News

SNP politicians tell Scottish Government not to 'rush' into gender self-identification

A group of SNP politicians has pleaded with the Scottish Government to give proper consideration to proposed changes to gender laws.

Demand for food banks reaches record levels

New figures from food bank operator The Trussell Trust have revealed record levels of demand in the past year.

Notre-Dame roofing contractor admits workers broke rules on smoking

The company hired to fix the roof of Notre-Dame Cathedral before it went up in flames last week has admitted that some of its workers flouted no-smoking regulations on scaffolding around the building.

Westminster should not interfere with Northern Ireland's abortion laws, say pro-life campaigners

Pro-life campaigners are calling upon Westminster to respect devolution after coming under pressure to change Northern Ireland's abortion laws.

Standing ovation for priest who asked 'Why in God's name?' at Lyra McKee's funeral

The priest leading Lyra McKee's funeral received a standing ovation after he challenged political leaders on why it had taken the death of a young woman to bring them together.

Mother threatened to blow up church on Easter Sunday before being tackled by worshippers

A former part-time NBC 7 producer, mother of two and Navy veteran threatened to blow up a San Diego church while armed with a handgun and holding a 10-month-old baby during an Easter Sunday service before she was tackled by congregants.

Sri Lanka bombers were young and well-educated

Details began to emerge in Sri Lanka on Wednesday of a band of nine, well-educated Islamist suicide bombers, including a woman, from well-to-do families who slaughtered 359 people in Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

Islamic State claims responsibility for Sri Lanka church and hotel bombings

The Islamic State has claimed that it was behind the horrific suicide bombings of churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka over the Easter weekend.

Call for prayers after Rachel Held Evans is placed in medically induced coma

Progressive Christian writer Rachel Held Evans has been placed in a medically induced coma following health complications.

Bishop defends controversial relationships and sex education lessons

The Church of England's lead bishop on education has defended the Government's new relationships and sex education lessons that will be mandatory from September 2020.

After years of religious nationalism, Sri Lanka's Christian minority faces a new threat

Bomb blasts are not the style of Buddhist nationalist extremists.

Westerners more likely to say religion is less important now than 20 years ago

People in north America, Europe and Australia are more likely to believe that religion plays a diminished role in society compared to 20 years ago.

A history of medieval cathedrals and how they were rebuilt after fire

Many great churches and cathedrals have suffered catastrophic fires over their long histories and medieval chronicles are full of stories of devastation and ruin as a result â but they also tell of how the buildings were reconstructed and made better than ever.

Notre Dame: the public and private lives of France's spiritual home