UN Committee against Torture calls criminalisation of all abortion in Nicaragua a violation of human rights.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Global Crisis Exacerbating Human Rights Abuses
May 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Amnesty International says the downturn has distracted attention from abuses and created new problems. … Read the rest
The Quackometer on Libel Law
May 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
English libel law can be easily used to silence criticism.… Read the rest
UK Student Atheist Societies Get Threats
May 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Religious groups are increasingly demanding immunity from having their ideas discussed. … Read the rest
Turkish Author Says Novel is not ‘Blasphemous’
May 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The author is on trial in Istanbul for ‘inciting religious hatred.’… Read the rest
Taoiseach Calls on Religious Orders to Pay More
May 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Ryan commission found much more abuse than was previously known or accepted by the orders.… Read the rest
The Religious Orders in Ireland Love Money
May 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They got large sums from the State for the children in their care, and spent some of it on other things.… Read the rest
Religious Orders Defy Call to Pay More
May 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
18 congregations defied calls from Cardinal Brady to be more generous with those who suffered abuse. … Read the rest
Padraig Ready on Free Speech, Libel, Blogging
May 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It must be bad for democracy when an MP – or anyone else – cannot speculate on the motives of the rich and powerful.… Read the rest
AC Grayling on Enthusiasm for Science
May 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Talks by Martin Rees and Steve Jones at Hay drew huge audiences and intelligent questions.… Read the rest
Row Over Abuse Fund Gets Worse
May 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘If the thing is much worse than they admitted to at that stage, then they have to look at the consequences.’… Read the rest
Worst Scandal in the History of the Irish Church
May 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Archbishop Martin says that if necessary the congregations should ‘beggar’ themselves. … Read the rest
Most of the children were heartbroken and terrified
May 26th, 2009 10:34 am | By Ophelia BensonAn excerpt from the Goldenbridge chapter of the Ryan report.
“All of the complainants came to Goldenbridge in harrowing circumstances. Some had lost a parent, and the surviving parent was either not able to cope or was deemed by the State to be unsuitable. Others were abandoned. Some came from desperately poor families, and others were born out of wedlock to mothers who felt that society left them with no option but to place their child in care. Some of those committed were babies; others had spent a substantial part of their childhood with their families. Most of the children were heartbroken and terrified on entering Goldenbridge. They all shared a vulnerability that made them emotionally needy.
Complainants lived in … Read the rest
Pax scriptorum
May 26th, 2009 8:30 am | By Ophelia BensonOkay, never mind, you can stand down now. It’s not quite a matter of ‘Never mind, it was just a case of the fantods, we’ll be going ahead as planned, sorry to trouble you,’ but it’s almost that. Close enough. All may go according to plan after all. Sorry about the interruption.
Actually it was just a ploy to bounce people into ordering advance copies! Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Just kidding. Things did look ominous from our angle, and there is still a part of the story that is obscure, or unfinished, or changing as we speak, or something. But it may turn out all right. I’ll let you know.
Addendum. (Look, it’s earlyish in the morning and I’ve been up for hours, … Read the rest
Book? What book? Was there a book?
May 25th, 2009 3:06 pm | By Ophelia BensonAbout this non-ecumenical book that Jeremy and I wrote, that is due out at the end of this week. Yes, what about it, you’re thinking, all agog. For reasons which I will explain another day, the publisher became nervous about it last Friday. The publisher phoned us on Friday, and talked of changes, or delays, or would we like to drop a chapters. We would not like to drop a chapter, and if we had liked to drop a chapter, the time to discuss that would have been several months ago, not now, a week before the book is supposed to appear. The publisher sent the can-we-drop-it chapter to an ecumenicist to get his opinion.
The publisher sent the chapter … Read the rest
The Pope Forgives Molested Children
May 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘What kind of a message is the pope sending today’s children? That it’s okay to seduce priests?’… Read the rest
Ireland: Congregations Say No Renegotiation
May 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
This despite increasing public pressure and a call by Cardinal Seán Brady that the deal should be revisited.… Read the rest
France: Scientology on Trial for Organized Fraud
May 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The church, which is fighting the charges, denies that any mental manipulation took place.’… Read the rest
Halachically Sound In Vitro Fertilization
May 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
You need a Puah supervisor, and a Puanite box, and be sure to observe the nidda rules.… Read the rest
Incompetent Nurse Fired Over Church Advice
May 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Gave religious instead of medical advice; Christian Legal Centre considering a lawsuit.… Read the rest