The Life and Loves of Freddie Mercury

Sep 21, 2021 by

The Life and Loves of Freddie Mercury

by Peter May, Virtueonline: A new book by Lesley-Ann Jones asks, “Who was the love of Freddie Mercury’s life?” Thirty years after his death, this question has increasing relevance. Sexuality has become a very confusing cultural nightmare and Freddie’s life highlights the complexities and pitfalls. While many saw Freddie as the love of their lives, who was actually the love of his life? Freddie Bulsara moved to England in 1964, aged 18 yrs. His earlier years had been a...

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In allowing gender dysphoric children to ‘decide’ treatment for themselves, is society abdicating its duty of care?

Sep 21, 2021 by

In allowing gender dysphoric children to ‘decide’ treatment for themselves, is society abdicating its duty of care?

from Voice for Justice UK: Last week, in a landmark judgment, the Court of Appeal overturned the controversial 2020 ruling in the Keira Bell case, which had found that gender dysphoric children under 16 were unlikely to be mature enough to be able to give informed consent to receiving puberty blocking drugs.   Their Lordships disagreed, ruling that the court lacked competence to pronounce on matters of clinical judgement, and that the Gillick test of competence applies – meaning that it is for...

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Does the NHS care more about wokeness than healthcare?

Sep 21, 2021 by

Does the NHS care more about wokeness than healthcare?

from spiked: Its diversity and inclusion executive is paid more than the head of NHS England. The pandemic has put the NHS under considerable strain. Waiting lists have reached record highs. Surely, given these enormous challenges, you would expect the NHS to concentrate on its core mission. You would think that every available penny would go towards ensuring the delivery of decent healthcare. But you’d be wrong. In the eyes of those who run the NHS, there is far more important work to do –...

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LGBT+ guide offers advice for primary teachers and pupils

Sep 21, 2021 by

LGBT+ guide offers advice for primary teachers and pupils

by Jeremy Watson, The Times: Primary pupils will be taught how to use inclusive pronouns as well as the difference between gender and biological sex in a new guide aimed at curbing bullying in schools. What Does LGBT+ Mean? will teach nine to 11-year-olds how to use “they” instead of “he” or “she”, and ways to avoid stereotyping Its authors said that the text, to be launched on Saturday and given privately to schools in Dumfries & Galloway initially, gave a “positive introduction to...

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Archbishop defends MP threatened over trans views

Sep 21, 2021 by

Archbishop defends MP threatened over trans views

from Christian Today: The Archbishop of Canterbury has defended a trans-critical MP after she withdrew from the Labour Party conference over security fears. Rosie Duffield has pulled out of next week’s conference in Brighton after receiving threats from trans activists. The 50-year-old MP for Canterbury has angered the trans community by saying that “only women have a cervix”. […]  Archbishop Justin Welby has echoed these concerns on social media. “Absolutely...

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British ‘baby shortage’ could lead to economic decline, says thinktank

Sep 21, 2021 by

British ‘baby shortage’ could lead to economic decline, says thinktank

by Andrew Sparrow, Guardian: Britain is facing a “baby shortage” that could lead to “long-term economic stagnation”, a thinktank has said. The Social Market Foundation (SMF) said the birthrate was almost half what it was at its postwar peak in the 1960s, and the country’s ageing population could lead to economic decline. It said ministers should set up a cross-government taskforce to consider the issue, and one helpful measure might be better childcare provision. The thinktank said typical...

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Neil Oliver: Our strength is being together

Sep 20, 2021 by

Neil Oliver: Our strength is being together

from TCW: People are talking to me about the months ahead and the winter to come. Many fear a winter of discontent. They dread the dark and what the dark might hold. The troubles of recent weeks have been hard enough, they say, while the sun has shone and it has been easy to be outside. How will it be when the days are short and the nights are long? I say the autumn and the winter ahead will be what we choose to make them. It will be a test of who we are as people. I say that in the most...

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Hierarchy, Bishops and Leadership in the Church

Sep 20, 2021 by

Hierarchy, Bishops and Leadership in the Church

by Stephen Parsons, Surviving Church: A few years ago, I was giving a paper on Joan of Arc. The details of that talk are not important here, except for one point I made. Joan’s command of an army to fight the English around the city of Orleans in the early 1430s was an exceptional event.  Socially she was of fairly humble stock, certainly not officer class. Her authority to command soldiers had to be given to her and supported by someone who actually had the legal/feudal power to occupy a...

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The cowardly enablers of thuggery

Sep 20, 2021 by

The cowardly enablers of thuggery

by Melanie Philllips: An MP is now too much at risk to attend her own party’s conference. The Labour MP Rosie Duffield has decided to stay away from this year’s Labour party conference after receiving advice that her safety there could be at risk. The reason? She has been branded transphobic for “knowing that only women have a cervix”. She has also pointed out that it might not be appropriate for people with male bodies who identify as women to enter female-only spaces. The position in which...

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One Christian preaching the faith, 14 police silencing him

Sep 20, 2021 by

One Christian preaching the faith, 14 police silencing him

by Peter Simpson, TCW: OVER recent weeks the manner in which the Metropolitan Police prevented a Christian pastor going about his lawful duties has been in the hands of solicitors in a formal legal process seeking redress. It is therefore only now possible to make known the shocking police action on August 20 in Uxbridge, West London. On this date I was preaching the gospel in the open area near to the entrance to the Underground station. I began preaching at around 1.05pm on Bible texts...

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