The Charity Commission, the independent charity regulator, and researchers at the Von Hugel Institute, have disagreed over the findings of a new report commissioned by the Church of England on the role of faith in social welfare.

PM Gordon Brown stands accused of distorting the facts as the parlimentary vote on 42 days detention for terror suspects looms - with church figures joining critics.

When it comes to religion and public life, there is frequently unhelpful confusion in the debate, says Simon Barrow. Initial responses to the Von Hugel report on church and welfare illustrate this.

Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams and the Anglican Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, welcomed leaders from business, government and civil society to Lambeth Palace yesterday for a Climate Change round table.