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, 19 Sep 2023
Macron sets up fund to restore French churches in small communities
President Macron has launched a fund that he hopes will raise €200 million to save thousands of churches from falling into ruin, mostly in rural areas.
The Times*
‘Credible evidence’ India behind alleged assassination of Sikh leader, says Trudeau
Justin Trudeau has said there is "credible evidence" India is responsible for the alleged assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Canadian Sikh leader, a claim Delhi dismissed as "absurd".
The Guardian
Australia: Vatican report says Broome bishop a sexual predator
A Vatican investigation has found a longstanding Catholic bishop of Broome sexually assaulted four Aboriginal boys and young men and groomed dozens more.
The Canberra Times
Australia: Church seeks exemption for religious belief in misinformation bill
Catholics and Muslims have raised the alarm about the potential for Labor's new online misinformation laws to restrain the teaching of religious doctrine on issues such as assisted dying.
Sydney Morning Herald
Mon, 18 Sep 2023
Victims say Soul Survivor vicar was 'wolf in sheep's clothing' who should lose MBE
Victims of Rev Canon Mike Pilavachi are calling for him to be stripped of his MBE, describing the Soul Survivor vicar as a "wolf in sheep's clothing".
The Telegraph*
Pupils receive a tokenistic religious education, warn cross-party MPs and peers
Pupils are receiving "tokenistic religious education or none at all" at some schools, more than 30 MPs and peers have warned the Education Secretary.
The Telegraph*
Leicester disorder: Panellists named for review into unrest
Three panellists have been appointed to sit on an independent review into unrest that took place in Leicester.
BBC
‘A pivotal moment for Church and State’
"Establishment is a rope of many strands. Individual threads may break, with no perceivable impact overall. But, once a critical number of threads are severed, the rope can no longer hold."
Church Times*
Woman who claims she was abused by priest at Scots Catholic children's home has won right to sue
A woman who claims to have been sexually abused by a priest at a children's home more than 50 years ago has won her battle to sue the charity.
Daily Record
Extra police patrols around Birmingham mosque after man 'makes threats to families'
Police have issued an urgent appeal for information after a man allegedly made threats to families outside Green Lane Mosque in Birmingham. West Midlands Police has said there will be increased patrols around the mosque in Small Heath following the alleged incident.
Birmingham Mail
Letter shows Pope Pius XII had detailed information from German Jesuit about Nazi crimes
Newly discovered correspondence suggests that World War II-era Pope Pius XII had detailed information from a trusted German Jesuit that up to 6,000 Jews and Poles were being gassed each day in German-occupied Poland.
Los Angeles Times
Macron defends choice to attend Pope's mass in Marseille
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, September 15, defended his plan to attend a huge mass to be celebrated by Pope Francis in the southern city of Marseille next week, after critics said he was failing to live up to France's secular values.
Le Monde
US: 6 people accused of torturing, killing woman lured from South Korea for religious group
A woman found dead in the trunk of a car earlier this week was allegedly lured to the U.S. from South Korea to join a religious organization, then tortured in the basement of a Georgia home, police said.
ABC News
Turkey's winning women ignite culture wars
When Merve Dizdar won Turkey's first best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival, and the women's volleyball team lifted the European trophy this month, many hearts swelled with pride. But their triumphs also ignited culture wars.
France24
‘We never stopped protesting’: Iran’s youth take freedom fight underground
Young Iranians have taken their protests against the authoritarian regime underground one year on from the death in custody of a 22-year-old woman detained for allegedly wearing the Islamic headscarf incorrectly.
The Guardian
Fri, 15 Sep 2023
Bishop of Oxford’s son ‘failed to act’ on Mike Pilavachi massage allegation
Senior pastor of Soul Survivor Watford, Andy Croft, "failed to act" on three separate occasions, according to a letter sent to those who contributed to the Church of England's recent investigation.
Premier Christian News
Honour-based abuse: Government rejects calls for legal definition
The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) recommended the definition in its report into honour-based abuse in July.
BBC
Conversion therapy ban to be delayed with officials ‘stuck in a loop’
Rishi Sunak is expected to delay a promised ban on conversion therapy following disagreements over how the legislation should be worded.
The Telegraph*
Despite warnings, thousands of Orthodox Jews are going to Ukraine this week
Up to 30,000 Charedim are expected to defy Ukraine's chief rabbi and the Israeli PM to visit the city of Uman to worship, be cleansed of their sins - and dance to techno music.
The Jewish Chronicle
Quest to bring priest charged with torture in Argentina to justice
They said that rather than helping the prisoners, he would watch them being tortured, sometimes holding a Bible while he was telling them that it was God's will that they provide their torturers with the information they were after.
BBC
Church leaders in Manipur voice fears over violence against Christians
A "well-coordinated onslaught" is being waged against Kuki people in Manipur, church leaders in the Indian state have told the British Prime Minister.
Church Times*
‘Why are celebrities rushing to defend convicted rapist Danny Masterson?’
"But the indifference of law enforcement paled in comparison to the intimidation and retaliation that the women say they faced from the Church of Scientology", writes Moira Donegan.
The Guardian
Thu, 14 Sep 2023
Four fifths of anaesthetists back assisted dying
Survey comes ahead of MSP's bill to allow terminally ill to end their lives should they request it.
The Times*
Caribbean commissions demand reparations for slavery from Church and King
Formal demands for reparations for the slave trade are to be submitted to institutions, including the Church of England, by national reparations commissions in the Caribbean.
Church Times*
Iran’s ‘gender apartheid’ bill could jail women for 10 years for not wearing hijab
Shops that serve unveiled women could be shut under draft law UN human rights body says suppresses women into 'total submission'.
The Guardian
SNP delays ban on conversion therapy amid warnings it could criminalise parents
Holyrood had promised to publish legislation by the end of 2023, but last week's programme for government - the Scottish version of the King's Speech - included no such legislation.
The Telegraph*
Iran’s regime arrests father of woman who died in custody
Pressure mounts on family of Mahsa Amini not to hold memorial a year after her death caused widespread unrest.
The Times*
Malaysia and Indonesia show strong support for strict Islamic laws
Survey underscores Islam's growing clout in nations' politics.
Bloomberg*
Palestinian figures slam Abbas for Holocaust outburst
More than 200 Palestinian figures have condemned president Mahmud Abbas for his "reprehensible" comments claiming Jews were murdered in the Holocaust because of their "social role" and not their religion.
France 24
Wed, 13 Sep 2023
Decline of religious belief has made Church ‘less bossy’ says Welby
"I rejoice in less of a bossy attitude, and of the Church stepping back from telling everybody what to do, here and elsewhere. Except in the House of Lords!"
Church Times*
Coronation arrests: Republic leader Graham Smith takes legal action
A republican protester detained on the day of King Charles' Coronation is taking legal action against the Metropolitan Police.
BBC
Unions seek greater relationship with faith groups
A new faith and belief network has been launched at the Trade Union's annual Congress.
Premier Christian News
Open letter: ‘Immediate investigation of British imams whitewashing the Taliban’
"Since the Taliban's usurpation of power, these figures in Britain, including an NHS chaplain, have undertaken a widespread propaganda campaign to whitewash the actions of the Taliban."
Change.org
Human rights laws ‘stop terrorists being captured’, Wallace warns
Human rights laws are jeopardising national security and allowing terrorists to go "uncaptured", Ben Wallace, the former defence secretary, has said.
The Times*
Greece: Only non-Orthodox Christian pupils can be exempt from RE
Greece's top administrative court, Council of State, has ruled that only non-Orthodox Christian pupils can be exempt from religious education.
Greek Herald
Egypt bans face veil in schools for upcoming academic year
The Egyptian government's has banned n the wearing of the niqab inside schools for the upcoming academic year, starting on September 30.
WIO News
Tue, 12 Sep 2023
Top UK barrister to lead review into collapse of CofE's Independent Safeguarding Board
An independent review into what happened to 'Phase 1' of the Church of England's Independent Safeguarding Board is to be led by a top public law barrister.
Premier Christian News
Sunak raises detention of Jagtar Singh Johal with Indian PM
The prime minister has confirmed that he raised the case of a Scottish Sikh who has been held by Indian authorities since 2017, in talks with the country's prime minister.
BBC
Miriam Margolyes says she doesn’t believe in circumcision ‘because you are mutilating a child’
'I only realised I didn't like it recently,' says actor.
Independent
‘Free speech is lost in Britain, where the rich silence reporters’
"A system that takes Yevgeny Prigozhin's complaints seriously is not fit for purpose", writes Geoffrey Robertson KC.
The Telegraph*
Five key points from India’s G20 summit
"...we strongly deplore all acts of religious hatred against persons, as well as those of a symbolic nature without prejudice to domestic legal frameworks, including against religious symbols and holy books," reads the 78th para of the outcome document.
Independent
The Woman In The Wall: the true story of the Christian workhouses that abused women
The BBC's crime drama deals with a deeply shocking episode in Irish history.
Evening Standard
Police investigate 'offensive' Leek preacher complaints
Residents have made complaints to the police saying their material was homophobic, sexist and offensive.
BBC
Bharat: why the recent push to change India’s name has a hidden agenda
The Hindutva, or political Hindu right-wing vision of India cherished by the RSS and BJP, is one where Bharat stands not just for a country that is India, but also connotes an idyll of pure Hindutva morality.
The Conversation
A year after Iran was shaken by protests, zealots have tightened their grip
But dissidents await their next opportunity, unbowed.
The Economist*
Israel Supreme Court showdown over controversial judicial reform
After months of protests against the hardline Israeli government's highly controversial judicial overhaul, an historic showdown is taking place.
BBC
Mon, 11 Sep 2023
Victims’ anger as CofE refuses to publish Soul Survivor Mike Pilavachi abuse report
Victims of Mike Pilavachi, the founder of the Soul Survivor Christian youth festivals, have accused the Church of England of sweeping its internal dossier on his abuse "under the carpet" after it refused to make the findings public.
The Telegraph*
‘Our retreat from Christianity doesn’t mean we’ve lost our sense of morality’
Those who moan that we're losing our religion are quick to demonise the most vulnerable
The Guardian
Starmer: Labour in power would be ‘more supportive of faith schools’
Keir Starmer has insisted Labour in power would be "even more supportive of faith schools" than the current government.
Jewish News
Prime Minister and wife visit Hindu temple on final day of G20 in India
The Prime Minister and his wife Akshata Murty visited a Hindu temple as Rishi Sunak prepares to take part in the final session of the G20 summit in India.
The Independent*
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