www.news.bbc.co.uk

Grigory Petrovich Grabovoi #quack #god-complex #mammon #conspiracy news.bbc.co.uk

(Submitter’s note: This happened in 2008. He was released early in 2011.)

Jail sentence for Beslan 'healer'

Grabovoi was convicted of all the fraud charges against him

A self-styled healer who claimed he could resurrect children killed in the Beslan school siege has been sentenced to 11 years in jail in Russia.

A Moscow court found Grigory Grabovoi guilty on several counts of obtaining money through fraudulent means.

Beslan residents were among those who accused Mr Grabovoi of accepting money for promising to bring back the dead or cure serious illnesses.

He denied all charges, saying he was a victim of religious persecution.

Nearly 200 children and 150 adults were killed when Russian forces stormed the school in Beslan in September 2004.

Security forces entered the building to force out Chechen rebels who had taken more than 1,000 people hostage.

Hierarchy of healers

Grabovoi was convicted on 11 counts of fraud by Moscow's Tagansky court, Russian media reported.

In its verdict, the court said Grabovoi "deceived" people, "guaranteeing" a happy outcome to those who turned to him after the death of a loved one or close relative, Interfax news agency reported.

His methods included the use of "psychological pressure" and amounted to the theft of property and ownership rights, the court's judge added.

The prosecution said Grabovoi established a pyramid-style hierarchy of trained "healers", each of whom pledged to spread his teachings around Russia, for a suitable fee.

Grabovoi himself received a fee of 10% of the profits made by regional organisations.

Each person who used Grabovoi's services paid almost 40,000 roubles ($1,700).

Defence lawyers said Grabovoi was not guilty, describing his work as "political, public, religious and research activities", Interfax reported.

They said there was no evidence to suggest that Grabovoi actually received any money for his services, Itar-Tass reported.

He will be sentenced at a later date.

Rev. Jerry Falwell #fundie #homophobia news.bbc.co.uk

<a blast from the fundie past thst came up recently in discourse>

'Gay Tinky Winky bad for children'
The innocent world of the Teletubbies is under attack from America's religious right.
The Reverend Jerry Falwell, a former spokesman for America's Moral Majority, has denounced the BBC TV children's show. He says it does not provide a good role model for children because Tinky Winky is gay.

Cheerful Tinky Winky, the purple character with the triangular aerial on his head, carries a handbag - but apart from that seems much the same as his friends Laa-Laa, Dipsy and Po.

The characters are famous for their use of baby language, including the catchphrases "eh-oh" meaning "hello", and "uh-oh" for "oh dear".

But the Teletubbies have made the Rev Falwell, chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, hot under the collar. He decided to "out" Tinky Winky in the February edition of his National Liberty Journal.

'Subtle depictions'

In an article called Parents Alert: Tinky Winky Comes Out of the Closet, he says: "He is purple - the gay-pride colour; and his antenna is shaped like a triangle - the gay-pride symbol."

He said the "subtle depictions" of gay sexuality are intentional and later issued a statement that read: "As a Christian I feel that role modelling the gay lifestyle is damaging to the moral lives of children."

In the same article he also condemned the US animated show South Park as "vile and impudent".

The Teletubbies, aimed at pre-school children, is immensely popular in the UK and around the world.

The show was first broadcast on US public TV last spring where it is now as popular as another children's show, Barney, a singing dinosaur. But perhaps parents should beware of Barney as well - he also happens to be purple.

Patricia Burns #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

The decline of all aspects of the earth's environment and resources is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. At Revelation's Fourth Seal, one-fourth part of the earth is to be destroyed before we move forward to the next Seal events (Re.6:7-8). The earth is on a downhill slid from which it will not recover. Revelation's first four Trumpet events will destroy an additional one-third (Re.8:7-12). Bible Prophecy on the Web

Trijcon #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

Coded references to biblical passages are inscribed on gunsights widely used by the US and British military in Iraq and Afghanistan, it has emerged.

The markings include "2COR4:6" and "JN8:12", relating to verses in the books of II Corinthians and John.

Trijicon, the US-based manufacturer, was founded by a devout Christian, and says it runs to "Biblical standards".

(continues...)

A Trijicon spokesman told the BBC the company "has been working to provide America's military men and women with high quality, innovative sighting systems for the weapons they use".

"Our effort is simple and straightforward: to help our servicemen and women win the war on terror and come home safe to their families.

"As part of our faith and our belief in service to our country, Trijicon has put scripture references on our products for more than two decades.

"As long as we have men and women in danger, we will continue to do everything we can to provide them with both state-of-the-art technology and the never-ending support and prayers of a grateful nation," the spokesman added.

The company states on its website: "We believe that America is great when its people are good. This goodness has been based on biblical standards throughout our history and we will strive to follow those morals."

Open Minded #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

(on the subject of laws passed in the Republic of Ireland which make blashpemy punishable by a $35,000 fine:)

The atheists' group should keep there views to themselves. There is no harm in religion - the harm comes when people knock the harmless views of others which allow them to live a relatively peaceful life. So the group should keep their views to themselves - no one is making them go to mass on Sunday or the mosque on Friday or the synagogue on Saturday. Just be considerate of those who choose to.

John #conspiracy news.bbc.co.uk

They've been talking about population reduction of 85% of us for quite some time, folks. Watch out they're coming for us, don't let Obama take your guns. This isn't a joke, you can laugh now but just remember that you've been warned several times and you'll deserve what you get. I promise you if we don't act soon the new world will be one that does not include you (or your children).

Anonymous #racist news.bbc.co.uk

A Buckinghamshire hospital has begun an investigation after a woman about to give birth allegedly objected to non-white staff being in the delivery room.

The unnamed white woman, who had a Caesarean section, had the request refused by Milton Keynes Hospital.

Rev Jonathan Campbell #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

Derry City Council's Hallowe'en carnival encourages Satanism and has brought a curse on the city, according to a Methodist minister.

Rev Jonathan Campbell, from Newbuildings Independent Methodist Church, has launched an online petition to stop this year's event.

He said Hallowe'en celebrations "make evil look innocent", and has appealed for families to boycott the festival.

(continues...)

Rev Campbell said his church was opposed to Hallowe'en because it was "one of the two major days for Satanists", and "God's word clearly condemns and warns people about celebrating or glorifying Hallowe'en or the occult".

"One of the main reasons we as a church are opposed to the carnival is that children are being disturbed.

"People are being deceived - they look on it as harmless fun, but it isn't.

"We are doing this because we care for the people of Londonderry and this is harming parents, children, families in Londonderry," he said.

Steve Johnson #conspiracy news.bbc.co.uk

global warming, terrorism - these are politcal creations with a political agenda, global warming/climate change was created by the club of rome think tank after the west lost communism as their public 'enemy'. The whole idea of there being too many humans is also erroneous - every human on the planet could fit into texas - the truth is the controlling elite are afraid that the cat is out of the bag and we the public will soon turn on them for poisoning us, lying to us, committing illegal wars and stealing our money and resources - this is why they are putting all their efforts into brainwashing and radicalising us against one and other yet again - remember the entire worlds media is controlled by a handful of humans who are chosen to further the agenda of mass depopulation so the elite can enjoy 'their' utopian dream without us the people that they have enslaved for millenia, educate yourselves - dont take anything at face value - we are in a war here for our existence.

Rabbi Yitzhak Batzri #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

A group of rabbis and Jewish mystics have taken to the skies over Israel, praying and blowing ceremonial horns in a plane to ward off swine flu.

About 50 religious leaders circled over the country on Monday, chanting prayers and blowing horns, called shofars.

The flight's aim was "to stop the pandemic so people will stop dying from it", Rabbi Yitzhak Batzri was quoted as saying in Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

The flu is often called simply "H1N1" in Israel, as pigs are seen as unclean.

You may wish it was a Poe

But it isn't.

Mohammed Yusuf #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

In an interview with the BBC, the group's leader, Mohammed Yusuf, said such education "spoils the belief in one god".

map

"There are prominent Islamic preachers who have seen and understood that the present Western-style education is mixed with issues that run contrary to our beliefs in Islam," he said.

"Like rain. We believe it is a creation of god rather than an evaporation caused by the sun that condenses and becomes rain.

"Like saying the world is a sphere. If it runs contrary to the teachings of Allah, we reject it. We also reject the theory of Darwinism."

Unidentified family #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

A family in Saudi Arabia is taking a "genie" to court, accusing it of theft and harassment, reports say.

They accuse the spirit of threatening them, throwing stones and stealing mobile phones, Al Watan newspaper said.

The family have lived in the same house near the city of Medina for 15 years but say they only recently became aware of the spirit. They have now moved out.

A local court is investigating. In Islamic theology, genies are spirits that can harass or possess humans.

Robert Mailloux #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

[From an article about visitors to Creationism in Kentucky}

The retired businessman dismisses Darwin's theory as "not even a low grade hypothesis" and said it had "no substantial science" in it. "The Bible says God created the Earth in six days and we flat believe that. There are over 100 ways science is able to look at the Earth and 90 say it is thousands of years old - only 10 say it's real old." He adds: "The way liberals and evolutionists win an argument is to outlaw freedom of speech... they won't let us in. Why is Darwin buried with kings at Westminster Abbey? He's not a king. He's the king of the atheists' movement, of people who don't want to deal with the guilt that's put on them by sin... it's a weight and a bondage, they become their own God."

John McFadden #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

A former police officer who claimed he was a "Black Magic" high priest has been convicted of sexually abusing three children in East Dunbartonshire.

John McFadden, 42, from Bearsden, was found guilty of abusing a boy between 1988 and 1992 in Kirkintilloch.

(continues...)

The court heard how McFadden told one of his victims, a 12-year-old boy, that demons and spirits would kill him and drag him to hell unless he carried out sex acts.

He dressed in a black cloak and used a crucifix with a skull and crossbones and an onyx ring, which he claimed gave him power, to terrify the youngster into keeping the abuse a secret.

Dr Robert Coulter #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

The BBC's appointment of a Muslim as head of religion and ethics is insulting to Christians, an Ulster Unionist assembly member has said.

Retired Presbyterian minister Dr Robert Coulter said the appointment of Aaqil Ahmed was "a juvenile gimmick".

"According to the Church of England 70% of the UK are Christian, 3% are Muslim yet the BBC for its head of religious broadcast appoints a Muslim," he said.

Dr Coulter said he believed many Muslims would agree with his criticism.

"I am sure moderate Muslim leaders will be deeply concerned about this as well, because it will make many UK citizens feel that they are gaining too much influence - for a faith that represents such a small percentage of the whole community.

"It could well lead to many people developing a more hostile attitude to Muslims."

Neil MacGregor #racist news.bbc.co.uk

A man has admitted he threatened to blow up Glasgow Central Mosque and execute a Muslim a day unless all Mosques in Scotland were closed.

Neil MacGregor, 36, who described himself as a "racist", made the threats after watching an internet video of a British hostage being beheaded in Iraq.

(continues...)

The court heard that the email read: "I'm a proud racist and National Front member.

"We as an organisation have decided to deal with the current threat from Muslims in our own British way, like our proud ancestors.

"Our demands are very small. Close all mosques in Scotland.

"If our demands aren't met by next Friday, we'll kidnap one Muslim and execute him or her on the internet, just like they did to our Ken Bigley."

Nick Griffin #racist news.bbc.co.uk

British National Party (BNP) chairman Nick Griffin has defended a party leaflet which says that black Britons and Asian Britons "do not exist".

The BNP's "Language and Concepts Discipline Manual" says the term used should be "racial foreigners".

In a BBC interview, Mr Griffin said to call such people British was a sort of "bloodless genocide" because it denied indigenous people their own identity.

Pius Akubo, Rev Patrick Alumake, Ekaette Ettang #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

[Article about Nigeria criminalizing gay people living together and anyone aiding them.]

Church groups spoke in favour of the bill, saying that gay marriage risked "tearing the fabric of society".

"In the Bible it says homosexuals are criminals," Pius Akubo of the Daughters of Sarah church told lawmakers.

Rev Patrick Alumake told the National Assembly the top leadership of the Catholic church in Nigeria supported the bill wholeheartedly.

"There are wild, weird, ways of life that are affecting our own culture very negatively, we have people who either by way of the media or travelling around the world have allowed new ideas which are harmful to our nation and our belief," he said.

...

Children wearing T-shirts that said "Same sex marriage is un-natural and un-African", and "same sex marriage is an abomination" stood in the aisles of the committee room.

Ekaette Ettang, of the Daughters of Sarah church who provided the T-shirts, denied they were inciting hatred against homosexuals.

"We don't hate gay people, but this is the public's opinion and we have the right to speak," she said.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

A senior Vatican cleric has defended the excommunication in Brazil of the mother and doctors of a young girl who had an abortion with their help.

The nine-year-old had conceived twins after alleged abuse by her stepfather.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re told Italian paper La Stampa that the twins "had the right to live" and attacks on Brazil's Catholic Church were unfair.

Zalmen Rosen #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

A fish heading for slaughter in a New York market shouted warnings about the end of the world before it was killed, two fish cutters have claimed.

Zalmen Rosen, from the Skver sect of Hasidic Jews, says co-worker Luis Nivelo, a Christian, was about to kill a carp to be made into gefilte fish in the city's New Square Fish Market in January when it began shouting in Hebrew.

"It said 'Tzaruch shemirah' and 'Hasof bah'," Mr Rosen later told the New York Times newspaper.

"[It] essentially means [in Hebrew] that everyone needs to account for themselves because the end is nigh."

Jennie Cain #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

School row over pupil's God talk

A Devon primary school has denied it was being anti-Christian by admonishing a five-year-old pupil for talking about God to another girl in class.

Jasmine Cain's mother, who works part-time at the school, said her daughter was left in tears by the reprimand.

But the head teacher said Jasmine had told her friend she would 'go to hell' if she did not believe in God.

...

She sent an email, from her home internet account, to members of her church asking them to pray about the situation.

The email was forwarded by a member of the congregation to Gary Read, the school's head teacher, who launched an investigation into the allegations it contained.

Mr Read said: "This is not an issue about Christianity, it is about religious intolerance.

"Jasmine told another pupil 'if you don't believe in God you're going to go to hell'.

"The girl was upset and her teacher asked me for advice about what to do.

"Jasmine was told it is not OK to say that, but it is OK to discuss what you believe with others."

...

Mike Judge, from the Christian Institute, which is supporting Mrs Cain, said: "A six-year-old girl and her mother have been slammed for nothing more than expressing their Christian faith.

...

"This is the latest in a series of cases where Christians are being persecuted for their religious beliefs."

British fundies #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

Attenborough 'received hate mail'

Veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough says he has received hate mail from viewers for not crediting God in his nature programmes.

"They tell me to burn in hell and good riddance," he said in an interview with the Radio Times.

Sir David has been making documentaries on the natural world and conservation for over half a century.

He also criticised the teaching of creationism alongside evolutionary science in schools.

In the interview, Sir David said that people asked why his documentaries did not give "credit" to God for the creation of life.

"They always mean beautiful things like hummingbirds."

"I always reply by saying that I think of a little child in East Africa with a worm burrowing through his eyeball."

"The worm cannot live in any other way, except by burrowing through eyeballs."

"I find that hard to reconcile with the notion of a divine and benevolent creator."

David, Dallas, USA #racist news.bbc.co.uk

Ever walk into Walmart and have your jaw drop at the unimaginable stupidity of the "people" walking around in there? (I think Walmart attracts the stupid) I see fat little mexican girls with 2 kids at the age of 15 (fat because its pregnant with a 3rd!), and 45 yr-old gangsters with their briches around their knees. I dont know about over there in England, but here it seems like stupid people are multiplying at an incredible rate. Is this the future for the world? Is it a simple fact that the unintelligent out-breed the intelligent? Shouldn't we endeavor to reverse this trend? I am not sure yet about the best way to do it, but it is clear to me that if overpopulation is an issue, then the least intelligent humans must be limited in their reproductive capacity!

Sikhanyiso Ndlovu #conspiracy news.bbc.co.uk

The cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe which has left hundreds dead was caused by the UK, an ally of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has said.

Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu described the outbreak as a "genocidal onslaught on the people of Zimbabwe by the British".

Sunday Ulup-Aya #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

Police in south-east Nigeria have arrested a man who claimed to have killed 110 child "witches".

"Bishop" Sunday Ulup-Aya told a documentary film team he "delivered" children from demonic possession.

But after his arrest, he reportedly told the police he had only killed the "witches" inside, not the children.

Sharon, Croydon #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

(Article is about "hip" new approaches to the bible)

Once again people make a mockery of Christianity. None of the old religions - Islamic, Jewish, Hindu, etc - have ever changed their "good books" in any way, shape or form to "modernise". This is why Christianity will always be a joke and the other religions something serious and strong. The old faiths would never stand for anything like this to happen. It is sacrilege!

Roger Goswell #sexist news.bbc.co.uk

(I shortened the article)

His wife had recently admitted not being a virgin when they married.

The hearing was told Mrs Goswell had informed her husband, after 46 years of marriage, that she was not a virgin when they wed.

It had a profound impact on him, and he said there were "three people" in the marriage and tried to kill himself in November 2007.

The four-day inquest heard Mr Goswell could not cope with knowing his wife had had a relationship with someone else before their marriage.

The retired property developer repeatedly stabbed her with a kitchen knife and clubbed her with a rubber-headed mallet at their gated bungalow.

Umm Anas #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

When she spoke of becoming a suicide bomber, Umm Anas's voice was strong and steady: "This is a gift from God.

"We were created to become martyrs for God," she continued, her eyes burning behind the full face veil.

"All the Palestinian people were created to fight in God's name. If we just throw stones at the Jews they get scared. Imagine what happens when body parts fly at them."

Nsaba Buturo #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

Uganda's ethics and integrity minister says miniskirts should be banned - because women wearing them distract drivers and cause traffic accidents.

Nsaba Buturo told journalists in Kampala that wearing a miniskirt was like walking naked in the streets.

"What's wrong with a miniskirt? You can cause an accident because some of our people are weak mentally," he said.

Andre Odogwu #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

I always heard about the THEORY of evolution and I always believed that theory is not proof. Trying to prove that Man evolved from monkeys because there may be some similarities, is like trying to prove that humming birds evolved from helicopters because they both fly.

Sheikh Salih Ibn al-Luhaydan #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

[The most senior judge in Saudi Arabia has said it is permissible to kill the owners of satellite TV channels which broadcast immoral programmes.]

There is no doubt that these programmes are a great evil, and the owners of these channels are as guilty as those who watch them," said the sheikh.
"It is legitimate to kill those who call for corruption if their evil can not be stopped by other penalties."

Sheikh Salih Ibn al-Luhaydan #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

The most senior judge in Saudi Arabia has said it is permissible to kill the owners of satellite TV channels which broadcast immoral programmes.

Sheikh Salih Ibn al-Luhaydan said some "evil" entertainment programmes aired by the channels promoted debauchery.

Dozens of satellite television channels broadcast across the Middle East, where they are watched by millions of Arabs every day.

The judge made the comments on a state radio programme.

He was speaking in response to a listener who asked his opinion on the airing of programmes featuring scantily-dressed women during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

"There is no doubt that these programmes are a great evil, and the owners of these channels are as guilty as those who watch them," said the sheikh.

"It is legitimate to kill those who call for corruption if their evil can not be stopped by other penalties."

Emily Mapfuwa #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

A Christian group is taking an art centre to court, claiming it displayed an indecent statue of Jesus Christ.

The artwork was part of an exhibition at Gateshead's Baltic Centre featuring several plaster figures with erections, including ET, Mickey Mouse and Jesus.

Lawyers for Christian Emily Mapfuwa, 40, of Essex, are bringing a civil case for outraging public decency.

Northumbria Police investigated following Mrs Mapfuwa's complaint, but ruled there was no case to answer.

The statue was part of Baltic's September 2007 to January 2008 exhibition by controversial Japanese artist Terence Koh, "Gone, Yet Still".

Signs warning of the exhibition's content were posted at the entrance to the gallery.

Mrs Mapfuwa, of Brentwood, said Baltic would not have dared depict Mohammed in such a way.

She is being represented by the Christian Legal Centre. A spokesman said: "This statue served no other purpose than to offend Christians and to denigrate Christ."

Syed Mustafa Zaidi #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

A man whipped himself until he bled during a Muslim religious ceremony, before allegedly forcing two teenage boys to do the same, a court has heard.

Syed Mustafa Zaidi, 44, is accused of encouraging the boys, aged 13 and 15, to beat themselves at a community centre in Manchester on 19 January.

Rocky Twyman #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

A prayer group in Washington DC is claiming the credit for the recent sharp drop in the US price of petrol.

Rocky Twyman, 59, a veteran community campaigner, started Pray At The Pump meetings at petrol stations in April.

Since then, the average price of what the US calls gasoline has fallen from more than $4 a gallon to $3.80.

"We don't have anybody else to turn to but God," Mr Twyman told the BBC. "We have to turn these problems over to God and not to man."

(more on link)

Mohammed Bello Abubakar #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

Nigerian Mohammed Bello Abubakar, 84, has advised other men not to follow his example and marry 86 women.

The former teacher and Muslim preacher, who lives in Niger State with his wives and at least 170 children, says he is able to cope only with the help of God.

"A man with 10 wives would collapse and die, but my own power is given by Allah. That is why I have been able to control 86 of them," he told the BBC.

He says his wives have sought him out because of his reputation as a healer.

"I don't go looking for them, they come to me. I will consider the fact that God has asked me to do it and I will just marry them."

James McIntyre #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

"The Earth is, more or less, a disc," he states. "Obviously it isn't perfectly flat thanks to geological phenomena like hills and valleys. It is around 24,900 miles in diameter."

[...]

And what about the fact that no one has ever fallen off the edge of our supposedly disc-shaped world?

Mr McIntyre laughs. "This is perhaps one of the most commonly asked questions," he says. "A cursory examination of a flat earth map fairly well explains the reason - the North Pole is central, and Antarctica comprises the entire circumference of the Earth. Circumnavigation is a case of travelling in a very broad circle across the surface of the Earth."

John Davis #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

Mr Davis, a 25-year-old computer scientist originally from Canada, first became interested in flat earth theory after "coming across some literature from the Flat Earth Society a few years ago".

"I came to realise how much we take at face value," he says. "We humans seem to be pleased with just accepting what we are told, no matter how much it goes against our senses."

Mr Davis now believes "the Earth is flat and horizontally infinite - it stretches horizontally forever".

"And it is at least 9,000 kilometres deep", he adds.

Reverend Canon Stuart Bell #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

A mayor's plan to end her town's ban on the 1979 Monty Python film Life of Brian are being opposed by the local vicar, who says it pokes fun at Jesus.

Sue Jones-Davies, who played Brian's girlfriend in the movie, was amazed when she became mayor of Aberystwyth that it was still barred at the cinema.

But Reverend Canon Stuart Bell said Christians he spoke to in Ceredigion were still against it being shown.

[...]
Nearly 30 years on, Mr Bell, vicar of the town's St Michael's Church, said the restriction should remain in place.

"There's been no change in attitude or response to the film amongst the Christians who have spoken to me in Aberystwyth," he explained.

"The film at its root is poking fun at Christ and we don't want that to happen. I don't think that the film should be shown. Why should the ban be removed?"

Asked if he had ever seen the film, Mr Bell said he had "seen a small clip, that's all".

He said: "If someone was going to make fun of my wife in a film then I would oppose that.

Birmingham City Council #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

(Submitter's note: This is Birmingham, England as opposed to Birmingham, Alabama - although you'd be forgiven for thinking it's the latter!)

A city council has blocked its staff from looking at websites about atheism.

Lawyers at the National Secular Society said the move by Birmingham City Council was "discriminatory" and they would consider legal action.

The rules also ban sites that promote witchcraft, the paranormal, sexual deviancy and criminal activity.

The authority's Bluecoat Software computer system allows staff to look at websites relating to Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and other religions but blocks sites to do with "witchcraft or Satanism" and "occult practices, atheistic views, voodoo rituals or any other form of mysticism".

Orthodox Christianity #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

An 11-year-old Romanian girl who is 21 weeks pregnant after being raped by an uncle will be able to have an abortion, even though it is forbidden by law.

"If I can't do this my life will be a nightmare," she said, according to a text read out by government committee member Vlad Iliescu.

Some 20 Christian Orthodox groups had threatened to press charges if the girl was allowed to abort the foetus.

Joan Bailie #fundie news.bbc.co.uk

[The mayo furour continues]
I was appalled at the advert. Having young children calling a man "mum" was sad, confusing, and so very wrong. Seeing same sex kissing is stomach-churning to most people who are not homosexual. Please keep adverts to appeal to the majority. I feel this was possibly deliberate to get discussion going and to brain wash people into eventually seeing these things as normal. What a sad reflection on life today.

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