Bits & Bobs

We’ll force gay youth workers on churches, says Government

The Government says its new Equality Bill will force churches to accept practising homosexuals or trans-sexuals in youth worker posts and other similar roles. Equalities minister Maria Eagle said religious believers should push ‘gay rights’ in their communities, but in the meantime the state would do it. The Bill’s explanatory notes make it clear that churches could not insist that ‘a church youth worker or accountant be heterosexual’. The Bill says nothing about the difference between an active homosexual and someone who has left the lifestyle.

Source: Christian Institute, May 09

Mother in battle with school over Jesus ‘ban’

A primary school receptionist whose fiveyear- old daughter was told off for talking about Jesus in class is facing the sack for seeking support from her church. Jennie Cain’s daughter, Jasmine, had been overheard by a teacher discussing ‘heaven and God’ with a friend and was pulled to one side and admonished. Mrs. Cain said she sent a private email to ten close friends from her church to ask for prayers for her daughter and her school, where she works, after she was called in and reprimanded. After the message was passed on to the school’s headmaster, the 38-year-old mother of two is now being investigated for professional misconduct for allegedly making claims against the school and staff.

Source: Daily Telegraph, 12/2/09

Atheists are given a thought for the day by the BBC

The BBC has agreed to broadcast a nonreligious version of Thought for the Day for the first time, following the success of the atheists’ bus adverts. Ariane Sherine, the founder of the Atheist Bus Campaign, will g i v e a n a t h e i s t Thought for the Afternoon on Radio 4’s PM programme, broadcast at 5:30pm on Saturday. It comes after 1,660 people emailed the BBC urging it to acknowledge atheists.

Source: Daily Telegraph, 10/1/09