Would Worcester College Oxford apologise for hosting the Pope?
Worcester College Oxford is among the fairest of the University. Founded in 1714, some of its buildings date back to 1283, when there was a Benedictine abbey on the site.…
Censorship
Welby defends freedom of speech – ‘living out the Reformation truth’
The Archbishop of Canterbury hosted a debate on freedom of speech in the House of Lords today, in the context of so many contemporary challenges (and robust assaults) against it. His own speech merits reproducing here in its entirety, not…
Wanted: Christians who can cause a little more offence
Would Luther have been a blast on Twitter? Historian Tom Holland thinks so. In an edition of 'The Rest is History' podcast, he observes: "What happens is that Luther obviously…
Hate Crime Bill: SNP seeks to regulate dinner table conversation in the home
There is something nasty in the SNP's woodshed; very nasty indeed. It isn't clear if it's a creepy person or a sinister political impulse, but it's nasty. Very nasty. Not…
Twitter censorship of the Biden scandal merits questions in Parliament
There is something rather sinister going on at Twitter. Readers will recall the daily news being full of serious allegations of Russian collusion with the Trump campaign in order to…
Church covers ‘offensive’ gravestone of GH Elliott, ‘The Chocolate Covered C____’
GH Elliott was a musical hall singer and dancer who died in 1962. So full of gaiety and laughter was his act that he was invited to appear in the…
‘Fawlty Towers’ censored by the BBC
The famous 'Don’t mention the War' episode of the classic, brilliant comedy series 'Fawlty Towers' has been removed from the UKTV catch-up service. In that episode, hotel owner Basil Fawlty…
Students’ Union president censured and censored over pro-life tweet
Gabriel Baraldi is a student a Bournemouth & Poole College. According to his Twitter biography, he is a "Tri-National Green Conservative Christian Vegetarian". His bio also used to say "@BPCollege…
BBC censors Sikh history in case it offends Muslims
Lord (Indarjit) Singh has been almost as permanent a fixture on BBC Radio 4's 'Thought for the Day' as the Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines. The BBC likes a certain…
Islamophobia definition creates a backdoor blasphemy law: it will be used to outlaw all criticism of Islam
Published below is an open letter to the Home Secretary Sajid Javid concerning the definition of 'Islamophobia' which has been proposed by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims.…
Jesus and Mo: Twitter serves UK journalist with warning of ‘illegality’ (blasphemy?)
Observer journalist Kenan Malik had tweeted out a Jesus and Mo cartoon (do check them out – it's quality stuff), and was just penning a piece about the ECHR judgment…
Don’t defame Mohammed: ECHR affirms European sharia blasphemy law
The European Court of Human Rights has unanimously decreed that national governments may fine or imprison their citizens for attacking or defaming Mohammed. The judges determined that "the Prophet of…
Bishop blocked by Twitter – for telling the truth about sex abuse in the Roman Catholic Church
That notorious purveyor of hate and guile, the Rt Rev'd Dr Gavin Ashenden, has been blocked by Twitter. Actually, the tense is wrong: he was blocked by Twitter, but recanted…
Online hate: Twitter speaks what the heart is full of
Life is a lot of bitterness and hate: there are oppressors and victims; struggles, dilemmas and protests. There is suffering and pain, anxiety and change. There are cries for vengeance,…
Trump to Europe: “You are losing your culture”
While the media pore over Donald Trump's interview with the Sun, focusing on the possibility a post-(soft) Brexit US/UK trade deal ("..it will probably kill the deal") and Boris Johnson…
As Britain falls down the press freedom index, the Data Protection Bill could end it altogether
"We note with dismay the UK’s poor ranking in the latest Reporters Without Borders world press freedom index," wrote Jodie Ginsberg, CEO if Index on Censorship, in a letter to…
Nigel Biggar on the degeneracy of academic civility
Professor Nigel Biggar has written for the Times: 'Vile abuse is now tolerated in our universities'. He tells us: "The spitting hatred I suffered over my views on empire shows…
New Musical: The Assassination of Diane Abbott
The Artistic Director of Theatr Clwyd, Tamara Harvey, has announced full casting for the world première production of 'The Assassination of Diane Abbott' – a new musical from Chris Bush…
Advertising Standards Authority probes billboards declaring ‘The Messiah has come’
Billboards have been popping up around London declaring 'The Messiah has come'. According to Harry Farley in Christian Today, these have attracted a number of objections, and the Advertising Standards…
Jo Johnson’s muddled and aimless thinking about freedom of speech in universities
Universities Minister Jo Johnson delivered a much-trailed (..and here, here, here...) speech about the imperative of academic freedom of speech, which he says must be guaranteed on pain of universities…