Iraq: Meanwhile, back in the real world…

A STRING of car bombs and shootings killed at least 57 people in Shi’ite and Sunni areas of Iraq last night, escalating fears of a return to widespread sectarian bloodletting.

UK: Good news, bad news

SENIOR members of the Church of Scotland have voted to let some congregations choose ministers who are in same-sex relationships – an important compromise that must still pass further hurdles before it can become church law.

NZ: What happens in Antioch…

…doesn’t happen in New Zealand!

Vatican: Pope discovers yet another scapegoat

They’ve tried blaming the devil. They’ve tried blaming atheists. They’ve tried blaming the Seventies. Now it’s capitalism’s turn:

Australia: Anglican Bishop resigns over child abuse cover-ups

Bishop Keith Slater today apologised for his past failings in managing the allegations of physical, psychological and sexual abuse at the North Coast Childrens Home in Lismore between 1940 and the 1980s.

Germany: Government releases new black list

This time round, it’s climate change sceptics:

US: ‘And justice for all’ — except global warming ‘deniers’

The US Environmental Protection Agency will talk to non-believers — for a price.

Iraq: 25 dead in sectarian killings

A SUICIDE bomber has attacked Shi’ite mourners in north Iraq, killing 12 people, and 13 died in other violence, officials said, as Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki blamed sectarianism for unrest plaguing the country.

Swaziland: High-flying witches brought down to earth

HIGH-FLYING witches face arrest and a heavy fine if they break new laws, authorities in Swaziland have said.

US: Roanoke County — be scared!

Be very scared.

US: To all atheists who insist on your legal rights…

…tell your little sisters to expect intimidation.

Australia: ‘My headmaster made me a pedophile’

If I get him the wool, will he make me one too?

US: God is a terrorist, says Bachmann

Drones are being targeted on Heaven as we speak…

UK: All the way up: former Archbishop of York admits complicity in child abuse

A CHILD sex scandal involving children in Australia and Britain has hit the top echelon of the Anglican Church, with allegations that some of its most senior clergymen failed to respond properly to complaints of horrific abuse.

Pakistan: We don’t need no stinking democracy!

ISLAMABAD: The Taliban has vowed a nationwide campaign of terrorism targeting candidates and voters in Saturday’s general election in Pakistan.

Turkey: ‘I felt freedom when I took off my headscarf’

Shame about the death threats, though.

US: Second child of faith-healing couple dies

A Philadelphia couple — serving 10 years’ probation for the 2009 death of their toddler after they turned to prayer instead of a doctor — has violated their probation now that another of their children has died.

Ireland: Foetuses – 1: Women – 0

The Irish Catholic Church nails its blood-soaked colours to the mast.

Pakistan: Taliban terrorists kidnap ex-PM’s son

GUNMEN last night kidnapped a son of a former Pakistani prime minister canvassing for votes on the final day of campaigning for landmark elections, which have been marred by bloody attacks.

Global: The huge scale of the Islam problem

Jerry Coyne passes on a report about just how many Muslims worldwide are opposed to justice, tolerance and an open society.

Indonesia: Four Islamic terrorist suspects killed

Indonesia’s aggressive anti-terror police unit, Densus 88, shot dead four suspected terrorists on Wednesday in two separate incidents… the heavily-armed officers had tried negotiating with the men in the Bandung house for 3 1/2 hours, but the reply was “explosions, gunfire and bombs”.

Chile: Baby burned alive for being ‘Antichrist’

Chilean police on Thursday arrested four people accused of burning a baby alive in a ritual because the leader of the sect believed that the end of the world was near and that the child was the antichrist.

Australia: The Child, the Priest, the Cop and the Other Cops

‘Catholic Mafia’ accused of interfering with police investigations into child abuse.

Global: It’s not ‘Islamophobic’…

…to mistrust people who want to kill you.

Bangladesh: Islamists demand the right to intolerance

AT least 22 people were killed as Bangladeshi police fought pitch battles with tens of thousands of hardline Islamists in the capital Dhaka.

Pakistan: Three killed in bombing

THREE people have been killed and 35 others wounded in twin bomb blasts near a local party office in the southern city of Karachi, police say, ahead of next week’s historic elections.

Afghanistan: Traitor kills two NATO soldiers, five more killed by bomb

AN Afghan soldier has shot dead two soldiers serving with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, officials say, in the latest “insider attack” to target the coalition.

US: In South Carolina, 4th Graders get a ‘Science Quiz’…

…true or false?

Afghanistan: Woman killed for ‘dishonouring’ family

The public killing of a woman in Afghanistan is further proof that the authorities are still failing to tackle the shocking levels of gender-based violence in the country, Amnesty International said today.

Australia: Catholic sect admits supporting and covering up pedophilia

THE Christian Brothers admit they were aware of abuse complaints against two brothers at Ballarat in Victoria but failed to tell police.