A Catholic adoption agency in the UK has lost the latest round in its attempt to protect its religious ethos following the introduction of new ‘gay rights’ legislation.

The European People’s Party (EPP), which represents Europe's Christian Democrats, will be the largest group in the new European Parliament, while the Socialist bloc, the PSE, according to new expert analysis. The PSE typically take a hard-line anti-religious stance in the Parliament.

Officials in San Diego in the US have threatened to shut down an informal Bible study group in a private dwelling, citing the lack of a permit.

A group representing UK atheists has said that faith schools should have their religious ethos made subject to the Government's Equality Bill.

The churches should be divested of control of primary schools over time, according to the Government's Chief Whip, Pat Carey.

The head of the Bishops’ Commission on Education, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, has warned that the EU's proposed “Equal Treatment” directive could “pose a threat to religious freedom”.

A growing majority of US citizens continue to oppose giving homosexual unions the same status as traditional marriage, according to a Gallup poll published on Wednesday. The survey showed that nearly half of all Americans believe that legalising same-sex marriage would change society for the worse.

Christian hospital worker Helen Slatter fears for her job after refusing to take off a crucifix which "could harbour infection", according to a report in The Daily Telegraph. Ms Slatter, 43, says she will not choose between her faith and her job after the NHS claimed the jewellery could spread disease or even be used as a weapon.

The Church of England is asking the UK's Labour Government to drop its plan to remove a free speech protection from a new ‘gay hate’ law.

California’s Supreme Court has ruled in favour of upholding Proposition 8, which protected the definition of marriage in the state and was passed in a referendum last November.

A nurse in the UK has been sacked for suggesting during a training course that turning to God could reduce patient stress. The nurse had been warned in the past about bringing religion into his job.

Every second household with dependent children in Dublin's inner city is headed by a single parent, according to a new report. In some parts of the inner city the number rises to two in three.

The UK Government says its new Equality Bill will force churches to accept practising homosexuals or transsexuals in youth worker posts and other similar roles.

A mini ‘baby-boom’ is under way in the UK, according to new figures. The statistics, published yesterday by the Office of National Statistics, show that there were 708,708 live births in 2008 in England and Wales, the highest since 1972 when there were 725,440.

Efforts by the Church of Ireland to reverse budget cuts which threaten the viability of its schools has received strong backing from the Catholic Church.

A Fine Gael candidate for the European elections has pointed out that his party is based on Christian values.

An amendment to the proposed offence of blasphemous libel, which would allow for a defence of “genuine literary, artistic, political, scientific or academic value”, has been added by the Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern.

The British Assocation for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF), which published an attack on critics of gay adoption, calling them “retarded homophobes”, has said sorry for its language but ‘stands by’ the sentiment.

A deal between the Government and other European states to obtain guarantee in advance of a a second Lisbon referendum, including guarantees on social and ethical questions may be near, according to reports.

At a meeting in Brussels last night, European Affairs Minister Dick Roche said that the Government might be in a position to offer more clarity on solution within weeks. However, Mr Roche did not discuss the wording of the key guarantees, but he assured other European Foreign Affairs Ministers that the wording would be published at next month's European summit.

The Government is seeking legal guarantees that the Lisbon Treaty will not impact on its sovereignty surrounding a number of areas, including ethical issues such as abortion, family life and religious education.

According to a report in the Irish Independent, "intense negotiations" are ongoing continuing between Ireland and all member states in the lead up to the June summit.

The Attorney General, the Council of Ministers' legal service, Czech diplomats and Irish diplomats are putting the wording together with a view to having it checked by all member states before final agreement.

"We're hoping we will be able to formally sign off on the guarantees next month and bring them to Brussels.

"In most cases, countries are signalling strong support for Ireland. Some countries have some issues about how the guarantees might in around about way affect them and these are being ironed out," the source said.

"These final weeks will be tougher, but there's great confidence that we will get agreement."

Mr Roche, said he received “amazingly positive statements supporting our efforts to conclude the guarantees” from fellow ministers.

He said the guarantees must be legally robust, but they would be Irish-specific and not require other states to re-ratify the treaty.

“Our guarantees are Irish-specific, and are not intended to cause problems for anyone else,” said Mr Roche, who added that bilateral meetings between Irish officials and representatives from the other 26 EU states to agree the final wording would begin in Brussels next week.

The European Affairs Minister for the Czech Republic, Stefan Fule said that it was understood that it was important that the guarantees “should be robust enough to dispel the concerns of Irish citizens”.

Mr Fule's country holds the rotating presidency of the EU.

19/05/09