UK Bans Teaching Creationism in State-Funded Schools

Lo! Creationism cannot be taught as scientific fact in any state-funded school in the UK. That goes for all free schools as well as any existing and future academies. 

"It is already the case that all state schools, including academies, are prohibited from teaching creationism as scientific fact. That has not changed," says a Department of Education spokesperson. So what’s new exactly?

Academies are state-maintained but independently-run schools with some outside sponsorship. The Academies Act 2010 made it possible for all schools -- such as church schools -- to become an academy. This month, the government added new clauses to the funding agreements between the Secretary of State and any church school converting to an academy.

In what’s being hailed as a secular triumph, these clauses not only require that students at academies be taught evolution, but they also prevent teaching creationism as scientific fact. 

The clauses define creationism as “any doctrine or theory which holds that natural biological processes cannot account for the history, diversity, and complexity of life on earth and therefore rejects the scientific theory of evolution.” 

And furthermore, it goes on to say creationism is rejected by most mainstream churches, religious traditions, and the scientific community -- that it doesn’t agree with the scientific consensus or the very large body of established scientific evidence. 

Here are the exact words from the “Church of England and Catholic single academy model supplemental agreement,” which you can download as a Word document. 

… the requirement on every academy and free school to provide a broad and balanced curriculum, in any case prevents the teaching of creationism as evidence based theory in any academy or free school.

And just to clarify, free schools are funded by the government, but they’re set up by parents and independent groups; they’re like charter schools in the U.S.

But all of that isn’t to say creationism can’t be taught in schools. The clauses don’t prevent the discussion of beliefs about the origins of our planet and living things, just as long as it’s not presented as a valid alternative to established scientific theory. 

All the documents to help church schools convert to academies can be found here.

Bans on Discussion of Homosexuality in UK Schools on the Rise

Delegates at the UK’s Union of Teachers annual conference this week reported a growing number of schools have begun introducing bans on the promotion or positive portrayal of homosexuality.

The wording of many of these bans apparently mirrors that of Section 28 - the controversial clause introduced under the Thatcher Government in the late 1980s.

The Independent reports:

Deborah Glynn, from St Helens, Lancashire, cited research by the British Humanist Association to the conference which, she said, showed that there are many schools bringing this wording back into their policies.

"A lot are fundamentalist groups - mainly Christian," she said.

She said she had worked in one academy which had done this, but which had subsequently withdrawn the words after negotiations.

A number of schools cited in the BHA research did withdraw the wording after it was pointed out to them. They said they had severely inherited the words of previous agreements, and not realised until it was pointed out to them what they had done.

"All schools can draw up their own sex education policy but they must ensure they do not discriminate unfairly on grounds of sexual orientation,” a Department of Education spokesman said. “Our sex and relationship education guidance makes it clear that schools should not promote any sexual orientation.”

Church Of England No Longer To Reject Gay Marriage

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has signalled that the Church of England will no longer resist gay marriage, a topic that deeply divides the Anglican Church around the world.

Speaking to the Guardian, the Archbishop said:

“I think the church has reacted by fully accepting that it’s the law, and should react on Saturday by continuing to demonstrate in word and action, the love of Christ for every human being.”

This Saturday (29th March) marks the start of the first gay marriages in the UK.

There are many gay clergy in the UK that want to now marry their same-sex partners, given the change in law. Archbishop Welby’s tone comes in stark contrast to a letter sent by bishops last month, that attempted to block this from happening.

This resulted in a huge backlash from supporters.

However, the Archbishop’s words of late signal a general softening in the Church’s approach to gay people.

Last year, the Archbishop expressed his “sadness and sorrow [that] it is also absolutely true the church has not always served the LGBT communities as it should.”

UK to Boost Aid to Nigeria as 'Witch Hunts' Against Gays Intensify

The UK will boost aid to Nigeria this year despite the signing of an anti-gay law by President Goodluck Jonathan which is leading to 'witch hunts', trials, lashings, and likely worse for people suspected of being gay across the African nation.
The Mail Online reports:

David Cameron warned last year the UK would review its massive aid programme if the country pressed ahead with legislation that includes a ten-year jail sentence for gay men holding hands in public.

But the Department for International Development, under pressure to meet targets on aid spending, said last night the West African state would not lose a penny despite a decision by President Goodluck Jonathan to sign off the law this week.

A spokesman added that aid to Nigeria would be increased as planned, from £200million last year to almost £270million.

Since Nigeria's law has gone into effect 38 people have reportedly been arrested — 11 in the northern Islamic Bauchi state where homosexuality carries a death sentence, and at least 24 in three southern states, according to Dorothy Aken'ova, the executive director of the International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights.

Queen Elizabeth Rips Chris Christie on Gay Marriage

Moments after approving a new law legalizing gay marriage in England and Wales, Queen Elizabeth II of Britain unleashed a blistering attack on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for “lacking the guts” to do the same.

The British monarch’s brutal evisceration of Gov. Christie stunned observers, who did not know that she was such a close follower of his gay marriage stance.

“I don’t like to badmouth people,” she said. “But I’m the head of a monarchy that began in the ninth century, and I’m apparently more modern than Chris Christie.”

After shocking observers with her opening salvo, she continued to tear Gov. Christie to shreds.

“Look, I know he has to appeal to the crazy right wingers in his party,” she added. “But the fact is, he’s not as forward-thinking as an eighty-seven-year-old lady who wears a crown on her head. It’s pathetic.” Asked if she had advice for Gov. Christie, the British monarch said, bluntly, “Just sign the damn bill, Chris.”

Responding to a reporter’s question about the upcoming royal birth, Elizabeth replied, “Tell you the truth? I’m just glad the kid’s not being born in New Jersey.”

Same-sex marriage: A surprising contrast between Britain and France

The French like to make fun of the British, joking about their repressed ways in matters of the heart. But when it came time to debate same-sex marriage, it was France that betrayed a deep conservative streak in sometimes violent protests — while the British showed themselves to be modern and tolerant.

With little fanfare or controversy, Britain announced Wednesday that Queen Elizabeth II — hardly a social radical — had signed into law a bill legalizing same-sex marriages in England and Wales.

France has also legalized same-sex marriage, but only after a series of gigantic protests attracting families from the traditional heartland that revealed a deeply split society.

Thousands of anti-gay marriage protestors gather during a demonstration
in Paris on May 26 against French President Francois Hollande’s social
reform on gay marriage and adoption.

Official word that the queen had approved the bill drew cheers in the usually sedate House of Commons. “This is a historic moment that will resonate in many people’s lives,” Equalities Minister Maria Miller said in a statement. “I am proud that we have made it happen and I look forward to the first same sex wedding by next summer.”

There were British political figures and religious leaders vehemently opposed to gay marriage but the opposition never reached a fever pitch, in part because the same-sex marriage bill had broad public support and the backing of the leaders of the three major political parties.

In fact, it was Prime Minister David Cameron, leader of the tradition-minded Conservatives, who proposed the legislation in the first place. The public seemed to take it for granted that gay marriage should be a part of British life. It was perhaps a sign of how Britain has evolved in past decades into a much more cosmopolitan nation than its starchy, traditionalist image would suggest.

“The opposition seemed restricted to a very small number of people very vigorous in their views,” said Steven Fielding, a political scientist at the University of Nottingham. “It was restricted to the back benchers of the Conservative Party. It wasn’t shared across the political spectrum. It was an issue whose time had come. To oppose it seemed slightly strange.” The law was also written in a way that allowed the Church of England — which is opposed — to sidestep the controversy since it is explicitly barred from conducting same-sex marriages.

Equal marriage bill passes final House of Commons stage and will receive Royal Assent

The equal marriage bill for England and Wales has once again been passed in the House of Commons, and will soon will be given Royal Assent to become law.

Conservative MP David Burrowes had tabled an amendment and was today once again accused of trying to delay implementation of the bill. Pro-equal marriage MPs padded out their speeches so that Mr Burrowes could not propose his amendment.

The amendment he tabled sought to force the government to hold individual public consultations for changes to secondary legislation.

This process was used from time to time on other laws, such as the Digital Economy Act 2010, but it was not proposed for the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.

The amendment was not considered, as the two-hour time limit for discussions came to an end before MPs could debate it.

The equal marriage bill was passed in the House of Commons, and as all amendments added in the House of Lords were accepted, it will not be required to go back to the Lords.

Prior to the bill, Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the Government would protect those on both sides of the question of the same-sex marriage debate.

Queen fights for gay rights

The Queen will tomorrow back an historic pledge to promote gay rights and ‘gender equality’ in one of the most controversial acts of her reign.

In a live television broadcast, she will sign a new charter designed to stamp out discrimination against homosexual people and promote the ‘empowerment’ of women – a key part of a new drive to boost human rights and living standards across the Commonwealth.

In her first public appearance since she had hospital treatment for a stomach bug, the Queen will sign the new Commonwealth Charter and make a speech explaining her passionate commitment to it.

Insiders say her decision to highlight the event is a ‘watershed’ moment – the first time she has clearly signalled her support for gay rights in her 61-year reign.

The charter, dubbed a ‘21st Century Commonwealth Magna Carta’ declares: ‘We are implacably opposed to all forms of  discrimination, whether rooted  in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds.’ 

The ‘other grounds’ is intended to refer to sexuality – but specific reference to ‘gays and lesbians’ was omitted in deference to Commonwealth countries with draconian anti-gay laws.

Sources close to the Royal Household said she is aware of the implications of the charter’s implicit support of gay rights and commitment to gender equality. 

In her speech, the Queen is expected to stress that the rights must ‘include everyone’ - and this is seen as an implicit nod to the agenda of inclusivity, usually championed by the Left.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2290824/Queen-fights-gay-rights-Monarch-makes-historic-pledge-discrimination-hints-Kate-DOES-girl-means-equal-rights-throne.html#ixzz2X4qiwSuo