‘Only if and when Turks and Armenians mourned this tragedy together, would we be able to start a new and better future.’… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Ministers Must Call the Bishops’ Bluff 
Jan 24th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Remember who is at the centre of this dispute: children hungry for love, respect, safety and continuity.… Read the rest
Church Battling to Stop Progress Again
Jan 24th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Grayling on the church’s obedience to a higher law: its own convenience and its own corrupt ways.… Read the rest
Anglicans Archbishops Join In
Jan 24th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Williams and Sentamu said the personal conscience of Christians was being put at risk.… Read the rest
Sensitivities
Jan 23rd, 2007 12:39 pm | By Ophelia BensonSo where are we.
Downing Street appeared to be wavering today on allowing Catholic adoption agencies exemption from gay rights legislation, after a warning from the leader of Catholics in England and Wales that agencies may close rather than comply with the regulations…Mr Blair’s official spokesman said: “This is an issue with sensitivities on all sides…The key thing we have to remember in all of this is the interests of the children concerned and that there are arguments on both sides. This is not a straightforward black-and-white issue. This is an issue where there are sensitivities on all sides and we have to respect those but equally find a way through.”
But are there arguments on both sides? Or … Read the rest
Nick Cohen on the World Turned Upside-down
Jan 23rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Notion that it’s culturally imperialist to promote women’s rights for all women had to begin somewhere. … Read the rest
Bunglawala Says Islam is Part of Enlightenment
Jan 23rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Cites Salman Rushdie in support! Oy…… Read the rest
The Archbishop’s Letter
Jan 23rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Explains ‘the principles of Catholic teaching.’… Read the rest
Archbishop Makes Letter to Blair Public
Jan 23rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Cites ‘Catholic teaching on marriage and family life.’ Like Goldenbridge for example?… Read the rest
Massive Crowd at Hrant Dink’s Funeral
Jan 23rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Tens of thousands wanted to express their sense of solidarity and horror at the murder.… Read the rest
Not to worry
Jan 22nd, 2007 2:16 pm | By Ophelia BensonThe MCB is so dutiful and giving and conscientious, don’t you think? It assures us that, when it’s absolutely necessary, even a Muslim will in fact do her job.
… Read the restA Muslim woman police officer refused to shake hands with the head of the Metropolitan Police on faith grounds…The woman’s refusal was based on her view that her faith prevented her touching a man other than her husband or a close relative…Sheikh Ibraham Mogra, of the Muslim Council of Britain, said people should not be alarmed by the officer’s beliefs and that Muslim law “was not set in concrete”. He added: “If the officer is called to a male victim who has been shot, the laws go out of the
Pagans Worship Zeus
Jan 22nd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Why just Zeus? Why not Athena? What about Artemis? What’s with the daddy thing?… Read the rest
Muslim Cop Refuses to Shake Hands
Jan 22nd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
MCB soothingly notes that in a real emergency the cop will do her job.… Read the rest
Chancellor Refuses to Exempt Catholics
Jan 22nd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Church cannot be exempted from new laws banning discrimination against gay people, Falconer said.… Read the rest
Blair and Kelly Join to Appease Bishops
Jan 22nd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘It is the equivalent of telling Rosa Parks to wait for the fully integrated bus coming behind.’… Read the rest
Joan Smith on Kelly’s Conflict of Interest
Jan 22nd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Bishops would rather see kids remain in institutions than hand them over to same-sex adoptive parents. … Read the rest
Kelly Trying to Water Down Gay Rights Laws
Jan 22nd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She is determined to include a loophole for her church in the Equality Act 2006.… Read the rest
Excerpt from Nick Cohen’s New Book
Jan 22nd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Why will students hear a leftish postmodern theorist defend the exploitation of women in traditional cultures?… Read the rest
No equality please we’re Catholic
Jan 21st, 2007 5:35 pm | By Ophelia BensonGod, this is revolting.
Ruth Kelly is trying to water down new anti-discrimination laws to let Catholic adoption agencies turn away gay couples. Backed by Tony Blair, the embattled Communities secretary is at the centre of a full-scale cabinet row over the new gay rights laws…The Catholic church has threatened to close its seven adoption agencies rather than comply with laws that forbid them to discriminate against gay couples. The Prime Minister is supporting her efforts to water down new laws that are supposed to guarantee gay people equal rights to goods and services.
Well, great. Because the Catholic church has such a shining history of taking care of children, doesn’t it.
… Read the restOf the 2,900 children put up
Hrant Dink Refused to be Silent
Jan 21st, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In a column this week, Dink said he had received many death threats, and that he was scared. … Read the rest
