News Bulletin 9 December 2011

A public consultation on redefining marriage in Scotland has closed. The Scottish Episcopal Church is the latest denomination to come out in opposition to the Scottish Government’s plans for same sex marriage — Scotland for Marriage has organized an online petition to sign calling for a referendum on redefining marriage — The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Archbishop Vincent Nichols has said that the name, ‘Scotland for Marriage’ sends out a very positive message — New regulations have come into force this week allowing civil partnerships to be registered on religious premises in England and Wales but there are moves to have the new regulations annulled — Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has said that Councils such as Bideford Town Council should have the freedom to hold prayers if they choose to, and affirmed the importance of prayer in British public life — X Factor judge, Gary Barlow, has criticised sexualised images in music videos saying that he has had to shield his young children from them — Sir David Jason has also spoken out about inappropriate content on TV — A new scheme introduced by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service is offering to post out free morning-after pills to women during December — And a Scottish woman has met the stem cell donor who helped save her life.