Red Cross axes volunteer for opposing same-sex marriage
A grandfather who spent almost 20 years volunteering for the Red Cross has been dropped by the organisation for opposing same-sex marriage. Bryan Barkley held a sign which read ‘No Same Sex Marriage’ and ‘No Redefinition of Marriage’ on the first day same-sex marriages took place in England. In August, Mr Barkley was told of the decision to withdraw his ‘opportunity to volunteer with the British Red Cross permanently and with immediate effect’. The letter also referred to the incompatibility between Mr Barkley’s views on marriage and the Red Cross’ ‘fundamental principles and values’. Coalition for Marriage (C4M), an umbrella group of supporters of traditional marriage, is backing Mr Barkley and described the actions of the Red Cross as ‘shocking’. At the Red Cross he volunteered in the international family tracing service, working on 84 cases, irrespective of sexual orientation.
Child sex abuse inquiry: They must get the appointment right this time
Fiona Woolf is a person of great integrity, as indeed is Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, but the task of heading an inquiry into allegations of historical child sex abuse is a special one. The two candidates for the post fell by the wayside not because of their personal qualities but because of their family and social connections. That the Home Office failed to spot the problem in both cases and then took so long to accept that it was a problem reflects badly on her department and ultimately on Theresa May, the Home Secretary, herself. That, however, is the past. Ms May's sincerity should not be doubted, even if her department's competence and her judgement might have been found wanting. What matters now is to learn the lesson and get it right the third time. This is an important inquiry and it will be hard to find the right person to lead it.
Paedophiles grooming women to bear children
Paedophiles are grooming women to bear their children, giving them easy access to victims, according to a child abuse charity. MOSAC - a charity which supports the non-abusing parents and carers of abused children - says a third of all calls to its helpline are from women who believe they have been groomed into conceiving a child. Director Nigel Newton Sawyerr said: ‘Paedophiles who are very devious will go to any lengths to access children. Who's more vulnerable than their own children?’ Barrister Sophia Cannon says the law under the Children's Act will always take into consideration the wellbeing of a child. But she adds that it is ‘skewed towards the idea that all mothers and fathers who want to be involved in a child's life can be involved. What it doesn't look at are the parents to whom responsibility has certainly fallen short,’ she said. MOSAC is now lobbying the Government for change
Poll shows voters ‘concerned’ over religious liberty threats
Only eleven per cent of voters in marginal constituencies think religious liberty has improved since David Cameron became Prime Minister, according to a new survey. The ComRes poll, commissioned by The Christian Institute, found that over four in ten (44 per cent) of those surveyed support legal protections for people with ‘sincere, profoundly-held beliefs’. ComRes surveyed 1,000 British adults living in the 40 most marginal Conservative/Labour constituencies last month. Only 21 per cent disagreed that the ‘tide of equality legislation has gone too far in elevating equality over religious freedom’. Colin Hart, Director of The Christian Institute, said the results should act as a ‘wake up call’ to party leaders, as voters in key marginal seats are ‘very concerned about threats to religious liberty and free speech. Those surveyed rightly believe that religious freedom in this country has not improved under Mr Cameron’s leadership.
