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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

Pope's brother linked to new claims of child abuse by clergy
A series of allegations in Germany and Holland have plunged the Catholic Church into a renewed crisis over how it has dealt with child abuse after it emerged that the Pope's brother ran a renowned choir at the centre of some of the latest claims.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/popes-brother-linked-to-n...

Father Hans Kung blames Catholic views on sex for clerical child abuse
A leading Roman Catholic theologian has linked clerical sex abuse with priestly celibacy, blaming the Church’s “uptight” views on sex for child abuse scandals in Germany, Ireland and the US.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7054181.ece

Christian registrar denied leave to appeal gay wedding refusal
A Christian registrar who lost her job after she refused to carry out civil partnership ceremonies has been refused permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7399275/Christian-re...

Hundreds gather to see picture of Virgin Mary which 'weeps tears of oil'
Hundreds of people are flocking to see a statue of the Virgin Mary which its owner claims has been crying tears of oil at his home in France.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1256315/Hundreds-gathe...

Comment: The Vatican values its position more than children's safety
Revelations that Pope Benedict's brother may be called upon to testify in a church abuse scandal raise valid questions about how much the current Pope knew about the allegations. A more revealing line of inquiry would be to examine the extent of the pontiff's knowledge of the global clerical sexual abuse scandals.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/colm-ogorman-the-vatic...

Comment: The dangers of dishonesty
Religious influence on the political process is at its most pernicious when it is hidden.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/mar/08/religious-inf...

Comment: Does foreign policy need religion?
For the past 50 years statecraft has ignored religion – but it is a global force we must harness to create a fairer world order.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/mar/08/foreign-polic...

Race & Identity

Refugees 'denied vital healthcare services'
Victims of torture seeking sanctuary in Britain are being denied vital healthcare in detention centres and the community, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has found.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/refugees-denied-vital-hea...

Immigration: no party can control it say voters
Westminster politicians from all main parties have failed to convince voters that they can control immigration, an exclusive opinion poll for the Daily Express reveals today.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/162262/Immigration-No-party-can-cont...

Comment: The estate where asylum seekers abandon hope
The high-rise flats where a Russian family jumped to their deaths are, for many, the last stop before deportation. Chris Green and Kerry Harvey report.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-estate-where-asylum-s...

Comment: The British asylum system is still not fit for purpose
Deportation after many appeals is at least as cruel as summary refusal.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/mary-dejevsky/mary-dej...

Comment: Europe must not ban the burqa
A proposed ban on full-face Muslim veils is alien to the European ideals of diversity and freedom of speech.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/mar/08/europe-ban-burqa-veil

Crime & Justice

Government attempts to keep torture case secret
The government will attempt today to have a case about torture heard entirely behind closed doors in a move that some lawyers say would extend secrecy to a new area of hearings, overriding ancient principles of English law.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/mar/08/rendition-torture-case-secret

Comment: James Bulger's killer Jon Venables proves vengeance does not work. Now it's time for mercy
The culture of retribution that followed the James Bulger murder has not stopped reoffenders, says Mary Riddell.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/maryriddell/7400207/James-...

Comment: the right to know
Justice cannot be served at trial unless Jack Straw holds his nerve on unmasking Jon Venables.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2010/mar/08/jon-v...

Comment: the thirst for revenge
Reaction to the Bulger killer's case reveals a collective neurosis that denies any resolution other than unmasked punishment.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/mar/08/jon-venables-bulger-...

Peace & War

Israel risks peace talks by giving go-ahead to expand West Bank settlements as Joe Biden flies in
Israel risked peace talks with the Palestinians today by giving West Bank settlers the green light to build 112 new flats in the disputed territory.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1256314/Israel-risks-p...

America to withdraw troops in wake of Iraq vote
America's top general in Iraq has said 50,000 troops will be pulled out of the country this summer following the smooth running of elections at the weekend.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/7400279/Americ...

George Bush to David Cameron: don't derail Northern Ireland peace process
The former US president George Bush has made a direct plea to David Cameron to support the Northern Ireland peace process, amid widespread concern in the US about the Tories' new electoral pact with the Ulster Unionists.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/mar/08/george-bush-david-cameron...

Economy & Politics

Labour minister Sadiq Khan urges MPs to forgo £1,000 pay rise
Labour minister Sadiq Khan has urged all MPs to forgo a £1,000 pay rise to rebuild public trust in their office.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7400673/Labour-minis...

Comment: In the red corner: Labour’s answer to Ashcroft
It’s not just the Tories. The Government has Charlie Whelan directing money and muscle in the marginals.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/rachel_sylvester/art...

Globalisation & Development

Ethiopian PM denies aid was diverted
The prime minister of Ethiopia has stepped into the row between Sir Bob Geldof and the BBC which has claimed that 95 per cent of the $100m aid raised, by Live Aid and others, to fight famine in rebel-held northern Ethiopia in 1985 was diverted to be spent on weapons.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/ethiopian-pm-denies-aid-w...

Britain sends South Africa 42m condoms in HIV fight before World Cup
Britain is to give 42m condoms to South Africa in response to a request for an extra billion as part of an HIV prevention drive before the World Cup, the government will announce today.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/09/condoms-south-africa-world-cup

Life & Death

500 dead after violent clashes in Nigeria
At least 500 people were killed Sunday in communal clashes near Nigeria's central city of Jos, an official has confirmed.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/7...

Comment: Violence in Nigeria: food not faith
Calling the killings in Jos sectarian is wrong. Resources, not religion, are the cause – made worse by bad government.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/mar/08/nigeria-jos-christia...

Sex & Gender

Comment: The rights of woman: How far have they advanced?
Tomorrow is the 100th International Women's Day, and women everywhere this weekend are marching, celebrating and protesting. Emily Dugan on the journey of the century.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/the-rights-of-woman-how...

Comment: Recommit to women's liberation
On International Women's Day we launch a manifesto for 21st-century feminism.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/mar/08/international-womens...

People & Power

Prince of Wales could lose out on Commonwealth leadership
The Prince of Wales could be denied the role of Head of the Commonwealth when he becomes king after a key report into the organisation’s future recommended a radical shake-up.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/7398887/Prince-of-Wales-could-lose-out-o...

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