Daily media briefing
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Thu, 20 Jun 2024
'Disgusted' parent takes children out of school over creationism claims – NSS quoted
Parents stated they had 'no idea' their children were 'exposed' to creationist beliefs.
Cambrian News
Powys: Llanidloes High School creationism investigation call – NSS quoted
Campaigners say the "extensive campaign of evangelism" at the secondary school is a "gross violation of trust".
Powys County Times
Creationism promoted in Welsh school – campaigners call for ban – NSS quoted
The National Secular Society has raised concerns that the headteacher at Llanidloes High School in Powys is using school resources to promote creationist ideas alongside science and to direct pupils to the evangelistic 'Alpha' Christian course.
Herald Wales
Northern Ireland school celebrates after gaining integrated status
The Department of Education has approved the Belfast school's proposal after 88% of the parents voted yes to transforming - bringing the number of integrated schools to 73 in Northern Ireland.
News Letter
Birmingham general election hopeful joked about domestic violence on podcast
Munaf said the majority of followers of Dajjaal – a false messiah or liar in Islam – would be women who had been "empowered", and Yakoob agreed, saying that "70% of hell is going to be women".
The Guardian
Louisiana orders every classroom to display Ten Commandments
Louisiana has become the first US state to order that every public school classroom up to university level must display a poster of the Ten Commandments.
BBC
Macron condemns antisemitism after Jewish girl is raped
French President Emmanuel Macron has said that schools in France are being threatened by the "scourge of antisemitism" after a 12-year-old Jewish girl was raped in what police said was a hate crime.
BBC
Canada lists Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group
The IRGC is a major military, political and economic force in Iran, with close ties to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
BBC
Wed, 19 Jun 2024
Calls for probe into school 'promoting creationism' – NSS quoted
The NSS is calling for a ban on teaching creationism in schools in Wales, saying "it undermines teaching about evidence-based theories such as evolution".
BBC
Welsh school under investigation for 'promoting creationism' to pupils - NSS quoted
Stephen Evans, chief executive of the NSS said: "Promoting creationism is entirely without educational justification, and actively undermines teaching about evidence-based theories such as evolution, as well as children's critical thinking skills."
Premier Christian News
Clericalism in Roman Catholic Church ‘failed survivors’ says Durham study
A culture of clericalism and "damaging theology" in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has contributed to its "failure" to respond well to survivors of clerical abuse, researchers from the University of Durham say.
Church Times*
‘Islamic identity politics is a threat to British democracy’
"Lamentably, such political theatrics seem to have emboldened some fringe elements within British Muslim communities who seek to use religious identity to stir up division in British society", writes Khadija Khan.
The Freethinker
Hundred of Scottish churches up for sale as UK turns away from Christianity
Church of Scotland sell-off comes as most people say they have no religion.
The Telegraph*
Thailand to legalise same-sex marriage
It becomes the first country in southeast Asia to change the law, and will also grant equal rights to adoption, taxes and medical treatment consent.
The Times*
More than 550 hajj pilgrims die in Mecca as temperatures exceed 50C
At least 320 of the dead are from Egypt and Saudi officials report treating more than 2,000 people for heat stress.
The Guardian
China has renamed hundreds of Uyghur villages and towns, say human rights groups
Report finds that religious, historical and cultural references have been removed in crackdown by Beijing.
The Guardian
‘Why caste still matters in Indian politics’
"Narendra Modi must rethink his approach to Hinduism's social hierarchy", writes Banyan.
The Economist*
Tue, 18 Jun 2024
What secularists want from the next UK Government
Stephen Evans, the National Secular Society's Chief Executive on what he wants to see from the next Government.
The Freethinker
School under investigation after 'actively promoting evangelical Christianity to pupils' – NSS quoted
A school is under investigation after staff have been reportedly actively promoting evangelical Christianity to pupils.
Daily Record
Christian school that teaches ‘from a Biblical perspective’ reveals plans to open in Dunblane
A Christian school where all subjects are taught with a 'biblical perspective' is hoping to set up in Dunblane.
The Courier
UK anti-abortion campaigners running against MPs who back decriminalization
Anti-abortion campaigners are running as independent candidates in the general election against prominent MPs seeking re-election who supported decriminalisation.
The Guardian
Global efforts to end female genital mutilation undermined by ‘vacation cutting’
The global fight to tackle female genital mutilation is being undermined by the movement of some girls across national borders and beyond to undergo the procedure, the UN human rights office warned in a new report published on Friday.
United Nations
US: Megachurch pastor and ex-Trump adviser admits child sexual abuse
A Texas evangelical pastor and former spiritual adviser to Donald Trump has confessed to sexually assaulting a young girl in his past.
The Guardian
US: Brooklyn’s ‘bling bishop’ sentenced to nine years for defrauding parishioner
Brooklyn's "bling bishop" Lamor Whitehead, sometimes described as a mentor to New York's mayor, Eric Adams, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for defrauding a parishioner's mother out of her life savings and other scams.
The Guardian
Trapped between armies, Rohingya fear ethnic cleansing everywhere
The junta that persecuted the Rohingya is now recruiting them for Myanmar's civil war — and the insurgents are no more friendly.
The Times*
Australia: From caliphate to the classroom: How hardline group courts the young
Fringe Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir is using front groups to spread its message to young people.
WA Today
Mon, 17 Jun 2024
Welsh school investigated for 'promoting evangelical Christianity' – NSS quoted
A school in mid Wales is being investigated after evidence emerged it was actively promoting evangelical Christianity to its pupils.
Wales Online
Revealed: Labour voters targeted by radical Islamist group
An influential campaign group trying to drive Muslims away from Labour and towards more radical, anti-Israel candidates was founded by Islamists who backed violent Palestinian "resistance" two days after the October 7 massacres.
The Jewish Chronicle
Greater Manchester faith school leaves pupils 'wholly underprepared for life in modern Britain'
A private girls school where images of people not wearing orthodox Jewish clothing are censored has been criticised for leaving pupils 'wholly underprepared for life in modern Britain'.
Manchester Evening News
Abuse campaigner urges archbishop to ‘push’ religious orders yet to contribute to compensation for survivors
A Belfast campaigner has given the leader of Ireland's Catholic Church a copy of her book in the hope that it will encourage him to 'push' religious orders that have not yet contributed to compensation for survivors of historical sexual abuse to do so.
Belfast Telegraph
Concerns as Orange Order marches to pass near Catholic churches
One in four Catholic churches in Glasgow will have Orange marches pass near them this season, the Sunday National can reveal.
The National
Pope accused of illegally wiretapping phones
The Pope faces UN investigation over his personal authorisation of allegedly unlawful wiretaps during a Vatican investigation into the "corrupt" sale of a £300 million central London property.
The Telegraph*
Australian agencies greenlight charity despite Hizb ut-Tahrir links
Australian authorities have registered and given special tax status to a charity directed by a key figure within the radical Islamist group, Hizb ut-Tahrir, who has urged Muslims to send weapons to Gaza.
The Age*
Ahmadis in Pakistan say intimidated ahead of Eid al-Adha feast
Pakistanis from the minority Ahmadi community say they are under increasing pressure from authorities and Islamist groups ahead of the Eid al-Adha celebrations on Monday.
France 24
Fri, 14 Jun 2024
Isle of Man: Bid to remove of bishop's vote moves step forward
Moves to remove the bishop's vote in Tynwald has been progressed by members of the Legislative Council.
BBC
European Court of Human Rights: Criticism of religion is not ‘extremism’
The Court found that criminal prosecution of the applicant for his videos criticising religion violated his right to freedom of expression.
Article 19
‘Perfectly lawful’ to stir up racial and religious hatred, Met Police chief says
The country's most senior police officer has called for "outrageous" gaps in hate crime law, which he said allows people to lawfully stir up racial and religious hatred, to be closed.
The Standard
Deselected Lib Dem candidate sues party claiming discrimination because of Christian beliefs
An Anglican layman who was deselected as a Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate is suing the party under the Equality Act, claiming that he has been subject to discrimination because of his Christian beliefs.
Church Times*
Christian charity told to pay £13,000 for ‘harassment’ against dyslexic former employee
A Christian charity has been ordered to pay a former employee more than £13,400 for disability-related harassment and victimisation, an employment tribunal judgment reveals.
Third Sector*
Radical preacher directed banned group, court hears
Undercover officers in the US recorded lectures by radical preacher Anjem Choudary which show he was the director of a group banned under UK terror laws, a court has heard.
BBC
Germany warns of Islamist threat on eve of Euro 2024 tournament
Groups such as the Islamic State have already called for attacks at the month-long tournament, which begins with the host country's Group A opener against Scotland on Friday.
Yahoo! / Reuters
US: Supreme Court rejects challenge to abortion drug mifepristone
The US Supreme Court has unanimously rejected an effort to restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone.
BBC
Queensland Labor shelves reforms to stop faith-based schools discriminating against gay teachers
Guardian Australia revealed on Monday that the state government was considering watering down reforms proposed by a review of the 33-year-old act.
The Guardian
Thu, 13 Jun 2024
Future of established Church debated at Pusey House conference
Same-sex marriage might be what 'breaks the camel's back' attendees hear.
Church Times*
Labour's "odd" plans for Lords reform cast doubt over abolition
Party sources have confirmed to Politics Home that abolition is not included in the manifesto, which has frustrated some Labour members and campaigners for constitutional reform.
Politics Home
Pope Francis repeats homophobic slur weeks after apology
Pontiff reportedly says there is 'air of faggotry' inside the Vatican in reference to gay priests.
The Telegraph*
Scotland: We are not homophobes or misogynists, say bishop’s accusers
Anne Dyer, the former bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney, has been called a bully by members of the Scottish Episcopal Church.
The Times*
Greens endorse election candidates accused of ‘antisemitism’
The Green Party has endorsed prospective MPs revealed to have made comments supportive of Hamas and to have claimed October 7 was a 'false flag' operation.
The Times*
‘Rap versus theocracy: Toomaj Salehi and the fight for a free Iran’
"Salehi was given a death sentence in April this year after the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Isfahan accused him of 'waging war against god'", writes Noel Yaxley.
The Freethinker
Scotland: Buffer zone law passed to protect abortion clinics
Protesters will be required to stay at least 200m from clinic entrances in a move hailed as a victory for women's rights.
The Times*
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