Almost 50 per cent of children born in the UK today will be living in broken homes by 16 due to increased levels of family break-up, an analysis of official figures shows. According to a study from the Centre for Social Justice think-tank, a dramatic increase in the number of unmarried couples having children was...
Newspaper headlines which frighten children are in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, according to a leading Norwegian child psychologist. Prof Magne Raundalen said that children subjected to long-term, low-grade fear can have their brains damaged by high levels of the cortisone hormone, leading to a reduction in their IQ...
The Catholic Conference of Illinois has expressed its regret at the passage of a bill legalising civil unions for same-sex couples. The legislation was approved by the Illinois House and Senate earlier this week, and provides same-sex partners in a civil union with all the legal rights of marriage. Democratic Governor Pat Quinn, a supporter...
“Europe would no longer be Europe” if the basic cell of the marriage “disappears or is transformed”, said Pope Benedict has said. Speaking yesterday, in receiving the new Hungarian ambassador to the Holy See, Mr. Gábor Gyriványi, he said that he hoped the new Hungarian Constitution would be inspired by Christian values, especially regards “the...
A gay man who is the father of two children through sperm donation has won a legal battle for access against their lesbian mother. The decision means the children will spend more almost half the year with him. The man, in his 50s, put an ad in the Gay Times magazine expressing an interest in...
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has refused to hear an appeal from a pair of homosexual activists who were attempting to force Austria to accept same-sex “marriage.” In June, the ECHR ruled in the case of Schalk and Kopf v. Austria that independent states are not obliged to implement...
Quality child-care for school-age children is a human right, according to Barnardos chief, Fergus Finlay. Mr Finlay was launching a report by the Dublin City Childcare Committee which shows that there are about 160 services offering childcare to school-going children in Dublin city, but that these are unregulated. Anne Conroy, chairwoman of the committee, said...
The former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey has warned that there are attempts to “stealthily and subtly” brush aside the Christian faith in the UK. Lord Carey (pictured) was writing in a leaflet promoting a “Not Ashamed” campaign which encourages Christians to express their beliefs in public and at work. The campaign is organised by...
