Dutch Roman Catholic Church ‘castrated at least 10 boys’ Evidence of the castrations has emerged amid controversy that it was not included in the findings of an official investigation into sexual abuse within the church last year. The NRC Handelsblad newspaper identified Henk Heithuis who was castrated in 1956, while a minor, after reporting priests [...]

Nepalese woman accused of witchcraft and burned alive Kathmandu, Nepal (CNN) — A 40-year-old mother of two was burned alive in central Nepal after she was accused of being a witch, police said Saturday. Dhegani Mahato was attacked and set on fire by family members and others after a shaman allegedly accused her of casting [...]

Interpol accused after journalist arrested over Muhammad tweet Interpol has been accused of abusing its powers after Saudi Arabia used the organisation’s red notice system to get a journalist arrested in Malaysia for insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Police in Kuala Lumpur said Hamza Kashgari, 23, was detained at the airport “following a request made to [...]

This makes me so angry. Iranian web programmer faces execution on porn charges A 35-year-old Iranian web programmer is facing imminent execution in connection with developing and promoting porn websites, charges that his family insist are trumped up. Saeed Malekpour, a permanent resident of Canada who was arrested in October 2008 after his arrival in [...]

It’s ok everybody! He didn’t know it was hurting anyone… CRISIS AVERTED! German priest admits 280 counts of sexual abuse A German Catholic priest has admitted 280 counts of sexual abuse involving three boys in the past decade, saying he did not think he was doing harm. Named only as Andreas L, the priest told [...]

Government changes Free School model funding agreement to ban creationist schools The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed a new revision of the model funding agreement for Free Schools by the Government in order to preclude ‘the teaching, as an evidence-based view or theory, of any view or theory that is contrary to established scientific [...]

Islamic cleric bans women from touching bananas, cucumbers for sexual resemblance CAIRO: An Islamic cleric residing in Europe said that women should not be close to bananas or cucumbers, in order to avoid any “sexual thoughts.” The unnamed sheikh, who was featured in an article on el-Senousa news, was quoted saying that if women wish [...]

Yoga is the work of the devil, says Vatican’s chief exorcist Father Gabriel Amorth has carried out more than 70,000 exorcisms in his capacity as Chief Exorcist at the Vatican. The 85-year-old can boast 25 years in the post after being appointed by the late Pope John Paul II. At a conference today, he surprised [...]

Yeah, that’s not normal… but on religion, it is. English expat ‘rips his own eyes out’ during church service in Italy AN English expatriate in Viareggio (northern Italy) has been admitted to a psychiatric hospital after ripping out his own eyes with his naked hands during a church service. The 46-year-old, a long-term resident in [...]

Refusing to Kill Daughter, Pakistani Family Defies Tradition, Draws Anger KARACHI, PAKISTAN — Kainat Soomro is a 17-year-old Pakistani girl who has become a local celebrity of sorts in her battle for justice in the Pakistani courts, a daring move for a woman of any age in this country, let alone a teenager. She is [...]