September 30, 2008

Church admits clergy not employed by God

by David Masters

A British vicar has won a landmark legal victory that saw his employers admit that clergy are not employed by God, but by the Church.
The ruling is set to send ruptures throughout religious groups in the UK, as their employees become subject to minimum wage and anti-discrimination laws.
Reverend Mark Sharpe, a former policeman who was […]



September 29, 2008

Anglicans boost attendance with special invites

by David Masters

The Church of England welcomed thousands of newcomers through its doors yesterday as part of the fourth consecutive Back to Church Sunday.
After months of preparation, the Church aimed for 30,000 extra people to sit down on pews in the 3,000 churches taking part in the initiative.
Over the last few weeks, thousands of no strings attached […]



September 26, 2008

Guide dogs allowed into UK mosques

by David Masters

A ruling by Muslim legislators in the UK has allowed a blind Muslim man to take a guide dog into his local mosque.
Mahomed-Abraar Khatri, an 18 year old student from Leicester, will now be allowed to take his Labrador guide dog Vargo into the Bilal Jamia Mosque when he goes to pray.
In Islam, dogs are […]



Archbishops lash out at financial traders

by David Masters

Archbishops Rowan Williams and John Sentamu, the two most senior leaders in the Church of England, have vented their anger at the city traders responsible for the recent financial crises.
Writing yesterday in the Spectator magazine, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams condemned financial traders who practice short selling, and pushed for the government to properly regulate […]



September 25, 2008

Obama effigy hung at Christian campus

by David Masters

A life size cardboard cut-out of Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama, was found this week hanging from a tree at a Christian college in North America.
The cut-out was found early on Tuesday morning, with a fishing line around its neck, at George Fox University in Oregon, US, and was quickly removed by college staff.
Taped onto […]



September 24, 2008

Saudi government told to halt religious discrimination

by David Masters

Saudi Arabia’s government has been told to end discrimination against the Ismaili Shia religious minority.
New York-based charity Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued the warning yesterday, saying that the country’s one million Ismaili population faces ‘systematic discrimination’ from the highest levels.
According to HRW, Ismailis are treated as second class citizens, suffering discrimination in the justice system, […]



September 22, 2008

Muslims condemn cleric with 86 wives

by David Masters

Muslims in the city of Bidda, Nigeria, have condemned an Islamic cleric as ‘denigrating’ to their religion, because he has 86 wives.
Muhammadu Bello Masaba was arrested last week for unlawful marriage and contempt of Islamic law.
On Friday a group of young people in Bidda staged a non-violent protest against 84 year old Masaba, shouting ‘God […]



September 18, 2008

Google lifts ban on pro-life adverts

by David Masters

Google has agreed to display anti-abortion adverts after a UK-based Christian group threatened to take the Internet search giant to court.
The Christian Institute, which promotes the Christian faith across the UK, filed a lawsuit against Google when it refused to display pro-life adverts when users conducted a web search for ‘abortion’.
Google said the advert was […]



September 17, 2008

Mickey Mouse faces fatwa death threat

by David Masters

Mickey Mouse may be forced into hiding following an Islamic scholar’s declaration that the cartoon character ‘must die’.
A leading Muslim cleric in Saudi Arabia has issued a fatwa against the ‘impure corrupter’.
The fatwa – an Islamic religious edict – means that according to Islamic law, Disney’s favourite rodent faces the death penalty.
Sheikh Muhammad Al-Munajid was […]



September 15, 2008

UK’s first Hindu school starts term

by David Masters

The UK’s first Hindu school opened for teaching today, with 30 new five-year old pupils entering its doors.
Pupils at the Kirshna Avanti Primary School will be taught according to Hindu values, with class content covering the national curriculum.
A unique programme of religious education has been agreed with local authorities. The focus will be on […]