The Iona Institute ~ for Religion and Society
Most Recent News Articles
All News Articles
Twenty European countries join Italy in appeal against ECHR “crucifix” ruling
~Twenty European countries have now joined the Italian appeal against a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (pictured) regarding the display of crucifixes in public places, it has emerged. The group does not include Ireland. The number of states supporting Italy has been described as “a major political victory” by a leading group in the campaign for religious freedom. However, the Irish Government did not associate its voice with this campaign. Read more...
Justice Adrian Hardiman defends Constitution against critics
~A leading Supreme Court Judge has defended the Constitution from critics who have claimed it is too old and too complicated. Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman (pictured), speaking yesterday at the McGill Summer School, said that the fact that the Constitution was 73 years old and of a certain length should not be drawbacks. Read more...
Recession behind fall in numbers seeking divorce, say lawyers
~There has been a fall of almost 15 per cent in the number of people seeking judicial separations or divorce, resulting in the lowest number of applications for a decade. According to the annual report of the Courts Services for 2009, there were 5,398 applications for judicial separation, divorce or nullity last year, compared with 6,236 the previous year. Read more...
Rom-coms ruin real romance, poll says
~Romantic comedy films with happy-ever-after endings have a negative impact on people's real love lives, according to an Australian survey. A poll, conducted by Warner Home Video, of 1,000 Australians found almost half said romantic comedies with their inevitable happy endings have ruined their view of an ideal relationship. Read more...
Eighty per cent take up HPV vaccine
~Eighty per cent of the teenage girls offered a controversial cervical cancer vaccine in schools last term availed of the jab, according to new figures revealed yesterday. Read more...
British Labour continue to push for compulsory sex-ed for 5 year olds
~The British Labour Party are continuing to push for compulsory sex education for all children, including those as young as five in a new amendment to Government education legislation. Read more...
UK law unfairly targets Christians, report says
~Christians in Britain are being unfairly targeted for hate crime prosecutions, according to a new report by the Civitas think-tank. The report, entitled A New Inquisition: Religious Persecution in Britain Today, also warns that existing hate crime legislation poses a danger to freedom of speech. Read more...
Alcohol abuse leads to child abuse: Bishop
~Frightening numbers of children are being physically abused, and many under-18s are being sexually abused because of alcohol addiction, Bishop Donal McKeown (pictured) has said. Read more...
Child benefit unlikely to be taxed: report
~Potential constitutional issues and significant administrative difficulties are set to scupper Government proposals to tax or means-test child benefit payments in the next budget, reports suggest. Read more...
Religious freedom theme of next World Day of Peace
~Pope Benedict has chosen the theme of “religious freedom, the path of peace” as the theme of the 2011 World Day of Peace on January 1. Read more...
Labour should apologise for persecuting Christians, says leadership candidate
~A leading contender for the leadership of the Labour Party has said that the party looked “ridiculous” for creating a culture which marginalised Christians. Read more...
Argentina legalises same-sex marriage despite huge opposition
~The Argentinian Senate, just days after an influential committee rejected the proposal, has voted to legalise same-sex marriages despite opposition by huge numbers of Argentinians. The act makes Argentina the first Latin American country to legalise same-sex marriage. Read more...
Report highlights further child protection failures by HSE
~Children who were being abused by their foster parents for years, were forced to remain with them, despite the fact that social services were made aware of the situation by members of the public and teachers, according to a report published yesterday. Read more...
Passage of Civil Partnership Bill “Christian”, says Ahern
~Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has said that the passage of the Civil Partnership Bill was the mark of a Christian society. Speaking at the launch of the publication by the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) of the Seanad debates on the Bill, Mr Ahern said that the passage of the legislation was “the epitome of a Christian and pluralist society”. Read more...
Ombudsman repeats call for children’s referendum
~The Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan has repeated her call for the Government to hold a referendum to amend the Constitution to insert a children's rights clause. Read more...
Federal judge strikes down Defence of Marriage Act
~A Federal judge in Massachusettes has struck down the Defence of Marriage Act (DOMA). The decision is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court. Read more...
Bad parenting linked to binge drinking in youth
~Parental style can have a major impact on whether children engaged in binge drinking, according to a new report. Read more...
Young FG votes against end to State-funded denominational schools
~Motions in support of same-sex marriage, the secularisation of State-sponsored schools and transsexual rights were defeated last weekend by the youth wing of Fine Gael. Read more...
600,000 Argentinians sign petition defending traditional marriage
~An Argentinian Senate committee yesterday rejected a same-sex marriage bill backed by the Government following the handing in of a petition signed by over 635,000 people in defence of marriage last week. Read more...
President McAleese may consult Council of State on Civil Partnership Bill
~President Mary McAleese may consult the Council of State on whether or not to refer the Civil Partnership Bill to the Supreme Court, according to a report in The Sunday Business Post. The same report also says that the first civil unions will probably not take place until next year because the Department of Finance needs to include changes in the tax code in the Finance Bill for the 2011 tax year. Read more...
Right of Catholic hospitals not to perform abortions attacked
~The right of Catholic hospitals in America not to perform abortions is under attack by the powerful American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on the grounds that it violates their patients’ right to ‘healthcare’. The ACLU has written to the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid asking them to investigate and take action against Catholic hospitals that refuse to perform abortions and other medical procedures that violate Catholic ethics. Read more...
.jpg)
Senator Mullen condemns guillotining of Civil Partnership Bill debate
~Senator Ronan Mullen has condemned the guillotining of today’s debate on the Civil Partnership Bill in the Seanad. The Seanad was debating a series of amendments tabled by a number of senators including Ronan Mullen, Jim Walsh, John Hanafin and Labhras O Murchu. The amendments included a conscience clause. Read more...
Three Fianna Fail Senators resign whip over Civil Partnership Bill
~Three leading Fianna Fáil Senators have resigned the Government Whip in order to vote in favour of their amendments to Civil Partnership Bill. Among their amendments is a conscience clause. Read more...
New law will make it easier to adopt children of married parents
~New legislation which will make it easier to adopt children whose parents are married is being drafted by the Government. It will also make it easier for adopted children to trace their parents. Read more...
US bishops launch pro-marriage initiative
~A major new initiative to promote and defend marriage has been launched by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The project, entitled Marriage: Unique for a Reason, has been put together by the USCCB's Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage. Read more...
Council of Europe resolution attacks freedom of conscience
~A resolution aimed at attacking the right of medical practioners to opt out of performing abortions and other procedures they conscientiously object to is set for a vote in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in October. Read more...
Senator Mullen tables amendments to Civil Partnership Bill
~Independent Senator Ronan Mullen is to table amendments to the Civil Partnership Bill, to protect freedom of conscience for people with religious and ethical concerns around civil partnership on Wednesday. Last week the Dáil passed all stages of the Bill without a vote. The Seanad cannot prevent the Bill from passing into law, but can suggest amendments, and in certain cases delay passage. Read more...
Same-sex couples to use religious marriage ceremonies in UK
~Same-sex couples may soon be allowed to use religious marriage ceremonies in places of worship when entering into civil partnerships in the UK, a Cabinet Minister has revealed. Lynne Featherstone, the equalities minister, said in a written Parliamentary answer on Wednesday that the Coalition Government is looking at allowing same-sex couples to use “religious readings, music and symbols” in civil partnership ceremonies. Read more...
Civil Partnership Bill passes Dail with no conscience clause.
~The Civil Partnership Bill passed all stages in the Dáil last night, with no need for a division. No provision was made for a conscience clause. Fine Gael TD Seymour Crawford (pictured) asked Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern to include such a clause, saying that under the current Bill “there is no room for conscience”. Read more...
Senators attack John Gormley, call for free vote on civil union Bill
~Independent Trinity Senator Shane Ross has become the latest high profile politician to call for a free vote on the Government's Civil Partnership Bill. Read more...
Jewish academic defends crucifixes in public places at ECHR hearing
~A leading Jewish scholar has defended the right of countries to display Christian symbols in public places such as state-run schools. Read more...
‘Motherhood is sexist’ dropped from report
~A Council of Europe report which suggested that the word mother was a negative “stereotype” has been amended to remove the reference. The report, which deals with the portrayal of women in the media, claims that the media portray women as “as passive and lesser beings, mothers or sexual objects”. Read more...
Archbishop Martin defends right of Christians to comment on political matters
~Christians have “a right and an obligation to express concerns about the manner in which those who are called to exercise responsibility in politics” exercise that responsibility, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has said. His comments are being interpreted as a rebuttal of remarks by Minister John Gormley who told the Church to stick to the “spiritual needs of its flock.” Read more...
Civil Partnership Bill must have conscience clause, says leading theologian
~The Government's Civil Partnership Bill “effectively deprives all citizens of their right of conscientious objection” to civil unions, one of the country's leading theologian has said. Read more...
Marriage in UK to decline sharply
~Marriage is set for a steep decline in the next 25 years, while the rate of cohabitation is set to soar, UK statisticians have claimed. Read more...
Showing 1296 - 1330 of 1770 Articles | Page 38 of 51
