Tag Archives: UK

The Vatican and Brexit

The Roman Catholic Church has always been somewhat suspicious of the nation-state, an institution it regards as an obstacle to its own claims of universal authority, so this story from the Daily Telegraph comes as no surprise: The Vatican wants … Continue reading

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“In a battle of facile narratives, the one with more action wins”

Writing in the Independent, Howard Jacobson on reactions to the terrorist atrocities in London ten years ago and some uncomfortable truths about which ‘narratives’ appeal: “We need a counter-narrative.” How often have we heard that since 7/7? We need to … Continue reading

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Britain’s Government: #PasCharlie

The presence of British Prime Minister David Cameron, no friend of free speech, at the march in Paris after the Charlie Hebdo killings was, in the scheme of things, a comparatively minor moment of hypocrisy. Nevertheless, it’s always helpful to … Continue reading

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Will Anything Change?

Cross-posted on the Corner. At the Financial Times, Europe editor Tony Barber’s initial response to the atrocity in Paris included this: Charlie Hebdo has a long record of mocking, baiting and needling French Muslims. If the magazine stops just short … Continue reading

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Gideons, Trumped

Well, this is a piece of stupidity. The Daily Mail (of course!) has the details (my emphasis added): One of Britain’s biggest hotel chains has removed Bibles from its rooms to avoid upsetting non-Christians. The decision by Travelodge has been … Continue reading

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Star Turn

The BBC: A Conservative MP has spoken of his belief in astrology and his desire to incorporate it into medicine. David Tredinnick said he had spent 20 years studying astrology and healthcare and was convinced it could work….Explaining his beliefs … Continue reading

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Fire, Brimstone, Free Speech and English Law

Here’s just another reminder that there’s not much in the way of free speech left in David Cameron’s Britain. The Daily Mail has the details: A baptist church was at the centre of a police probe after a sign which … Continue reading

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Spaghetti Monster Monstered

Huffington Post UK: A poster which replaced the image of God from the Sistine Chapel with a picture of the Flying Spaghetti Monster has been removed after with a row with a London University. The South Bank University Atheism society … Continue reading

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Melancholy, Long, Withdrawing

More on the Maajid Nawaz affair, and specifically, a letter from Britain’s National Secular Society on the next step in Britain’s retreat from the open society: We are writing in response to a package presented by news correspondent Katie Razzall, … Continue reading

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‘A Modern Bedlam’

Cross-posted in the Corner. Writing in the Guardian, Nick Cohen, with more grim news about the state of multiculturalist Britain: Extremists are menacing the career and life of a Liberal Democrat politician and respectable society hardly considers these authentically scandalous … Continue reading

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