Prayer as harassment: the curious case of Christian Hacking
When does prayer become harassment? That's the essential question at the heart of the recent arrest of a Christian called Christian Hacking, who was praying in a public space outside…
Quakers
It’s time for a new statue in Bristol – and two men deserve it most
The controversy over public monuments continues to be focused on Bristol, where the statue of Edward Colston was unlawfully removed by activists supporting the Marxist BLM Movement. There is no doubt that Colston had made a part of his fortune…
Worcester Cathedral hosts heritage event – Methodists not welcome
On 4th December Worcester Cathedral is hosting an educational heritage event: In line with the 2018 commemoration of the end of the First World War, Worcester Cathedral Education Department is…
Would Muslims have been acquitted for breaking into BAE and trying to disarm Saudi-bound fighter planes?
Methodist minister the Rev'd Daniel Woodhouse and Quaker activist Sam Walton have been acquitted after breaking into a BAE Systems factory in Warton, Lancashire, armed with a hammer inscribed 'They…
Welby defends the right to offend – kind of
During a House of Lords debate on the question of 'Islam: Extremism', the Archbishop of Canterbury interjected in defence of the right to offend. He said: My Lords, it…
A National Register of Faith Leaders? Government plans to vet all ministers of religion
There was an odd article in the Telegraph last week. Odd because the headline, photograph and content didn't quite cohere. Andrew Gilligan has apparently got hold of a leaked…
Bishop of Willesden accuses George Osborne of bringing back workhouses
You can understand the despair in the House of Bishops. Not only did the Conservative Party win an outright majority in the 2015 General Election, but Labour is in…
Let’s stop reviling Islam with ‘Islamism’, and call the cult what it really is
Rather like the Naming of Cats, the classifying of Islamic sects is a difficult matter, and it’s certainly not just one of your Eid-Al-Fitr games. As we’ve witnessed the…
#PastoralLetter (1): The patronising episcopal 'should'
There are only two possible outcomes at the next General Election: either David Cameron will be Prime Minister, or Ed Miliband. Nigel Farage will not be Prime Minister; nor…
"Tory fury" over Church of England letter is a confected Tory tantrum
Each day when Parliament is sitting, the Duty Bishop in the House of Lords prays that the House should “Lay aside all private interests, prejudices and partial affections”, so…
Mehdi Hasan: "No Reformation in Europe without Muslim theologians"
Mehdi Hasan delivered an oratorically brilliant if rather sanctimonious speech at the Oxford Union in May 2013, which now rings in the head like tinnitus in the wake of…
Christians are called to be 'non-violent extremists'
We have been here before. In fact, the illiberal proposal raises its portentous head with such frequency that it feels almost teleologically predetermined. From Labour's assault on "hate speech"…