Church cannot be exempted from new laws banning discrimination against gay people, Falconer said.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
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
Fury in Turkey
Jan 21st, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Thousands rallied in Istanbul. ‘We are all Armenians, we are all Hrant Dink,’ the crowd chanted.… Read the rest
Turkish Newspapers Express Shock at Murder
Jan 21st, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘No greater insult could have been made against Turkey and the Turkish identity.’… Read the rest
Suspect in Hrant Dink Murder Arrested
Jan 21st, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Journalists and politicians in Turkey have expressed outrage at the killing.… Read the rest
Babar Sattar on Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws
Jan 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Blasphemy laws undermine free speech and encourage religious bigotry and obscurantism.… Read the rest
Deborah Tannen on Religious Control of Women
Jan 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Men seek to manage male sexual drives by
managing the appearance and behavior of women.… Read the rest
Letters on Giles Fraser on Gay Rights
Jan 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If anti-gay rights Xians are the minority, why did four out of the five bishops vote against the rules?… Read the rest
Wendy Doniger on Women and Religion
Jan 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Most major religions have been run by men, who have often used them to control and suppress women.… Read the rest
Instructions for Sound Healing
Jan 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Arrange chakras. Buy tuning fork. Arrange crystal bowls. Say ‘om’. Be one with all life.… Read the rest
The Sound Healers Association Get Together
Jan 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
To project a sonic Valentine to the Earth Mother. Aw, that’s sweet.… Read the rest
Busted for Allegedly Violating Public Order Act
Jan 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
That’s the one where if someone feels insulted, you done broke the law.… Read the rest
Militant atheism
Jan 20th, 2007 9:49 am | By Ophelia BensonI’ve been pondering something Julian says in Atheism: a very short introduction (again). I think there’s something I disagree with; unless I misunderstand it, which is always possible.
It’s to do with his overall rejection of what he calls ‘militant atheism’ in favour of a less hostile or less noisy variety. I’m not saying there are no reasons to object to noisy and/or hostile atheism – people offer me such reasons often, and I can see that some of them have force. (There’s the fact that it can be boring, irritating and repetitive, for instance!) I’m just taking issue with a couple of particulars here.
On page 106 he says:
… Read the restNor do I believe that a firm belief in the
Feminism and ‘Will and Grace’ Caused 9/11!
Jan 19th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘It’s nice to see the cultural-relativist shoe back on the far-right foot.’… Read the rest
Obituary: Hrant Dink
Jan 19th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
One of dozens of writers charged under controversial laws against ‘insulting Turkishness.’… Read the rest