8 hrs ago | Ekklesia Daily News
French candidate wants to put church-state separation into constitution
The front-runner in the race for the French presidency wants the separation of church and state to be put into the constitution, prompting religious and legal experts to question how this might alter the way France functions as a state that is already secular by law - writes Michael J. Strauss .
12 hrs ago | Ekklesia Daily News
Psalm-inspired Japanese environmentalist wins UN award
The Japanese environmentalist who said a biblical psalm inspired his campaign linking forest and ocean received one of the United Nations' inaugural Forest Hero awards on 9 February 2012.
Time for the Lib Dems to rethink their place in the Coalition?
With Chris Huhne's resignation, it is generally agreed that the Liberal Democrats have lost their strongest voice in Cabinet, and will be even less able to exert influence over government policies.
Hazards of the current NHS reform
Organisations of health professionals have been lining up to denounce the Health and Social Care Bill.
Scottish parties asked to allow free choice on independence
Scottish Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders are being asked to say whether they will allow all their members to choose sides freely in Scotland's independence debate.
Kenyan Mennonites make history by writing it
Nine Kenyan delegates and three editors gathered together at the Mennonite Guest House in Nairobi the last week in January.
We need a system that puts human wellbeing first
Ed Miliband has accepted David Cameron's cuts. Ken Livingstone shares Boris Johnson's commitment to business.
Charles Dickens: a writer for our Hard Times
"Even the burial of his body in the Abbey was a species of theft when you come to think of it". George Orwell's words came into my mind as I watched the ceremonies surrounding today's 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens.
WRB reveals a dysfunctional political culture
Empathy and compassion are possessed, albeit in in differing degrees, by most human beings and their total absence is usually taken as evidence of a personality disorder.
Occupy eviction: letter to St Paul's Cathedral
The following letter is being sent this week to the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral, with a copy to the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres.
Bursary Fund for poor teenagers isn't working, says charity
Research published today by Barnardo's reveals that the poorest young people have been hit hard by the government's decision to scrap Educational Maintenance Allowance for 16-19-year-olds. The charity said that the government's new Bursary Fund is failing to adequately support disadvantaged teenagers to cover the everyday costs of studying or ... (more)
Argentine Methodists send hopes for peace to British counterparts
Amid renewed tensions over the Falkland Islands, the Argentinean Methodist Church has sent a letter to the Methodist Church in Britain, expressing its desire for their governments to resolve their issues peacefully.
UK MPs call for end to Andaman 'human safaris'
The 'human safaris' scandal in the Andaman Islands has reached the UK Parliament, with MPs tabling a motion calling on India to close the illegal road that cuts through the Jarawa tribe's reserve.
Charity, church and business leaders lobby government on community energy
A coalition of civil society leaders from UK organisations with more than 12 million members has called on community energy to play a substantial role in meeting Britain''s climate change targets.
Welfare reform: capping truth, benefiting from spin
"The problem with the truth is that it's complicated. Lies are simple, they can be altered to fit any audience, they can be sensational without any boring honest bits to dilute the story.
The Big Questions, Sunday 5th February
Ekklesia associate director Symon Hill will be a panelist on the BBC1 'Big Questions' show, airing at 10am on Sunday 5 February 2012, and afterwards available on the BBC iPlayer for a week.
Kirk digs deep to help homeless charity cut by Scottish Government
The Church of Scotland's Moderator has written to all 1,450 Kirk congregations asking them to raise at least A 100 each to help a charity for homeless Scots, following the loss of Scottish Government backing.
Church loan fund helps Filipino small entrepreneurs
It is harvest time for strawberries in the northern Philippine town of La Trinidad, so strawberry farmer Alice Rivera will start repaying a loan extended by a Geneva-based ecumenical church loan fund - writes Maurice Malanes .
SNP work and pensions spokesperson hits out at 'heartless' UK coalition
SNP Work and Pensions spokeswoman Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP has hit out the 'compassionless UK coalition' after MP's overturned House of Lords amendments to their Welfare Reform Bill on 1 February 2012.
Anger at government 'manipulation' and 'callousness' on welfare
As expected, the coalition succeeded in using its Commons majority to overturn all Lords amendments to its Welfare Reform Bill at Westminster yesterday - including one ameliorating a top-slicing overall benefit cap strongly opposed by charities and churches.
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