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A selection of stories from today's press and other media that relate to Ekklesia's work, produced daily by James Vincent and covering papers such as The Times, Daily Telegraph, Independent, Guardian, and the tabloids.

Religion & Society

Rowan Williams issues 'profound apology' to gay Christians
The Archbishop of Canterbury issued a “profound apology” to the lesbian and gay Christian community today.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7020655.ece

Church may split over women bishops and gay priests, warns Rowan Williams
The Archbishop of Canterbury warned yesterday that damaging infighting over women bishops and gay priests could result in a permanent split in the Anglican Communion.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7021235.ece

Archbishop of Canterbury appeals for unity over gay clergy and women bishops
Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury, attempted today to bind together the warring factions of the Church of England by appealing for both conservatives and liberals to show mutual tolerance and understanding over issues of gay equality and women bishops.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/feb/09/archbishop-canterbury-general-s...

Anglican Church in North America ‘should be in communion with C of E’
One of the most controversial motions to reach the General Synod for several years will be debated today when members discuss a proposal that the Church of England should be in communion with the breakaway US conservative Church, the Anglican Church in North America.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7021260.ece

Pope hits out at 'unjust and offensive' accusations over Boffo resignation
The Pope has deplored as "unjust and offensive" accusations that Vatican officials close to him were behind smears which last year forced the resignation of Dino Boffo, a Catholic editor critical of Silvio Berlusconi's sexual conduct.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7020573.ece

Comment: Faith in the future
This 35-year debate has become tortuous. But one day soon, women will become bishops.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/feb/09/women-bishops...

Comment: God and the prime ministers
Far from 'not doing God', every British prime minister since the 60s has been a self-professed Christian.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/feb/09/prime-ministe...

Economy & Politics

MPs back election reform referendum
A referendum on changing the way MPs are elected will be held by October next year under Government plans passed by the Commons.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/157246/MPs-back-election-reform-refe...

Billionaire Tory fundraiser rakes in £25m from firm that has wrecked a rainforest
Tory billionaire donor Lord Ashcroft makes millions through a company accused of damaging a rainforest.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/02/08/billionaire-tory-fun...

Government backs move to save election night counts
The Government backed a proposal to guarantee general election votes are counted on polling night.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/government-backs-move-to-s...

Peers escape overnight allowance punishment
House of Lords authorities moved yesterday to protect peers who claim overnight allowances of £174 a night for staying in London even though they have homes in the capital.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/peers-escape-overnight-all...

Comment: Politicians behaving badly at AV debate
MPs have backed an electoral reform referendum. But this attempt to bring in a 'new politics' showed old politics at its worst.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/09/av-electoral-reform

Peace & War

Taliban don't want to seek peace, says Bob Ainsworth
The Taliban leadership has no desire to seek peace with the Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has warned.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/7196983/Talib...

Barack Obama flags 'significant' sanctions against Iran
US President Barack Obama has pushed for a "significant regime of sanctions" against Iran unless it accepts international proposals aimed at curbing its nuclear ambitions.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/7...

Iran will stun the west with 'punch', says spiritual leader
Iran's supreme leader said the country will deliver a “punch” that will stun the West to mark tomorrow’s 31st anniversary of its Islamic Revolution.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/157181/Iran-will-stun-the-West-with-...

Chad-Sudan deal could end Darfur insecurity, says US envoy
The normalisation of ties between Khartoum and Ndjamena could end the 'cycle of insecurity' in Darfur, the war-torn region of western Sudan which borders Chad, according to the US envoy, Scott Gration.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/7196443/Chad-Sudan-deal-could...

Race & Identity

How Labour threw open doors to mass migration in secret plot to make a multicultural UK
Labour threw open the doors to mass migration in a deliberate policy to change the social make-up of the UK, secret papers suggest.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1249797/Labour-threw-open-doors-...

No burkha ban says Jack Straw
Banning women from wearing burkhas in British streets would be a waste of police time, Jack Straw said yesterday.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/157190/No-Burkha-ban-says-Jack-Straw

Comment: Paying the price for a decade of deception
So there was indeed a Labour conspiracy to change the nature of our society by mass immigration.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1249823/SIR-ANDREW-GREEN-Payin...

Education & Culture

New award recognises schools teaching both religious and non-religious belief
Schools that acknowledge that not all pupils come from a faith background - and tailor their religious education classes accordingly - are to be celebrated.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/feb/09/schools-teaching-religio...

School's sacking of Christian science teacher divides town in Bible belt
A class experiment has left a deep mark in a strongly religious community.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/10/brand-cross-christian-scienc...

People & Power

Queen asked to grant Royal pardon to soldier executed by British firing squad for Boer War murders
The Queen is being asked to grant a royal pardon to Harry 'Breaker' Morant, a soldier executed by a British firing squad for the murder of prisoners in the last days of the Boer War.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1249698/Queen-asked-gr...

Comment: Two people of no monetary value – and so aren't worth saving
We are showing a deep indifference to a couple who are not young and not famous.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/peter-popham-two-peopl...

Sex & Gender

Martin Amis: 'women went on Napoleonic rampage in attempt at equality'
Women have gone on a “Napoleonic rampage” since the 1970s to achieve parity with men but it will be another century before they achieve it, Martin Amis has said.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/7198825/Martin-Amis-women...

Comment: Double standards on human rights
Where does Amnesty International stand on women's rights after suspending Gita Sahgal for criticising links with Moazzam Begg?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/09/amnesty-sahgal-right...

Community & Family

Child trafficking concern in Haiti
The head of Unicef has warned that people may still be trying to smuggle children out of Haiti and said protecting youngsters who survived the earthquake is the top concern of the UN children's agency.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/157283/Child-trafficking-concern-in-...

Ecology & Environment

China considering green tax as extent of pollution is revealed
China is considering implementing green taxes after a comprehensive new government survey revealed the extent of air and water pollution in the country.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/7201945/China-considering-gre...

Globalisation & Development

Black Zimbabweans to take control of white-owned companies
White-owned companies in Zimbabwe are to be forced to hand majority control to black businessmen in a move that could lead to chaos rivalling the seizure of the country's commercial farms.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zimbabwe/...

Life & Death

Archbishop of Canterbury says changes to assisted dying laws will 'cross a moral boundary'
Changing the law on assisted dying would be immoral, the Archbishop of Canterbury warned yesterday.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1249718/Archbishop-Canterbury-Ro...

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