Europe

The Church of England took a step toward allowing women to become bishops on Monday when the House of Bishops approved some widely-debated legislation after making only a few amendments.

During the meeting, the House approved some key amendments for those who hold to more conservative theological views, The Telegraph reports, including an exception that would allow those who are opposed to women bishops to submit themselves to an alternative male bishop if they felt the need to do so.

"The legislation now addresses the fact that for some parishes a male bishop or male priest is necessary but not sufficient," the House said in a statement. more >>

World-renowned atheist Richard Dawkins says he supports the mission of England's Department for Education to make sure every public school in the nation has a copy of the 1611 translation of the King James Bible.

"A native speaker of English who has never read a word of the King James Bible is verging on the barbarian," said Dawkins in a column he wrote for The Guardian.

The author and evolutionary biologist even went as far as to say he would have donated to the cause had he been given the opportunity to do so. more >>

As Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Diamond Jubilee, which marks her 60-year anniversary as head of the British monarchy, a poll has found that most British people agree that she should continue to have an important faith role in the country.

Around 73 percent of respondents to a poll conducted by Comres agreed that the queen should keep her title as "Defender of the Faith," which was first given to Henry VIII. The title makes her the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, making her formally superior to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Only 25 percent of respondents said that they do not think Queen Elizabeth II should play any faith role or have any faith title at all.

Earlier this year, the queen celebrated the first of her Jubilee events with a multifaith reception at Lambeth Palace, where she shared that she believes the Church of England's role in the country is often misunderstood and underappreciated, the BBC reported. more >>

A shark at a zoo in England has developed a new taste for leafy greens following surgery to save its life.

Florence, a six-foot nurse shark, underwent surgery to remove a rusty hook that had become lodged in her mouth; the highly publicized event was the first such out-of-water procedure to be performed on the shark, according to the BBC.

"The hook had obviously been there for years and was badly rusted which is what had made her so ill…She was put on antibiotics and made a swift recovery," Graham Burrows Curator at the Birmingham National Sea Life Center, said. more >>

In honor of the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible, every state primary and secondary school in England is set to receive a copy of the holy text distributed by the Department for Education.

Close to 24,000 Bibles are being distributed all across England, with Education Secretary Michael Gove insisting that every child should have the chance to read "the most important book written in the English language." According to The Daily Mail, the initiative was being backed by religious leaders across different religions, as well as academics, historians and cultural figures.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has reportedly shared with Grove that he supports the idea, but wanted to make sure that the project is not being funded by taxpayers' money, in order to avoid conflicts with non-religious groups opposed to the plan. Grove has expressed that it was with the help of charity money that the project got funded. more >>

Churches are being asked to pray during the 70-day Olympic Games torch relay when it gets underway in England this Saturday.

The Olympic torch begins its journey at Land's End in Cornwall, south-west England and will tour the length and breadth of the country before arriving at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27.

The torch will travel through 1,000 English towns, cities and villages during its tour. more >>