The Equality bill, which protects against discrimination in employment on grounds of sexuality, was criticized by the pontiff as imposing unjust limitations on the freedom of the church to act in accordance with its beliefs.

New provisions in the bill would have narrowed the special exemption enjoyed by churches allowing them to exclude people whose lifestyles do not fit in with the religious ethos of an organisation when hiring staff.

In a communique to Catholic bishops in England and Wales the pontiff said: "Your country is well known for its firm commitment to equality of opportunity for all members of society.

"Yet as you have rightly pointed out, the effect of some of the legislation designed to achieve this goal has been to impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs. In some respects it actually violates the natural law upon which the equality of all human beings is grounded and by which it is guaranteed."

He goes on to urge bishops to defend the church's "moral teachings" and says "Fidelity to the gospel in no way restricts the freedom of others - on the contrary, it serves their freedom by offering them the truth."

The statement has caused a media storm in the past week with a petition protesting against a state-funded papal visit, scheduled for September, attracting over 7,000 signatures.

The National Secular Society predicts the visit could cost the tax payer up to 20 million. President Terry Sanderson told PinkNews.co.uk he expected to see 10,000 signatures on the petition by the end of this week.

In a post-match interview, following his quarter-final gleaning win over John Isner, the young Scott revealed his love for Sacha Baron Cohen's outrageously camp alter ego.

It'll be no laughing matter this Sunday however when the 22 year old star faces Roger Federer in the final of The Australian Open.

Currently ranked the world No.4 Murray is undoubtedly smiling at the fact that it took his opponent 17 attempts before nailing a major. Melbourne is Murray's 17th grand slam.

On his only other grand slam final appearance Murray suffered a straight sets defeat to Federer. That was in New York two years ago when fatigue set in following a brutal semi-final against Rafael Nadal.

Federer however has scoffed at Murray's chances of winning on Sunday. Following his magnificent semi-final win over Jo-Wilfied Tsonga in Melbourne he quipped that Murray will be endeavouring to win Britain its first gland slam singles title "for 150,000 years"

"I don't feel like the pressure's really on me having to do it again, because I've done it before. I think he really needs it more than I do. So I think the pressure's big on him. But we'll see how he's going to handle it. It's not going to be easy for him, that's for sure."

To say British hopes are riding high with Murray is an understatement. Currently at a career defining peak it is hoped that it the young Scott will end the 74-year long British grand slam slump since Fred Perry's triumph in 1936.

Perhaps a friendly "Vasssssup!" from the stands could egg him on...

According to the Guardian's Australian correspondent gay fans of Prince William greeted the 27 year old wearing T-shirts bearing the slogan "I Love Willy" during his recent Sydney visit. And apparently they weren't the only ones fawning over the future king.

The royal party returned home this week undoubtedly thrilled by the ecstatic reception the young prince got wherever he visited during his Australian and New Zealand tour.

Baby hugging (check!), spontaneous cuddling of elderly aboriginal ladies and dropping "no worries" at the appropriate moment provoked genuine admiration from the Aussie public.

The Herald Sun went as far as dubbing him a "dinkum Aussie larrikin" warming to the Prince's playfulness with the Australian media.

The last time His Royal Highness visited Sydney harbour was as an infant with his parents Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

"I've always wanted to see the Opera House ... the last time I was here I saw it through very small eyes and I don't quite remember very much about it," he said.

Not everyone was persuaded by the royal charm however, Professor George Williams of the Australian republican movement declared in the Sydney Morning Herald this week:

"Having Prince William as our future king represents a failure, not on his part, but of ourselves."

Regardless, The Royal Family's popularity down under seems to remain intact, for now, holding favour with the likes of the press, ex-pats, serviceman, aborigines...oh, and the gay fans too!

Liberal democrat leader Nick Clegg this week caused a media storm over his party's commitment to gay equality. In an interview with gay glossy 'Attitude' Clegg said his party would implement laws requiring Faith schools to teach that being gay is acceptable and normal.

On the issue of gay marriage he said: "If we don't want to discriminate, why do we make differences in language? Language is a hugely important signifier of how we segment society and how you seek to create differences between people. Since we don't want to make differences on this and the law has moved a great deal to do that, we should be linguistically the same too."

Not to be out done David Cameron has promised that civil partners will enjoy the same tax breaks given to married couples under a Conservative government. In a recent speech reported by Reuters the Tory leader was quoted as saying: "We will recognise marriage, whether between a man and a woman, a woman and a woman or a man and a man, in the tax system - and yes, that is a commitment."

Gordon Brown said in his interview with Attitude that Labour would push for recognition of UK civil partnerships across Europe. The current Labour government's commitment to gay rights has been proved substantial: During their term they have equalized the age of consent, lifted the ban on gays in the army and introduced civil partnerships.

It has been estimated that 3.6 million Britons are either gay or lesbian. Attitude magazine concludes that at a close election the gay vote could potentially "swing open the gates of Downing Street - or slam them shut".

Millions of gay men around the world (and probably quite a few women too!) will be stirred by a new claim that Woods not only bedded the birdies.

Forgive our shallowness, but did you see the topless pics of this club-wielding uber-stud in Vanity Fair? We'll resist the hole-in-one puns and just say: PHWOAR!

The latest revelations that Tiger liked a bit of wood (..sorry) come from one of the thirteen (so far) extra-marital affairs he's allegedly had.

Yes, it's probably safe to say that Woods is ruing the day he met Sicilian model Lorenda Jolie Ferriolo. She's been reportedly trying to sell her story for a cool $1 million.

Its unique selling point is apparently that it will lift the lid on the sport star's rumoured liaisons with men.

In an interview with RadarOnline.com Ferriolo's representatives confirmed: "She is in talks with a number of publishing companies regarding a tell-all book deal."

Apparently the "Italian beauty" (for want of a better phrase!) has described in graphic detail Woods' alleged gay encounters.

She said the book will reveal "his healthy appetite for arranged sex, threesomes, girls next door, girl-girl, and an answer to all the rumours surrounding Woods' sexuality". Nice.

The golfer's woes began last November when an alleged affair with nightclub manager Rachel Uchitel sparked a media frenzy. Since then the 34 year old has lost several lucrative sponsorship deals.

He may be incapable of keeping his 8-iron to himself but Woods has been credited with prompting major interest in the sport. He is currently ranked World No.1 and is the only person to be named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year more than once.