Daily media briefing
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Fri, 19 Apr 2024
Funding from the State for church buildings – NSS letter
"Clearly many, but by no means all, churches have architectural, historical and cultural value, and there may be some case for maintaining them. The most obvious source of further funds was, however, omitted: the Church Commissioners for England, who manage the C of E's funds", writes NSS president Keith Porteous Wood.
Church Times*
‘Birbalsingh is right – make schools secular’
"Selecting pupils by faith is bad for social cohesion and should be banned", writes Emma Duncan.
The Times*
Regulator probes sanctioned business owner’s fundraising over ‘pro-Hamas’ links
The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into fundraising activity by a sanctioned business owner over alleged "links to a pro-Hamas media outlet".
Civil Society
The push to decriminalise abortion in Britain heats up
Opening a fresh debate also creates an opportunity for anti-abortion campaigners to push for reform. There are plenty of them in Parliament, where a comparatively high number of MPs are religious.
The Economist*
Abortion is not a right, European bishops tell MEPs
Roman Catholic leaders have strongly criticised a European Parliament resolution demanding that "access to safe and legal abortion" be recognised as a fundamental right throughout the European Union.
Church Times*
Iran morality police arrests dead protester's sister, mother says
The elder sister of Nika Shakarami, a 16-year-old girl who was killed during the 2022 anti-government protests in Iran, has been arrested for allegedly not covering her hair, her family says.
BBC
Voting begins in India’s election with Modi widely expected to win third term
The rise of the BJP has been seen to come at a cost to India's minorities, particularly its 200 million Muslims, who have faced increasing persecution, allegedly discriminatory laws and documented violence by the state and rightwing Hindu outfits affiliated with the BJP.
The Guardian
Sydney church stabbing: police charge 16-year-old boy with terrorism offence
The victim, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, who has a popular online presence and a large following, has previously criticised Islam and the prophet Muhammad in public sermons.
The Guardian
Nigerian woman rescued 10 years after kidnap by Boko Haram in Chibok
Nigerian troops have rescued a pregnant woman and her three children 10 years after she was abducted by Boko Haram militants when she was a schoolgirl in the town of Chibok.
The Guardian
Thu, 18 Apr 2024
Church schools unaffected by Muslim prayer-ban ruling, says Genders – NSS quoted
A ruling that upheld a school's decision to ban prayer rituals does not challenge the principle of freedom of religion or belief, the CofE's chief education officer has said.
Church Times*
Religious groups divided over school prayer ban ruling – NSS quoted
The CofE's chief education officer has backed the ruling. However, Muslim leaders have blasted the decision as 'divisive'.
Daily Mail
Reclaiming free speech in academia – NSS quoted
RA24-E2 requires strong statements of support from an institution for an academic facing death threats because of comments about a particular religion (a wider phenomenon, not only in universities, rightly identified by the National Secular Society as a "de facto blasphemy law").
The Critic
Schools teaching too many religions in RE lessons, Ofsted warns
Watchdog says 'superficially broad curriculum' does not always provide pupils with the knowledge they need.
The Telegraph*
Cameron backs Bill for Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief
The Bill would put the post of Special Envoy and an office to support their work on a statutory footing.
Church Times*
Nigerian mega-pastor pushing malaria vaccine conspiracy theories
In August last year, he warned in a sermon of "an evil agenda that has been long in the making".
BBC
Once a fringe Indian ideology, Hindu nationalism is now mainstream
Hindu nationalism, once a fringe ideology in India, is now mainstream. Nobody has done more to advance this cause than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one of India's most beloved and polarizing political leaders.
AP News
‘I am not a Satanist!’: meet the great blasphemer of contemporary art
One of his best-known sculptural tableaux consists of a wax statue of Pope John Paul II crushed by a meteorite. "Sacrilege!" cried Cattelan's critics, who vandalised La Nona Ora (1999) when it was shown in Poland.
The Telegraph*
Wed, 17 Apr 2024
'A victory for all schools': Katharine Birbalsingh hails High Court prayer ruling – NSS quoted
Stephen Evans, chief executive of the National Secular Society, said: "Given the disruption experienced by the school, a ruling that the ban on prayer rituals was lawful is welcome."
The Standard
Education Secretary: Prayer policy ruling should give headteachers ‘confidence’ – NSS quoted
"Where the manifestation of religion is deemed divisive or disruptive, a balance must be struck. We're pleased the school's actions have been vindicated", said NSS chief executive Stephen Evans.
Independent
School prayer ban upheld as pupil loses High Court challenge – NSS quoted
Stephen Evans, chief executive of the National Secular Society, said the case "serves as a useful reminder that claims of religious freedom do not trump all other considerations."
The Times*
Muslim pupil at leading London school loses challenge against ban on prayer rituals – NSS quoted
"Schools should be environments where everyone feels welcomed and valued, but that doesn't mean students have untrammelled religious freedom", said NSS chief executive Stephen Evans.
Daily Mail
Regulators assessing concerns over charities referring to ‘black magic’ and ‘witchcraft’ – NSS quoted
"No charity, religious or otherwise, should be allowed to promote ideology which fuels spiritual abuse", said NSS campaigns officer Alejandro Sanchez.
Civil Society
Scottish church leaders rally against assisted dying legislation
Rev Andrew Downie of the United Free Church of Scotland and Rev Bob Akroyd of the Free Church of Scotland have called on MSPs to oppose Liam McArthur's Bill on assisted dying.
Premier Christian News
‘#BringBackOurGirls fought to keep global attention on Nigeria’s stolen Chibok girls. Ten years on it is still fighting’
"Some have gone on to get their master's and others are working on PhDs. Other girls are now studying in Nigeria. This, for me, is perhaps the biggest achievement of the #BBOG movement. They have scuttled Boko Haram's core task, which is to deny girls education", writes Helon Habila.
The Guardian
Tue, 16 Apr 2024
‘Our son didn’t get into his first choice primary school – because we missed church’
"I explained that I missed attending church one month due to my mother's death but there was no compassion or understanding", says Sarah Atta.
iNews
Ruling due in Muslim student’s High Court challenge against ‘prayer ban’
A high-achieving north London school is set to discover whether a Muslim student has won a challenge against its ban on "prayer rituals".
The Standard
Iran-backed groups ‘tried to intimidate Charity Commission’
Watchdog was branded Islamophobic and targeted by activists including figures at Press TV, a state-funded channel that back Iran's attack on Israel.
The Times*
Man accused of knifing pensioner called Christian convert housemates 'devils’, court hears
The jury has heard how Mr Nouri and Alid had previously fallen out about religion.
Teesside Live
Sydney church stabbing was a 'terrorist' attack, police say
Investigations are still under way, but they say they are satisfied this is a case of religious extremism.
BBC
Italian schools will no longer shut for Eid
The new rules on school closures were announced by the education minister following the closure of a school near Milan on Eid al-Fitr.
The Times*
Argentina court blames Iran for deadly 1994 bombing of Jewish centre
The judges ruled that the bombing was carried out by the Shia militant organization Hezbollah and responded to a "political and strategic design" by Iran.
The Guardian
Mon, 15 Apr 2024
Iran centre blamed for stoking Islamic protests at British schools
Iran has been blamed for stoking protests outside British schools as a new report reveals its widespread and increasing attempts to impose de facto blasphemy laws in the UK.
The Times*
Sun, 14 Apr 2024
Philip North’s nomination to Blackburn was legitimate, reviewer concludes
Campaigners had raised concerns about Bishop North's views on the ordination of women.
Church Times*
Allowing silent prayer in buffer zones still under consideration
The Government is expected to announce whether provisions under the new Public Order Act will allow for silent prayer following consultations on the proposals.
Premier Christian News
British Muslim clerics praise 'beautiful' Taliban
The all-male delegation spent eight days touring Afghanistan and meeting with Taliban leaders and making statements on Afghan TV extolling their virtues.
Daily Mail
Scientists claim shechita makes no difference to blood loss in slaughtered animals
Scientists claim tests on halal and kosher meat have found no significant difference in blood loss when animals are killed after being stunned.
The Jewish Chronicle
Poland: Lawmakers send forward bill to ease abortion law
The anti-abortion law has strong support of the Catholic Church, which retains a powerful influence in the country.
Deutsche Welle
EU bishops oppose abortion ahead of crucial vote
EU bishops have voiced their opposition to recognising abortion rights within the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as a decisive vote approaches.
Premier Christian News
Two stabbed in Bordeaux for drinking wine during Eid
Attacker shot dead by police after frenzied attack in tourist area.
The Times*
Vatican complains after French court rules in favour of nun dismissed from religious order
The case is highly unusual, because it represented a secular civilian court essentially determining that the Vatican's in-house canonical procedures grossly violated the nun's fundamental rights.
ABC News
China: What Ramadan is like in Xinjiang
Several times ordinary Uyghurs signalled that this has been a distressing Ramadan, during which it was risky to be caught fasting.
The Economist*
Himalayan state is a testing ground for Modi’s nationalism
Hindu priests made explicit threats against Muslims in the state, calling to "kill 2 million" of them, and stating Hindus should be "prepared to die or be prepared to kill".
The Guardian
US: Trial begins for man who allegedly drowned his father as part of exorcism
The younger Callahan, who was 19 at the time, told police he thought his father was possessed by a demon called "Dirty Dan".
Boston.com
6 in 10 US Catholics are in favour of abortion rights, Pew Research report finds
Catholics in the US, one of the country's largest single Christian groups, hold far more diverse views on abortion rights than the official teaching of their church.
NPR
Fri, 12 Apr 2024
Islamic extremist murdered Hartlepool man over Gaza – prosecutors
An Islamic extremist murdered a man in the street in protest against the Israel and Gaza conflict, a court has heard.
BBC
Church of England praises Matt Redman for disclosing abuse by Soul Survivor’s Mike Pilavachi
The Church of England has praised the "bravery" of Christian music superstar Matt Redman after The Telegraph revealed details of his abuse at the hands of Soul Survivor's Mike Pilavachi.
The Telegraph*
Cap on faith-school places under discussion again
The cap on the proportion of places that academies and free schools are allowed to allocate on the basis of faith may be lifted, it is reported.
Church Times*
Portuguese Catholic Church announces it will compensate victims of sex abuse
The Portuguese Catholic Church said Thursday it has unanimously agreed to pay some form of compensation to victims of sex abuse by clergy.
Associated Press
Students in Iran threatened with prosecution for graduation dance video
A group of Iranian students have been threatened with prosecution after a video of them dancing after their graduation emerged on social media this week.
The Guardian
‘Right to freedom from torture’: UN experts urge the Gambia not to decriminalise FGM
A team of UN experts has urged Gambian lawmakers not to repeal a ban on female genital mutilation, saying such a move would set a dangerous global precedent.
The Guardian
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