Four Christians have gone to the European Court of Human Rights to argue that Christians as a group are being discriminated against in the UK, notes Symon Hill. But it is one thing to argue for free expression, quite another to argue for the right to discriminate against same-sex couples. Meanwhile, other Christians have witnessed to their faith by preparing to go to prison for a protest aganist nuclear weapons - but that case has received far less attention.

Several religious groups have expressed support for same-sex marriage, saying that church leaders who oppose it do not speak for them.

Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu is being heavily criticised for opposing government plans to legalise same-sex civil marriage.