Prof. Dame Sally Davies, England's chief medical officer, has warned of an "apocalyptic" scenario when the rate of drug resistant infections rises and antibiotics lose their effectiveness in an increasingly growing world.

"It is clear that we might not ever see global warming, the apocalyptic scenario is that when I need a new hip in 20 years I'll die from a routine infection because we've run out of antibiotics," Prof. Davies warned, as reported by BBC News. She added that a number of bacteria are becoming resident to drugs that are currently used to treat infections, and that there are not enough antibiotics to replace those drugs.

"It is very serious, and it's very serious because we are not using our antibiotics effectively in countries," Prof. Davies added, nothing that there was only one effective antibiotic left to treat gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted disease that has especially affected countries in Africa. more >>

Following a campaign sponsored by multiple humanist organizations, one of the most well-known youth organizations in Great Britain has recently decided to offer nonbelievers an alternative oath that omits the mention of a higher power.

"British society is changing dramatically: over two-thirds of young people have a non-religious identity and that proportion is growing all the time. The institutions of our society need to catch up with this demographic fact if they are going to remain relevant and build cohesion between young people of different beliefs," Andrew Copson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association [BHA], said in a statement released by the British Humanist Association.

Copson, whose group joined forces with the United Kingdom Armed Forces Humanist Association to push for the oath change, went on to add that the humanist organization plans to pursue other youth organizations in Great Britain to make similar changes to their pledges. more >>

The production team for the blockbuster 2012 adaptation of "Les Miserables" has donated money to the church in England where they filmed some of the scenes for the movie.

Star Pulse reports that the producers donated the equivalent of $16,000 to the St. Mary the Virgin Church of the town of Ewelme, located in Oxfordshire. The Rev. Jonathan Meyer, vicar of St. Mary the Virgin, told Star Pulse that the filming taking place at the Ewelme was a positive experience as "the spiritual message of the film brought everyone together."

The news came as the latest film adaption of the musical based on the 19th century Victor Hugo novel continues to score big at the box office both in the United States and the United Kingdom. BBC reported on Wednesday that the film broke the record for highest grossing opening weekend for a movie musical, beating out former record holder Momma Mia! (2008). more >>

In the battle to combat immorality and instill certain values into professional sports, the Vatican says it wants NFL star Tim Tebow and NBA sensation Jeremy Lin on its team.

The Pontifical Council for Culture, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2012, has announced its plans to host a "We Believe In Sports" international conference as a way to promote the instillation of good values in athletic events around the world, reports Catholic News Service.

Msgr. Melchor Sanchez de Toca Alameda, head of the council's Culture and Sport section, also hopes to provide examples of people who demonstrate that faith and sports are compatible, CNS reports, which is why the council has invited Christian athletes like Tebow, the New York Jets quarterback, and Lin, the Houston Rockets point guard, to the event. more >>

Pro-life groups from 20 different countries throughout Europe have recently launched a petition which requests the European Parliament to recognize that life begins at conception.

The movement, called "One of Us," is comprised of primarily independent anti-abortion Roman Catholic groups which are seeking to gain one million signatures in seven of 27 countries in the European Union by Nov. 2013.

Should the petition gain one million signatures by that time, the European Parliament will be forced to schedule a debate on the issue of life at conception. more >>

A prominent Christian pastor in the U.K. has shocked members of the evangelical community by recently suggesting that there is biblical support for monogamous same-sex relationships.

Baptist minister Steve Chalke, senior pastor at Oasis Church in Waterloo, London, stated in an opinion piece entitled "A Matter of Integrity" in Christianity magazine that he believes the Christian Church should embrace monogamous homosexual relationships.

"When we refuse to make room for gay people to live in loving, stable relationships, we consign them to lives of loneliness, secrecy and fear," Chalke writes. more >>