Terry Sanderson questions if the recent political upheaval will add leverage for the opponents of gay marriage in the UK.

Secularism does not control belief; it keeps religious oppressors away from power and, most importantly, keeps women safe and free from these oppressors.

It seems The Big Society is back – if only for the last nail to be driven into its coffin.

As we await the inevitable media-inspired 'Popefest' from the Vatican, Alistair McBay wonders if the new Bishop of Rome will grasp the full meaning of the words transparency and accountability, and face up to the Herculean task of getting the Church's house in order.

Terry Sanderson says level of arrogant politicisation to which The Catholic church aspired under the papacy of Joseph Ratzinger was appalling, but perhaps the decline of support in the pews may bring the Church to its senses.

Who really has the interests of children awaiting adoption at heart? A tale of two adoption agencies by Alistair McBay.

Terry Sanderson on why it is hard for secularists to to resist the feelings of schadenfreude at the accumulating catastrophes that are assailing the Catholic Church.

Terry Sanderson argues that under Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican has become despised and resented throughout the world – greatly reducing its authority.

Catherine Le Fur on the intensifying debate in France over the French Government's plans to legalise same-sex marriage

If this election has told politicians one thing, it should be that they should listen to the voters and not to the religious lobbyists who are trying to write their doctrines into law.

After coming under fire for nominating Cardinal Keith O'Brien as "Bigot of the Year", Terry Sanderson defends Stonewall and agrees the Cardinal is a bigot, and that the award was appropriate and well-deserved.

While many will write it off as red meat being thrown to the raving fundamentalists on the back bench of the Tory Party, Terry Sanderson says the appointment of Baroness Warsi as "Minister for Faith and Communities" is potentially threatening for secularism.

Anne Marie Waters argues that when it comes to freedom, prosperity and liberty, the men-who-live-in-palaces have got some serious questions to answer.

Ireland awaits a September report on its abortion laws by a European Court of Human Rights panel of experts at a time of rising political tensions over the issue and a backdrop of steep declines in the popularity of religion.

Alistair McBay argues that the Vatican should put its own financial house in order before lecturing the financial sector on ethical banking.

Terry Sanderson says the Vatican's great plan to reassert its authority in the Western world has so far delivered little in the way of results.

Ratzinger is wailing about the publication of a book, His Holiness: The Secret Papers of Benedict XVI, by Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi. It is based on documents leaked from the Vatican by un-named sources. The documents reveal a web of corruption and cronyism within the walls of Vatican City that would put a Dan Brown novel to shame.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York has ramped up the Catholic Church's politically motivated assault on the Obama administration by accusing the President of "strangling" religious freedom by requiring Catholic employers to provide workers with birth control coverage.

Does the British Government regard hacking into celebrity telephone mailboxes a greater crime than the brutal and systematic rape of innocent children?

The Catholic Church seems to be turning itself from being a religious body into being a rather unpleasant political party – one that is so reactionary it makes the Tea Party look like the Teddy Bears Picnic.

Terry Sanderson on how the Church of England plays on the shortness of memory to rewrite its often unpleasant history.

Terry Sanderson warns that Baroness Warsi risks starting a culture war that she cannot win.

Terry Sanderson on how the Pope is trying to run American politics and bring it in line with his own teachings, regardless of what the people want.

The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, has warned the government that if it tries to legalise gay marriage, it will face a huge onslaught from religious bodies.

A personal testimony of child abuse in the Catholic Church from Sue Cox of Survivors Voice Europe