Justin Welby says favouring wealthy pensioners over young and poor not a ‘people-centred policy’Boris Johnson’s plan to increase national insurance contributions to raise £12bn for the NHS and social care could pose a “serious problem” for low-income w…
European civilisation is built on ham and cheese
Fun thread that touches on animal husbandry, hardback books, Phoenicia, alphabets, sea snails, underwear, religion, and glasses.
Montenegro police teargas protesters against Serbian Orthodox church
Clashes during inauguration of Balkan state’s new church leader at historic monastery of CetinjePolice in Montenegro have fired teargas at protesters as the new head of the Serbian Orthodox church in the country arrived by helicopter for his inaugurati…
‘Cardinal Keith O’Brien was like God to me. Then he tried to seduce me’: the whistleblower’s tale
As disgraced cardinal Theodore McCarrick faces trial in the US, an ex-priest tells of how he testified against the Scottish cardinalAs disgraced 91-year-old cardinal Theodore McCarrick stood in an American court last week, charged with three counts of …
Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick pleads not guilty to sexual assault
McCarrick is charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14Former Roman Catholic cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the once-powerful American prelate who was expelled from the priesthood for sexual abuse, pleaded not guilty Fr…
Millions of children in religious groups in England and Wales vulnerable to abuse
IICSA report finds victim blaming, abuse of power and mistrust of authority to be commonplaceChildren involved in religious organisations, including Sunday schools and madrasas, are vulnerable to sexual abuse in cultures where victim blaming, abuse of …
All God cons: camping in churches has a record year as UK staycations boom
As conventional campsites fill up, more holidaymakers are discovering the joys of ‘champing’ – and silent nightsPenny Thomas has always favoured adventure holidays over lying on a beach. But this year, with UK destinations in such demand during the pa…
C of E admits to failings over allegations against priest who took his own life
Church expresses ‘deep regret’ in handling of unsubstantiated claims of child abuse against Father Alan GriffinThe Church of England has admitted it made mistakes in its handling of unsubstantiated allegations of child abuse against a former Anglican p…
Excommunicated Spanish ‘witch’ village turns curse into tourist cash
Embracing its strange past is a blessing for Trasmoz as thousands flock to its witchcraft attractionsTucked into the foothills of northern Spain, the village of Trasmoz attracts thousands of tourists each year. For many, the allure is not its half-ruin…
‘Bleeding for Jesus’: book tells story of QC who pitilessly abused young men
A moral crusader was accused of targeting public schoolboys at Christian camps and administering ‘horrific’ beatings After five years of sadistic beatings in a garden shed by one of the UK’s most prominent barristers, and with a “special beating” to ma…