The owner of a card company has said Christmas is not just about religion after producing a range of cards which mock Christianity. One card reads, ‘Mary just needs to admit she slept with someone else’. Another one says, ‘Sorry your December birthday is overshadowed by a bloke who wore socks with sandals’. Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) said, ‘The cards are deeply offensive to many Christians and they highlight a fundamental hypocrisy, that Christianity is seen as fair game to mock, disparage and insult. As Christians we believe it is vital to exercise respect when sharing our views and listening to what others think. These cards are the opposite of respectful. Sadly, this happens every Christmas, which is such an important time in the Christian calendar. It is just another sad example of the kind of “under the radar” discrimination Christians around Europe are currently facing.’

Just days after Robert Flello, a practising Roman Catholic, was selected to stand for the Lib Dems for this week's general election, he was stood down and told by party officials that his views on abortion and same sex marriage, shared on social media, were ‘not those that would be expected of a liberal’ and it was therefore ‘not appropriate’ for him to represent them. Flello said, ‘Initially the Lib Dems told me that they were deselecting me for my views, then during the following week they gave me all sorts of other reasons and suggested that I retweeted a very aggressive tweet. But I have not done those things. So I can only conclude, in fact I'm absolutely convinced, that they are discriminating against me on the grounds of my faith.’

On 8 December the Church of England released its 2019 Christmas Advertisement, putting real-life stars at the heart of its campaign to invite people to church this Christmas. Dragons, talking carrots, and ET all vie for centre stage in the annual festive advertising bonanza. The video and digital campaign for 2019 (#FollowTheStar) tells the story of Christmas preparations at St Peter’s, Stockton-on-Tees, a church with a special ministry. Featuring in it are refugees and asylum seekers who attend St Peter’s, together with Stockton residents of all ages. The advert is backed by members of a gospel choir singing this year’s Christmas single, a new arrangement of the favourite carol We Three Kings. The campaign hopes to reach many more than last year’s 8 million through social media and broadcasts. Churches and cathedrals will display stars, hand out reflection booklets, and engage many millions more through personal invitations.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is not marketed as medicinal cannabis. It does nott have a psychoactive element, and some studies indicate that it helps to control childhood epilepsy. Other people think it helps them too. Non-medicinal CBD is now on sale in High Street shops and chemists. Pharmacists are calling for better regulation of products supposed to contain CBD, saying that there needs to be clearer information and better checks on content. Currently, customers buying such products have no guarantees that they are safe, or even if they contain CBD oil at all. The oil is being added to water, chocolate, make-up, tea and coffee. It is illegal to print health claims on these products, but it is a grey area as to who checks the ingredients, or the amount of CBD oil actually in each item, many of which can be very expensive. UK sales are currently £300m.