London catholic

A central London church holds its final mass for gay and lesbian Catholics this evening.

The services at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Soho have been held fortnightly for the past six years.

Last month, the Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols said the services were not consistent with the church's central teaching on sexuality.

The move has "saddened" members of the congregation and gay rights groups.

Pastoral care for gay and lesbian Catholics will continue to be offered on Sunday evenings at the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Farm Street in Mayfair.

Parents lose their fight to stop two new Catholic schools coming to South West London.

Parents who were opposed to plans to open two Catholic schools in the London Borough of Richmond have lost their legal battle this afternoon.

They had taken their fight to court to try and stop the schools - claiming the council had broken rules by approving them.

But now the schools are set to open next year. Ria Chatterjee reports.

Outside court a campaigner and parent told me having the Catholic schools would be unnecessarily exclusive, especially with a shortage in places.

It is Day two of the Richmond Catholic schools fight at the High Court. The local council is to put forward its case

A legal challenge over plans for two new Catholic schools in the London Borough of Richmond is being heard at the High Court.

The British Humanist Association and another group claim Richmond Council broke laws in approving new schools which can prioritise Catholic children.

The schools, one secondary and one primary, are due to open in September.

The council says a democratic decision was taken to approve the schools.

It says it is confident it acted lawfully in approving plans for the schools put forward by the Diocese of Westminster. Families have already applied for places at the schools.

In August, the High Court gave permission for a judicial review of the case, which is now being heard.