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Tue, 21 Sep 2021
Church of England spends millions but fails to convert cash into congregations
More than £240 million invested by the Church of England to arrest the decline in worshippers has "not so far" succeeded in turning the situation around, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.
The Times*
MoD shared more than 250 Afghan interpreters' details on email
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has launched an investigation into a data breach involving the email addresses of dozens of Afghan interpreters who worked for British forces.
BBC
Doctor jailed after nearly killing partner in exorcism rituals
A hospital anaesthetist who nearly killed his partner by injecting her with drugs during exorcism ceremonies has been jailed for more than 14 years.
The Times*
Flintshire Council to adopt definitions of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism
Chief executive Colin Everett said although the council was not aware of any specific issues in Flintshire, it wanted to demonstrate its inclusivity.
Deeside.com
Glasgow councillor calls for 'anti-Catholic' marches to be banned
A Glasgow councillor has called for "anti Catholic" marches to be banned as thousands attended Orange parades in the city at the weekend.
Glasgow Live
‘How are schools promoting Fundamental British Values?’
The teaching of Fundamental British Values is a controversial political policy – and new research looks into its impact.
TES
Texas abortion: Doctor sued in first known challenges of new law
A Texas doctor who admitted to breaking the state's new abortion legislation has been sued, in what could be a test of how lawful the mandate is.
BBC
‘Why I violated Texas’s extreme abortion ban’
"I have daughters, granddaughters and nieces. I believe abortion is an essential part of health care."
The Washington Post*
Pakistani Hindu family ‘held hostage’ for fetching water from mosque
Fetching drinking water from a mosque in Pakistan's Punjab province landed a family of poor farmers from the minority Hindu community in trouble as some people "tortured and held them hostage" for "violating the sanctity" of their place of worship, a media report said.
Eastern Eye
Thousands march for LGBTQ+ rights in Ukraine despite some opposition
Thousands of people including soldiers and diplomats marched peacefully through the Ukrainian capital on Sunday in an annual gay pride parade despite some opposition to an event called off last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Reuters*
Mon, 20 Sep 2021
Taliban ban girls from secondary education in Afghanistan
The Taliban have effectively banned girls from secondary education in Afghanistan, by ordering high schools to re-open only for boys.
The Guardian
Culture secretary’s ‘medieval burqa’ comments decried
Nadine Dorries has been accused of 'Islamophobia' over her views on Muslim women and description of the burqa as a "medieval" dress code.
Al Jazeera
Man subjected to exorcisms over 'witchcraft' claims fears UK victims being missed during pandemic
A man who was subjected to two years of exorcisms after being accused of witchcraft believes victims are going undetected in the UK during the coronavirus pandemic.
Sky News
Hand-written notes blaming Satan for Covid and disasters sent to Birmingham homes
A series of letters, one of which blames the coronavirus pandemic and natural disasters on Satan, have been landing on doormats around Sutton Coldfield causing surprise and concern for some. They were written by a Jehovah's Witness.
Birmingham Live
The 'constant noise' ruining neighbours' Sundays after faith school opens six days a week
Kerem Shloime school operates six days a week, only closing during the Sabbath. The Orthodox Jewish boys' school is also allowed to operate on Bank Holidays.
Manchester Evening News
Organ donation: NI Assembly to debate opt-out system for NI
A major change to Northern Ireland's organ donation rules in Northern Ireland will be debated at Stormont.
BBC
Shamima Begum says she 'will not name Brits who joined Islamic State'
Shamima Begum says she will never name the British people who have joined Islamic State, it's been reported.
Birmingham Mail
Arrests after ‘racist and sectarian singing’ during Orange Order marches
Police have made several arrests after "racist and sectarian singing" took place during Orange walks which shut streets across Glasgow and led to condemnation of anti-Catholic bigotry.
The National*
‘The public want assisted dying, and now even doctors are unopposed’
The case against a change in the law is running out of road, says Matthew Syed.
The Sunday Times*
‘Assisted dying: She suffered right up until the very end, but she shouldn’t have had to go through that. She deserved better
"Losing my daughter was awful, but watching her suffer and die without dignity was just horrendous."
The Sunday Post
‘How Islamists were behind the dehumanisation of British Jews’
Previous generations of Muslims would not have recognised the violent, antisemitic version of Islam as their own religion, says Fiyaz Mughal.
The Jewish Chronicle
‘The cult of virginity just won’t let go’
The battles over "virginity testing" and "virginity-restoration surgery" reveal the persistence of dangerous pseudoscience, says Helen Lewis.
The Atlantic
Fri, 17 Sep 2021
‘Shortage’ of non faith schools in Wigan – NSS quoted
The National Secular Society found 81.4 per cent of borough families live in areas with "high" or "extreme" restrictions on their ability to access non-faith schooling at primary level.
Wigan Today
Fastest-growing academy trusts over past year are controlled by Catholic dioceses, data reveals
Roman Catholic schools converting to academy status are dominating a list of the fastest-growing trusts over recent months, fresh analysis of official data reveals.
Education Uncovered*
Dundee Foodbank accused of discrimination for job advert asking for ‘live connection with the church’
A Dundee foodbank has been accused of breaching equality law by advertising for a job saying the successful candidate must have "Christian values" and "evidence a live connection with the church".
The Courier
UK’s Afghan aid staff in hiding from Taliban
Afghan employees who worked as contractors on UK aid projects fear for their lives after not being granted resettlement in Britain.
The Guardian
Citizens jury on assisted dying urge States Assembly to 'listen' to their findings
A citizen's jury that voted overwhelmingly in favour of legalising assisted dying in Jersey, has urged the States Assembly to listen to their findings when they come to vote on the topic later this year.
ITV
Queensland legalises voluntary assisted dying
Terminally ill Queenslanders will be able to end their lives at a time of their choosing from early next year, with parliament in the final stages of legalising voluntary assisted dying.
7News
Religious schools in Victoria will lose right to sack workers based on sexuality
Religious schools in Victoria will be banned from discriminating against staff on the basis of their sexuality, gender identity or marital status, under legislation to be introduced by the state government later this year.
The Guardian
Conversion therapy ban is most popular and supported law in New Zealand’s history
More than 100,000 LGBT+ allies are backing New Zealand's plan to ban conversion therapy, granting it more support than any other legislation in the country's history.
Pink News
Cuba publishes draft family code that opens door to gay marriage
Cuba published a long-awaited draft of a new family code on Wednesday that would open the door to gay marriage if approved, in a move that LGBT rights activists applauded cautiously as they remained wary of whether it would actually be implemented.
Reuters*
Muslim doctor charged with FGM of nine girls 'was part of secret network', Detroit court hears
A Muslim doctor on trial for allegedly performing genital mutilation on nine girls, all seven years-old, was also part of a secret network of physicians who travelled across the country performing the brutal procedure, according to federal prosecutors.
Mail Online
Secularism is basic foundation of democracy: Punjab and Haryana high court
The basic foundation of democracy is secularism and freedom of expression, observed the Punjab and Haryana high court while hearing the plea filed by Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan in connection with a case of 'hurting religious sentiments'.
The Times of India
‘The U.S. Supreme Court: Now a Roman Catholic institution?’
Conservative Supreme Court Justices are making unaccountable and undemocratic decisions, much like the Vatican Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, says Terri Langston.
The Globalist
Thu, 16 Sep 2021
Jewish courts insist domestic abuse guidance should protect their role in divorce
New guidance on recognising religious divorce refusal as a form of domestic abuse should explicitly recommend parties to liaise with the religious courts to avoid a conflict between Jewish and civil law, the government has been told.
The Jewish Chronicle
Construction on new faith school begins in Peterborough
Plans for the school have been mired in controversy, with the council giving the go-ahead for construction in June after more than 135 objections to Peterborough Council's planning committee.
Peterborough Matters
Campaigners accuse Scottish Government of backtracking over abortion clinic buffer zones
Campaigners have accused the Scottish Government of a climbdown over abortion clinic buffer zones, after a bid for new legislation to protect women from harassment was rejected as a 'disproportionate'.
Edinburgh Evening News
Shamima Begum says she wants to prove innocence in UK courts
Shamima Begum has said she wants to face the British courts to try to refute claims that she was engaged in terrorist acts during the time she spent living under Islamic State in Syria in an extraordinary TV interview.
The Guardian
Protests to be held at Catholic churches in Glasgow during the Orange Walk
Anti-sectarian campaigners Call it Out made a rallying cry on their social media accounts for demonstrators to take part in the protests.
Daily Record
Church of England reveals huge overhaul of governance, as parishioners warn of ‘coup’
The Church of England has announced a "radical" overhaul of its governance, amid criticism from parishioners that the plans are "a coup by Archbishops to take control of everything".
The Telegraph*
San Marino set to hold a referendum on whether to legalise abortion
The small state of 33,000 inhabitants will decide on September 26 whether to allow terminations up to twelve weeks of pregnancy.
Euronews
‘How public schools are threatening the separation between church and state in the US’
Public schools are jeopardsing the separation of church and state by push religion on students, says Rachel Laser.
Tennessean
‘A 9-year-old girl was raped and murdered in India. Her death is part of a bigger problem facing Dalit women’
A group of Dalit women activists in India are dedicating their lives to the dangerous task of supporting members of their community who have survived sexual abuse.
CNN
‘Inside the brutal world of the Jehovah’s Witnesses’
Since Australia's royal commission exposed the cruel treatment of victims of child abuse within the Jehovah's Witnesses, little has changed. But in a landmark civil case, former member Amy Whitby is taking on the secretive religious group in court.
ABC News
Wed, 15 Sep 2021
Doctors vote for BMA to adopt neutral position on assisted dying – NSS forum chair quoted
The British Medical Association will drop its stance of opposition to assisted dying and adopt a neutral position after a narrow vote in favour of the move at its annual conference. NSS Secular Medical Forum chair Dr Antony Lempert is quoted.
GP Online
Chinese ambassador barred from UK parliament over Uighur sanctions row
The Chinese ambassador to Britain has been banned from attending an event in the British parliament because Beijing imposed sanctions on lawmakers who highlighted alleged human right abuses in Xinjiang.
Reuters*
'The pharmacist said it would give the wrong message': The young women denied the morning-after pill
It is legal for pharmacists to refuse to provide the morning-after pill for religious reasons, but these women say they were refused for no reason, with no alternative given.
BBC
Ireland: ‘Texas abortion law a salutary reminder we cannot be complacent’
There's no reason why Irish abortion legislation cannot be reversed if public opinion changes, says Seána Glennon.
The Irish Times*
‘Why are there so few migrant teachers in Ireland?’
"Teachers need a Catholic Certificate in Religious Education to teach in almost 90 per cent of schools or a Church of Ireland Certificate for just under six per cent of schools. This means that, unless migrant teachers are Catholic or Protestant – or willing to pretend to be – they are excluded from teaching at primary level."
The Irish Times*
Afghan women should not work alongside men, senior Taliban figure says
Afghan women should not be allowed to work alongside men, a senior figure in the ruling Taliban said, a position which, if formally implemented, would effectively bar them from employment in government offices, banks, media companies and beyond.
Reuters*
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