One in five Icelandic Members of Parliament (MPs) went to a Humanist event to mark the opening of parliament on October 1. The number of MPs choosing to attend the Humanist event instead of the traditional Lutheran Mass in the National Cathedral has been increasing since the first Humanist event four years ago. Hope Knutsson reports:

After the “Velvet Revolution” of 1989, Slovakia aimed to establish a true democracy, cement the rule of law and join the European Union. The new Constitution, passed by Parliament in 1992, begins bravely: “The Slovak Republic is a sovereign, democratic state governed by the rule of law. It is not bound by any ideology or religion”.

In the late autumn of 2005, leading proponents of Intelligent Design (ID) and evolution met in a Pennsylvania courtroom to resolve the question: Is Intelligent Design science? Why did these worldviews collide in a courtroom, rather than a symposium? And why was ID so badly injured?

IHEU member organization Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association has welcomed the vote in the House of Lords, which declined to revoke the Sexual Orientation Regulations in Northern Ireland. The motion was defeated as a large demonstration of evangelical Christians and Muslims took place outside the Houses of Parliament.

The Lords voted to retain the Sexual Orientation Regulations, which came into force in Northern Ireland on 1 January 2007, by 199 votes to 68. The new regulations prohibit discrimination in provision of services against lesbian and gay people.

George Broadhead, secretary of IHEU member organization the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has attacked religious groups who are protesting the new Sexual Orientation Regulations, which came into effect in Northern Ireland on 1 January 2007.

IHEYO urged the European Commission and Parliament earlier this year, not to grant money to the World Catholic Youth Days. Youth days of other life stances are not given any money either and by granting money to the Catholic youth days, the EU gives up its neutrality. For the full statement: www.iheyo.org/inthenews4.htm.