News Bulletin 10 February 2012

In a judgment by the High Court, Bideford Town council has been told that its democratic decision to hold prayers as a formal part of local council meetings is ‘unlawful’ — Christian Hotel owners, Peter and Hazelmary Bull, who were successfully sued by a gay couple for restricting their double rooms to married couples have lost their appeal — The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has received racist and threatening messages after he voiced his support for traditional marriage last week — A mother has described as ‘morally wrong’, an NHS scheme in Hampshire, which allowed her 13 year old daughter to be given a contraception ‘implant’ without her, – or her GPs knowledge — The Labour candidate for Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone has said that former Prime Minister Tony Blair gave preferential treatment to homosexual MPs — Leader of the General Medical Council, Niall Dickson has said that assisted suicide is illegal and doctors should have no part of it, as the GMC launch a consultation on the subject — And there have been fresh calls for internet service providers to help protect children from viewing inappropriate material, and implement an “opt-in” service for accessing online pornography.