US supreme court decision paves the way for other suits against priests accused of child rape, which will in turn involve the Vatican.… Read the rest
Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.
We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.
A note about links
Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.
BioLogos is going increasingly Biblical literalist 
Jul 2nd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
BioLogos is about reconciling faith and science, so you’d think the idea of Genesis as inspirational fiction would be non-negotiable.… Read the rest
Simon Jenkins says ew science
Jul 1st, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Cathedral of science, faith not reason, a Soviet academy, airwaves are crammed, all reverential, new orthodoxy.… Read the rest
Science is not a religion
Jul 1st, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
And Simon Jenkins is a bozo.… Read the rest
Pope gives top job to misogynist thug
Jul 1st, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Cardinal Marc Ouellet thinks a raped woman must be forced to bear her rapist’s baby.… Read the rest
Professor charged in ‘holy water’ fraud
Jul 1st, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Guy sold digital whatsits that he said could change tap water into holy water from Lourdes.… Read the rest
Gillard tells it as she sees it on the god issue
Jul 1st, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Christian lobby claims a large constituency and makes no bones about requiring political leaders to take heed.… Read the rest
Science journalists don’t know the obstacles
Jul 1st, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Scientists would love to do more outreach, but they don’t have the resources.… Read the rest
Jerry Coyne on why evolution of eyespots
Jun 30th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The evolution of “eye avoidance” (which generalizes to eyespot avoidance) is likely to be innate rather than learned.… Read the rest
Christopher Hitchens to undergo chemotherapy
Jun 30th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Double-plus ungood.… Read the rest
Buddhists have their sentiments hurt!
Jun 30th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Combining pseudo-humility and threats in a new and exciting way.… Read the rest
Belgium trumps Vatican on chuch abuse probes
Jun 30th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Insists that Belgian law enforcement authorities — not the Catholic Church — will investigate sexual abuse cases involving clergy.… Read the rest
Belgium reminds Vatican who is in charge
Jun 30th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Belgian Foreign Minister underlined the Belgian judiciary’s independence from the Church and its freedom to investigate.… Read the rest
Pope plans new theocratic push
Jun 30th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ratzinger will create a new Vatican office to fight secularisation and “re-evangelise” the West. … Read the rest
Why Belgian cops raided church institutions
Jun 30th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They had reliable information that the church was hiding information on sexual abuse.… Read the rest
Pakistan TV Debate on Concubines in Islam
Jun 29th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Does Islam permit Muslim men to keep concubines? Yes of course. There are no two opinions about it.… Read the rest
Vatican arguing over child abuse
Jun 29th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
And briefly, cryptically, makes the argument public.… Read the rest
Supreme Court declines to hear Vatican’s appeal
Jun 29th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
So the clergy sex abuse case will go to trial in an Oregon district court.… Read the rest
Belgium: church-backed “commission” resigns
Jun 29th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Members are angry that Belgian police are investigating crimes against Belgian children.… Read the rest
Where are the atheist women?
Jun 29th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Busy? Too nice to argue? Poor? Not invited?… Read the rest
