Daily media briefing
Stay informed with our daily media briefing newsletter. Every weekday morning we'll bring you the most relevant news and updates related to secularism directly to your inbox.
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Tue, 4 Jun 2024
A Pakistani Christian accused of blasphemy and attacked by a mob has died of injuries
A Pakistani Christian accused of blasphemy and attacked by a mob last month died of his injuries on Monday, a police official said.
Associated Press
US: Billions in taxpayer dollars now go to religious schools via vouchers
The rapid expansion of state voucher programs follows court decisions that have eroded the separation between church and state.
The Washington Post*
Iran’s hard-line parliament speaker emerges as the theocracy’s top figure in the presidential vote
Iran's hard-line parliament speaker emerged on Monday as the most-prominent candidate from within the country's Shiite theocracy in the race for the June 28 presidential election to replace the late Ebrahim Raisi, killed in a helicopter crash last month.
Associated Press
Mon, 3 Jun 2024
‘The world is getting its first Sikh court in London. That’s a threat to women’s rights’
With the UK judicial system cut to breaking point, conservative religious forces are moving into a space vacated by the state.
The Guardian
Bishop of Winchester criticises ‘anti-Christian’ Liberal Democrats
The Bishop of Winchester Philip Mounstephen has denounced the Lib Dems after claims that a former BBC journalist was deselected by the Lib Dems over his Christian beliefs
Independent*
Safeguarding recommendations get mixed C of E response
Most bishops and safeguarding professionals surveyed about outsourcing Church of England safeguarding activities opposed the idea, despite abuse victims being strongly in favour.
Premier Christian News
German policeman stabbed during attack at ‘anti-Islam’ rally dies after being knifed several times in head and neck
A police officer has died from his injuries after being stabbed repeatedly during an attack at an anti-Islam rally in Germany.
LBC
Reports Pope told priests that “gossiping is women’s business”
Pope Francis has allegedly told a group of priests in Rome that "gossip is women's business" and urged them to speak frankly, without going behind people's backs, because "we wear the trousers".
The Times*
'Darkest period of my life': Gay conversion therapy in Italy
In recent months, the BBC has conducted interviews with several young gay men across the country who have shared their experiences of being subjected to pseudoscientific group meetings or individual therapy sessions aimed at turning them into heterosexuals.
BBC
Muslim schools caught up in France's fight against Islamism
Last year, Sihame Denguir enrolled her teenage son and daughter in France's largest Muslim private school, in the northern city of Lille some 200 kilometres (125 miles) from their middle-class suburban Parisian home.
Reuters
US: Fresno’s Roman Catholic diocese to file for bankruptcy as new sexual abuse claims soar
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno announced this week that it will be filing for bankruptcy in the summer as the number of sexual abuse allegations it faces rises beyond 150.
LA Times
Fri, 31 May 2024
Survey uncovers reservations about outsourcing church safeguarding work
Most bishops and safeguarding professionals in the C of E oppose the outsourcing of church safeguarding work to an independent body, according to the results of a survey commissioned this spring.
Church Times*
Washed out: the laws lost because Sunak called election
The Liberal Democrat Lord Scriven's Disestablishment of the Church of England Bill has fallen. The bill, which would have made provision for the protection of freedom of religion or belief, was backed by the National Secular Society.
Religion Media Centre
Media Act comes into force without requirements for religious broadcasting
The Media Bill is now an Act of Parliament, after it was pushed through its final stages in the House of Lords last week.
Church Times*
Council gives Southend circumcision clinic a month to close
David Garston, Conservative councillor for Prittlewell Ward, said: "If ever an enforcement action was required, it would be this one. I'd like to stop it tomorrow quite frankly."
Yellow Advertiser
Louisiana could soon require public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments
It mandates that a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in "large, easily readable font" be required in all public classrooms, from kindergarten to state-funded universities.
Washington Times
The Indian women trumpeting their caste on Instagram
Hinduism's deeply hierarchical caste system, which dates back at least 3,000 years, puts Brahmins or priests at the top and Dalits (formerly untouchables) at the bottom.
BBC
Thu, 30 May 2024
Education Minister: Church roles in NI schools should be cherished
Paul Givan backs boards of governors in choosing external visitors as he announces a further £80m in new schemes.
Belfast Telegraph
Church charity apologises for founder’s ‘inappropriate’ behaviour towards young men
A safeguarding review finds that the charity's founder would contact young men and boys online to ask inappropriate questions about their sexual activity.
Third Sector*
Green Party election candidate claimed Islamic State was run by Mossad
A Green Party election candidate is mired in an anti-Semitism row today over social media posts blasting 'Jew lovers' and claiming the Islamic State terrorist group was run by the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad.
Daily Mail
‘I help people who leave the strictly Orthodox community – like I did’
Emily Green founded GesherEU to help people make the transition into the outside world.
The Jewish Chronicle
Newly found ties between Lambeth and slave trade ‘painful but important’ says Welby
The Archbishop of Canterbury has thanked journalists and historians for uncovering links between an 18th-century predecessor and the transatlantic slave trade.
Church Times*
Church pastors enlisted by Nottinghamshire police to visit prison cells
Church pastors have been enlisted by Nottinghamshire Police to mentor young detainees, primarily within local black communities, with the aim to steer them towards positive life changes.
Premier Christian News
‘In the name of God’
For decades, Catholic priests, brothers and sisters raped or molested Native American children who were taken from their homes by the U.S. government and forced to live at remote boarding schools, a Post investigation found.
Washington Post*
Texas curriculum overhaul would increase biblical content in elementary schools
Two million Texas kids could see new curriculum emphasizing Bible stories to instruct them in the 'American cultural experience'.
The Guardian
Wed, 29 May 2024
Teachers could get legal protection from blasphemy claims
Plans in Conservative Party manifesto include new statutory guidance upholding freedom of speech.
The Times*
Some Muslims ‘want to challenge British values’, says minister
A Foreign Office minister has claimed some Muslims in Britain "want to challenge" fundamental UK values.
The Guardian
A dozen Charedi schools received official warnings last year
A recurring problem for many Charedi schools is their decision not to teach LGBT content, as a required part of the secondary school relationships curriculum, which they say conflicts with their religious ethos.
The Jewish Chronicle
Pope apologises over reported homophobic slur
Pope Francis has apologised following reports that he used extremely derogatory language towards gay men.
BBC
Pioneer Trust censured for its founder’s fondness for a ‘holy kiss’
The review records a "pattern of behaviour" concerning Mr Coates's actions towards young men, including questions about their sexual behaviour, and greeting them with a "holy kiss".
Church Times*
100 Muslims arrested for attacking 2 Christian men on allegations of desecrating Quran in Pakistan
The mob went on a rampage Saturday after locals said they saw burnt pages of the Quran outside the two Christian men's house.
AP News
French lawmakers open tense two-week debate on assisted dying
The debate on France's end of life bill begins in the French parliament this Monday with the aim of opening up the possibility of assisted dying for certain patients.
RFI
Tue, 28 May 2024
Plans to merge community school into CofE primary school scrapped – NSS quoted
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: "We are relieved that the plans to effectively allow the Church of England to take over Charlotte Sharman Primary School have been cancelled."
London News Online
Campaigners criticise Keegan’s Catholic ‘conflict’ – NSS quoted
Education secretary received 'in-kind' £17k donation while faith leaders lobbied to end admissions cap.
Schools Week*
Revealed: how Church of England’s ties to chattel slavery went to top of hierarchy
Lambeth Palace documents show purchase of enslaved people in 18th century approved by Anglican archbishop.
The Guardian
Pope Francis allegedly used offensive slur during discussion about gay men
He is then alleged to have added that there was already too much "frociaggine", a vulgar Italian word that roughly translates at "faggotness", in some seminaries.
The Guardian
Last major Arabic-style mosque in China loses its domes
Experts say changes to Grand Mosque of Shadian mark completion of five-year sinification campaign.
The Guardian
Backlash as Muslim children in Italy exempted from studying Dante
Mediaeval poet placed the prophet Mohammed in hell in The Divine Comedy.
The Telegraph*
From schools to the Olympics, how France's staunch secularism affects religion in public life
As the world's eyes turn to France, host of the Olympics in two months, one of the country's fundamental principles is under the spotlight — laïcité.
Independent
Mother who beat toddler with cane because the 'Bible told her to' faces life sentence for murder
Christina Robinson, aged 30, three-year-old Dwelaniyah Robinson by violently shaking him at their home.
Premier Christian News
Australia: Doctor banned from performing circumcisions after amputating two boys' penises
Dr Hershel Goldman's licence was restricted by the Medical Board of Australia on April 4 - preventing him from performing the procedure he has done on more than 20,000 occasions.
Daily Mail
Backlash to Anitta’s music video evokes a painful history in Brazil
For centuries, Candomblé was relegated to the shadows. It was considered demonic sorcery and a public danger in an overwhelmingly Catholic society.
New York Times*
Charity Commission drops inquiry into Campaign Against Antisemitism
Regulator drops investigation four years after claims of political partisanship were raised.
The Guardian
Fri, 24 May 2024
Report reveals ‘lack of inclusion and transparency’ in religious practice in primary schools
There is a "lack of inclusion and transparency" in religious practice in Northern Ireland primary schools, according to a new report, which sheds light on the access religious organisations are permitted to pupils.
The Irish News*
‘Is it time to scrap faith schools in 'secular Scotland' as churches face up to crisis of faith?’
The latest census results showed Scotland is turning away from traditional spirituality, something that is bound to have consequences in the long term
Scottish Daily Express
Diocese bans celebration of ‘Pride month’ in Catholic schools
The celebration of so-called homosexual "Pride month" is to be banned in every Catholic school in the Diocese of Nottingham under new guidance which also cracks down on the promotion of gender ideology.
Catholic Herald
Free Church of Scotland under fire for failure to apologise over slavery money
The Free Church of Scotland has been accused of "shameful" behaviour after it refused to apologise for receiving money from slavery worth millions of pounds today.
The Guardian
Pioneer church network apologises for harm caused by founder
Pioneer UK, a network of churches, has publicly apologised to those impacted by damaging and harmful practices perpetuated throughout its ministry by its late founder Gerald Coates.
Premier Christian News
Activists chide pope over handling of sex abuse and cover-ups
Pope Francis has not done enough to stamp out clerical sex abuse and its cover-up, activists and abuse survivors said on Thursday, protesting before a Vatican-hosted World Children's Day festival.
Reuters
Frustration as trial of New Orleans priest accused of rape further delayed
A dispute over whether a retired New Orleans Catholic priest technically remains hospitalized or not is the latest reason his high-profile rape and kidnapping trial has been delayed.
The Guardian
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