Daily media briefing
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Tue, 14 Nov 2023
Another Jewish school in Montreal hit by gunfire for second time in a week
A Jewish school in Montreal was hit by gunfire on Sunday, making it a target for the second time in less than a week amid heightened tensions over the conflict between Israel and Gaza, police said.
The Independent*
Canada investigates alleged ‘threats’ against Air India after Sikh boycott call
Canadian officials and the Royal Canadian Mounted police are investigating alleged "threats" against Air India after a separatist leader warned Sikhs against flying with the airline on 19 November.
The Guardian
Kenya doomsday cult leader found guilty of illegal filming, but yet to be charged over mass deaths
Paul Mackenzie, the Kenyan preacher at the centre of a doomsday cult in the country that led to the deaths of more than 400 people, was on Friday found guilty of operating a studio and distributing films without a license.
Associated Press
Mon, 13 Nov 2023
Scots pastor condemned for 'disturbing' comments about Humza Yousaf – NSS quoted
A pastor has been condemned for "disturbing" comments where he described Humza Yousaf as a "godless leader" and said his appointment as First Minister is a "scheme of Satan" during a sermon.
The National*
Bill to separate Church from state to be introduced in parliament
Campaigners have welcomed a House of Lords private members' bill which would separate church and state by disestablishing the Church of England.
Politics.co.uk
Catholic Church, Scottish Government clash over sex education
A row has erupted between the Catholic Church and the Scottish Government over the provision of sex education in schools.
The Herald
‘Existential crisis’ as up to 700 churches predicted to close across Scotland by end of decade
As many as 700 churches across Scotland could close by the end of this decade, according to a charity concerned with ecclesiastical buildings.
The Scotsman*
Reports of antisemitism surge 500% to reach highest levels ever recorded by CST
The number of antisemitic incidents reported to CST in the month following October 7 surged by over 500 per cent year on year, with dozens of assaults and more than 100 threats recorded.
The Jewish Chronicle
Every mosque in Preston issues 'demand' for Keir Starmer to resign over Gaza stance
Every mosque in Preston has issued a "demand" for Labour councillors in the city to call on Sir Keir Starmer to resign over his stance on the conflict in Gaza.
Lancashire Live
Pope Francis fires Texan bishop after criticism of reforms
Pope Francis has fired the Texan bishop Joseph Strickland, a fierce critic who has questioned the Pope's leadership of the Catholic church.
BBC
Australia: The Catholic Church said an abuse victim deserved $250,000. A jury gave him $3 million
A Victorian jury has delivered a stinging rebuke to the Catholic Church, awarding $3.3 million to the victim of a notorious paedophile after the church argued compensation should be only $250,000.
Brisbane Times
US: Catholic dioceses are declaring bankruptcy. Abuse survivors say it’s a ‘way to silence’ them
One by one, various arms of the Catholic church across California have declared bankruptcy, citing an inability to pay damages from large numbers of sexual abuse lawsuits.
The Guardian
Prosecutors set out case against Kirill
Ukrainian officials are bringing charges of complicity in war crimes against Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, who insisted this week that Ukrainians were really Russians, and redoubled his support for President Putin's invasion.
Church Times*
Fri, 10 Nov 2023
Archbishop protests push to end religious representatives on school council – NSS quoted
The National Secular Society is calling on the council to end the religious appointees, calling the system "undemocratic, unrepresentative and unjustified."
Crux
The Church on trial – NSS interview
Richard Scorer is one of the Church's harshest critics over its failures to safeguard children from abuse.
The Tablet*
Christians against … sponges?
A lecture by Freethinker contributor and National Secular Society historian Bob Forder entitled 'Condoms, Sponges and Syringes: The 19th century pioneers of family planning' was protested by anti-abortion campaigners.
The Freethinker
Justin Welby urged to step down over gay rights deadlock
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, is facing calls from liberal and conservative campaigners to resign after a decade of struggles to reconcile the division over same-sex relationships.
The Times*
General Synod same-sex debate on knife edge
Raft of amendments expected to House of Bishops motion.
Church Times*
Anti-Muslim incidents up by 600% in UK since Hamas attack
There has also been a tenfold increase in cases at schools and universities, according to reports collated by Tell MAMA, a charity which records anti-Muslim incidents in the UK.
ITV
Doctor at Northwick Park Hospital removed for posting antisemitic comments online
A London hospital has parted company with one of its doctors after he posted comments on Facebook relating to Jews.
Jewish News
Lubavitch Senior Boys’ School ‘failing to meet standards’
Leaders had done "little since the previous inspection to develop the quality of education that pupils receive", Ofsted found.
The Jewish Chronicle
‘Power and Catholicism were inseparable in Poland. The fall of populists mirrors that of priests’
"The success of centre-left parties follows the collapse in devotion. Like Ireland, we are loosening the church's grip on the state", writes Wojciech Orliński.
The Guardian
MoD to cut ties with Muslim Council of Britain after ‘shocking’ arrangement revealed
The Muslim Council of Britain will no longer be allowed to identify and endorse military chaplains.
The Telegraph*
US: Court cites clergy-penitent privilege in dismissing abuse lawsuit against Mormon church
A judge has dismissed a high-profile abuse lawsuit against the Mormon church, ruling that officials who knew that a church member was sexually abusing his daughter had no duty to report the abuse.
Independent
Thu, 9 Nov 2023
Calls to end religious voting rights on East Lothian Council committee – NSS quoted
The National Secular Society has urged East Lothian Council to end voting privileges for unelected religious appointees, calling them "undemocratic, unrepresentative and unjustified".
East Lothian Courier
‘Iran base’ in Glasgow gets £200,000 climate change funding
A mosque under official investigation due to its suspected links to the Iranian state received almost £200,000 from the Scottish government.
The Times*
Jewish media unite to denounce antisemitism
Jewish media outlets have warned in an open letter that their community "has not been this fearful in living memory".
The Times*
Abortion rights advocates win major victories in Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia
The results sent a stark signal about enduring demands across the political spectrum to protect access to abortion, even in red states.
The Washington Post*
Tensions high as Germany prepares to mark Kristallnacht
Eighty-five years after the 'brutal prelude' to Nazi crimes, the emphasis falls on contemplating its influence on the present day.
The Guardian
Wed, 8 Nov 2023
Isle of Man parliament vote on removing bishop’s voting rights
A vote was taken in the House of Keys on Tuesday to grant Hooper leave to introduce legislation that would strip the head of the Manx church of his voting rights. 13 members voted in favour of the move, while 11 voted against it.
Premier Christian News
Pro-Palestinian march ban would be last resort - Met
A pro-Palestinian march due to take place on Armistice Day would only be banned as a "last resort", the Metropolitan Police Commissioner said.
BBC
Salman Rushdie on peace, Barbie and what freedom cost him
"We live in a time I did not think I would see, a time when freedom – and in particular, freedom of expression, without which the world of books could not exist – is everywhere under attack from reactionary, authoritarian, populist, demagogic, half-educated, narcissistic, careless voices"
The Guardian
Jewish students at UK universities 'deeply anxious', union warns
The Community Security Trust recorded 67 antisemitic incidents from 7 October to 3 November at 29 campuses, compared with 12 in the same period last year.
BBC
French schools get panic buttons after teacher’s murder
French schools will be given panic buttons to warn police in the event of terrorist attacks after a teacher was murdered by an Islamist last month.
The Times*
US: Ohio votes to enshrine abortion rights in state constitution
Early returns showed almost 56% of voters in the conservative-leaning state had backed it.
BBC
Hamas-Israel war may recruit for the next global wave of jihadism
"The attack had Sunni and Shi'ite extremists alike praising Hamas and pondering how they could follow its example", said Rita Katz of Site Intelligence.
The Times*
Tue, 7 Nov 2023
Call to remove bishop's right to vote in Isle of Man's parliament
An MHK is set to ask for support to introduce a law change that would remove the bishop's vote in Tynwald.
BBC
Over 600 ‘inclusive evangelicals’ urge Church of England bishops to allow priests to enter same-sex marriage
A newly formed network within the Church of England is appealing to the House of Bishops to allow priests to wed their same-sex partners as part of the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process.
Premier Christian News
Charity Commission ‘examines’ British mosques that hosted pro-Hamas hate preachers
Sermons made since terrorist group's October 7 attack include calls to 'destroy Israel', 'kill the Jews' and 'wage your war for Allah'.
The Telegraph*
Former Hamas chief ‘behind pro-Palestine Armistice Day protests’
A former Hamas chief is behind one of the groups organising the pro-Palestine Armistice Day protests, The Telegraph can disclose.
The Telegraph*
Man guilty of mosque worshippers' attempted murders
A man who set fire to two elderly worshippers after they left mosques has been convicted of attempted murder.
BBC
Islamic centre ‘must be investigated’ over alleged links to Iran
A Scottish outpost of an Islamic Centre accused of promoting "extremism and radicalisation" must be investigated over alleged links to the Iranian regime, politicians and exiled dissidents have said.
The Times*
Nobel prizewinner Narges Mohammadi begins hunger strike in Iranian prison
The rights activist is being denied medical treatment for not wearing a head covering.
The Times*
France: Le Pen’s anti-Islamism and support of Israel seen as attempt to obscure antisemitic past
In 2015, Le Pen expelled her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, the party founder, after he reiterated comments belittling the Holocaust, for which he has several convictions.
The Guardian
Uganda's Yoweri Museveni hits back over expulsion from US-Africa trade pact Agoa
The US had previously said it might take such action after Uganda passed a tough new anti-homosexuality law.
BBC
‘Saudi Arabia hosting the World Cup would tell LGBTQ+ fans we don’t matter’
"Saudi Arabia continues to criminalise consensual same-sex intimacy, both male and female, and the maximum punishment for breaking these laws is the death penalty."
Metro
Mon, 6 Nov 2023
Revealed: plan to brand anyone ‘undermining’ UK as extremist
Leaked documents spark furious backlash from groups who fear freedom of expression could be suppressed.
The Guardian
Met Police cuts ties with adviser Attiq Malik after chant video emerges
Mr Malik, a lawyer, is the chair of the London Muslim Communities Forum, a body that advises the Met.
BBC
Israeli minister suspended for suggesting nuclear bomb on Gaza a ‘possibility’
Eliyahu, a member of the Jewish Power party, has been suspended from all government meetings until further notice.
The Times*
GP in jihad storm said Islam ‘not religion of peace’
After Rigby was murdered in Woolwich in 2013, the activist disagreed with the notion that Islam was peaceful, according to a report on 5 Pillars, a website that has espoused Islamist views.
The Times*
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