Sex, trust and faith...

The House of Commons has passed a bill which requires state schools to discuss contraception and gay relationships as part of the new curriculum for sex education.

Ed Balls has denied that an opt-out in the way that faith schools can teach the curriculum means the proposals have been watered down. They will not be obliged to promote diversity and equality to the same extent as state schools.

The Children's Secretary amendment has avoided Catholics pulling out.

Pontiff prattle

Pope Benedict XVI has been condemning British equality legislation to anyone who'd listen today. The legislation is in place to protect the rights of gays and women in the workplace and the Pontiff really isn't keen.

He's suggesting/demanding that exceptions be made for the Catholic Church, that sort of thing may have worked in Ireland twenty years ago but it doesn't seem to be cutting much mustard in the United Kingdom today.

It would appear you can take the Pope out of Germany but...