Majority of MSPs back gay marriage; Gay couple become first in Britain to hold civil partnership ceremony in a church; Religious education increasingly ‘marginalised’ in schools; NSPCC sees record neglect calls; Hay Festival 2012: Tom Hollander on Rev
Majority of MSPs back gay marriage
The Scotsman – A majority of MSPs at Holyrood have committed themselves to voting for same-sex marriage, ensuring that the legislation would be passed if it is introduced by the Scottish Government, Scotland on Sunday can reveal.
The first survey of Scotland’s 129 MSPs on the issue has revealed that 69 politicians have now pledged they will support gay weddings, putting more pressure on Alex Salmond to press ahead with the controversial legislation, despite concerns that it could lose the SNP votes in the independence referendum.
Salmond’s Cabinet is expected to discuss the issue this week, shortly before publishing results of its consultation on proposed legislation.
The Scottish Catholic Church, the Church of Scotland, and the Glasgow Council of Imams have outlined their objections to gay marriage on moral grounds. Sir Brian Souter, one of the SNP’s biggest donors and a committed Christian, is also strongly opposed.
And some figures within the SNP Cabinet have privately expressed the view that going ahead with such divisive legislation could harm the Nationalists’ chances of winning the independence vote.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/majority-of-msps-back-gay-marriage-1-2347427
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-18386792
Gay couple become first in Britain to hold civil partnership ceremony in a church
Mailonline – A gay couple are thought to have become the first in the UK to hold a civil partnership ceremony in a church building. Kieran Bohan and Warren Hartley exchanged vows at the Ullet Road Unitarian Church, in Liverpool, last month and are currently enjoying their honeymoon.
The couple, who described the event as a ‘milestone for equality’, only received council approval that the church could register civil partnerships a week before their big day.
Plans to allow religious buildings to host civil ceremonies were announced last February but the legislation was only implemented in December after public consultation. Kieran, 41, who runs a youth group, said: ‘The pace of change is extraordinarily remarkable, but there is still work to be done.
‘There has been a lot of controversy over the government’s consultation over the equality of marriage and civil partnerships. ’When we booked our blessing over a year ago we had no idea this would be possible. We are delighted to have achieved this milestone on the road to equality.’ The couple, from Toxteth, Liverpool, have been together for four-and-a-half years and met through their involvement in groups for gay people of faith.
Warren, 36, an administrator originally from Sydney, said: ‘Bringing the two elements together means we are able to integrate our sexuality and our spirituality, to celebrate our love for each other and our love of God.’
mail.co.uk/news/article-2157588/Gay-couple-Britain-hold-civil-partnership-ceremony-church.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Religious education increasingly ‘marginalised’ in schools
Telegraph – Religious education is being systematically undermined by Government school reforms, experts warned today, despite mounting public support for the subject.
Growing numbers of teenagers are being forced to drop GCSEs in religious studies because of the introduction of new-style league tables that prioritise other disciplines, it was claimed.
In some schools, pupils are no longer allowed to take RE at all in the last two years of secondary education. It is also feared that an expansion of independent academies – state schools run free of local authority control – is leading to rising numbers of schools dropping locally-agreed syllabuses in the subject.
The comments by the Religious Education Council of England and Wales were made despite claims of strong backing for the subject. A survey of 1,800 adults – published by the council tpday – shows that more than half of people back compulsory lessons in RE up to the age of 16. Only a third said it should not be mandatory, it was revealed.
It comes as MPs and peers prepare to attend the first meeting of the newly-formed all-party parliamentary group for RE on Monday – established to raise awareness of the importance of the subject in schools
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9322487/Religious-education-increasingly-marginalised-in-schools.html
NSPCC sees record neglect calls
BBC News – A record number of calls about child neglect were made to the NSPCC last year, which is a “worrying trend”, the charity says.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18390667
Hay Festival 2012: Tom Hollander on Rev
Telegraph – The BBC comedy Rev has put the urban vicar on the map. Tom Hollander talks to Jasper Rees about a heavenly role.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8865547/Hay-Festival-2012-Tom-Holland