Remains petulant and defiant.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Pope’s Gang Defends Him 
Apr 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In the culture of the church hierarchy, the mere idea of a pope being called to account is incomprehensible. … Read the rest
A Crisis of Clericalism
Apr 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A culture which fosters power, privilege and secrecy, in which the priesthood sees itself as a caste set apart.… Read the rest
Facebook Causes Syphilis?
Apr 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ben Goldacre on a wasted opportunity to correct media distortion.… Read the rest
U of Buckingham Ditches ‘Integrated Medicine’
Apr 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Normally letters to vice-chancellors about junk degrees go unanswered, but Kealey responded to Colquhoun.… Read the rest
Constance McMillen Was Sent to a Fake Prom
Apr 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Parents organized a secret prom while Constance was told about the other one. How sweet.… Read the rest
More Petulant Bullying Confusion from Bunting
Apr 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
New atheists, shoddiness, sheer philosophical illiteracy, sheer aggressive intolerance, violent.… Read the rest
Afghan Women Defy Militants to Learn to Read
Apr 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ehsanullah Ehsan risks educating girls and women in places where Islamists have murdered teachers.… Read the rest
Child Abuse Overshadows Abuse of Women
Apr 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The church is so dominated by men that there’s a tendency to portray girls as provoking the crimes.’… Read the rest
Sexual Abuse of Women in the Church
Apr 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In 2001 the European parliament passed a motion blaming Vatican for rapes of African nuns in the 1990s.… Read the rest
Previous Pope Also Ignored Child Rape
Apr 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
An Austrian cardinal, friend of pope, abused many boys over decades but faced no sanction from Rome. … Read the rest
Humanists Too Shocking for ACLU
Apr 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Would love to accept their $20,000, but only if it’s given anonymously.… Read the rest
Demonizing Atheism is a Bad Way to Defend Faith
Apr 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘People who are given to ruthlessness can always find a justification for it,’ notes Sholto Byrnes.… Read the rest
Saudi Arabia: Lebanese ‘Sorcerer’ Gets Stay
Apr 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Not this Friday, but perhaps next Friday. Horoscopes are ‘condemned as un-Islamic’; off with his head.… Read the rest
Vatican Still Complaining of ‘Petty Gossip’
Apr 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Holy Father, the people of God are with you and will not let themselves be influenced by the petty gossip of the moment.’… Read the rest
Anxiety After Terreblanche Murder
Apr 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Afrikaner farmers have objected in court to ANC leader singing the old struggle song ‘Kill the Boer’ in public.… Read the rest
New Scientist Talks to Francisco Ayala
Apr 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Religion and science ‘deal with different ways of knowing.’… Read the rest
Some Speech Deserves to Be Marginalized
Apr 3rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The political freedom to speak your mind does not entail a right to be taken seriously or given deference.… Read the rest
Atheists Reject Clerical Attack on Non-belief
Apr 3rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sydney Anglican Archbishop Peter Jensen on Friday described non-belief as an ‘assault on God.’… Read the rest
Angry Reaction to Cantalamessa’s Remarks
Apr 3rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Vatican is saying ‘nothing to do with us’ but the sermon probably circulated for comment at a senior level.… Read the rest
