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Fri, 27 Nov 2020
Church of England warned religious selection of pupils can be racially discriminatory
The Church of England's new Anti-Racism Taskforce has been advised that religious selection of pupils by some Church schools is dividing and privileging families on the grounds of race.
Ekklesia
Controversial 'virginity tests' sold by UK clinics
Women are being offered controversial "virginity tests" at British medical clinics, an investigation has found. The intrusive tests are considered a violation of human rights by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations.
BBC
Paralysed former builder calls for public inquiry into assisted dying
Paul Lamb said he was 'devastated' the Court of Appeal has refused him permission to bring a legal challenge over assisted dying laws.
Shropshire Star
Work starts on £65M schools project including two faith schools
Work has started to build three new schools in Leicester and Derby, two of which are faith schools.
Insider Media
Anger after new Hertsmere mayor refuses to retract comments on homosexuality
Rabbi Alan Plancey told the BBC there was 'nothing controversial' about remarks made in 2014 that homosexuality was 'against Jewish law'.
The JC
Campaign warns over ‘spiritual abuse’ in the home
An interfaith campaign against domestic abuse launched this week is sounding the alarm over "spiritual abuse" within religious communities.
The JC
‘Legal sophistry pivots on semantics’
The Scottish Government continues to amend its controversial Hate Crime Bill. But the fearful prospect of a court case may still limit artistic expression, says Edinburgh Secular Society' Neil Barber in a letter to The Courier (scroll down).
The Courier
European Parliament expresses solidarity with Poland abortion protests
The European Parliament on Thursday accused Poland's nationalist government of improperly influencing a court that imposed a near total ban on abortion, which it said showed that the rule of law had collapsed in Poland.
Reuters
Model Halima Aden is quitting fashion unless brands present her hijab properly
Fashion model Halima Aden has revealed on her Instagram that she is quitting runway shows due to her religious beliefs.
Metro
Nigeria: Court begins appeal hearing of singer sentenced to death for blasphemy
The hearing of an appeal against the death sentence passed on Sheriff Yahaya, 30, a popular entertainer by Kano Sharia court has began.
TheGuardian.ng
Rights groups decry attacks on Pakistan’s minority Ahmadis
Three international human rights groups on Thursday denounced recent attacks on Pakistan's minority Ahmadi community and asked Islamabad to "urgently and impartially investigate a surge" in violence.
Associated Press
China mulls new rules on foreigners to 'prohibit religious extremism'
Foreign religious groups and worshipers could be the latest targets of a growing crackdown on organised religion in China under President Xi Jinping.
CNN
Thu, 26 Nov 2020
Theatre critic and theologian cannot be used as expert evidence in Christian actress's discrimination case
A judge's decision on expert evidence in the case of a Christian actress sacked over her views on homosexuality has been upheld by the Employment Appeal Tribunal in London.
Christian Today
Family who fled 'threat of violence' in Pakistan can stay in UK
A family who faced a "very real threat of violence" over a "false blasphemy charge" and attitudes to epilepsy and learning difficulties have won a fight to stay in the UK, an MP has said.
BBC
Churches must never be shut again, says Christian Institute
The Christian Institute is asking the government for assurance that it will never again force churches to close.
Christian Today
C of E synod votes unanimously to accept IICSA recommendations
The Church of England's General Synod has voted unanimously to accept all six recommendations made by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse to the Church of England in October.
Church Times
Archbishop of Canterbury denounces foreign aid cut
A £4bn cut to foreign aid spending to help pay for the cost of coronavirus was denounced on Wednesday as "shameful and wrong" by the archbishop of Canterbury.
The Telegraph
US Supreme Court blocks New York from enforcing Covid limits on churches
The US Supreme Court issued an injunction late yesterday blocking New York's governor from enforcing 10- and 25-person occupancy limits on religious institutions.
NBC News
‘Religious festivals have taken a backseat in Europe during Covid-19. Now leaders are prioritising Christmas’
2020 has been far from festive, but as the year comes to an end, many of Europe's governments are scrambling to avoid stringent lockdowns over the Christmas holidays.
CNN
‘Religious labels do not tell full story of people’s identities in NI’
If you were to do a survey amongst those nominally considered Catholics, how many of them could be really classified as Catholics?
News Letter
‘Is the Anglican Church about to split?’
Almost three years on from same-sex marriage becoming legal in Australia, the issue is threatening to break up the Anglican Church there.
The Conversation
Wed, 25 Nov 2020
SNP announce further changes to controversial Hate Crime Bill
Controversial hate crime legislation will be further watered down to address widespread concerns over its impact, the Justice Secretary has confirmed.
The Herald
Javid advised of 'hostile public sentiment' to Shamima Begum, court told
Home Office officials declared "public sentiment is overwhelmingly hostile" to Shamima Begum and argued removing her British citizenship would not affect community relations when they advised Sajid Javid to act against her last year.
The Guardian
Man jailed over Islamist beheading images and terror magazines
A man who downloaded instructions on how to carry out terror attacks, and images of beheadings, has been jailed for 32 months.
BBC
Huge rise in Islamist and far-right propaganda during lockdown
Experts have seen a huge increase in Islamist and far-right propaganda on social media as extremists try to exploit a captive audience during lockdown.
Evening Express
MP speaks of 'bondage of tyranny and the fear of persecution' faced by Ahmadi Muslims
A Yorkshire MP has spoken about the attacks levelled at him and his family due to being members of a particular sect of Islam.
The Yorkshire Post
Catholic and Evangelical churches join court case to stop Dominica making gay sex legal
The law currently punishes homosexuality with up to 10 years in prison.
Gay Star News
Australia: Victoria to ban 'abhorrent' practice of gay or gender conversion therapy
Government says legislation being introduced on Wednesday sends clear message that no one is 'broken' because of their sexuality or gender identity.
The Guardian
Indian state outlaws religious conversion by marriage
The decree for the state of Uttar Pradesh was passed Tuesday and follows a campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party against interfaith marriages.
The Independent
"Netflix's 'A Suitable Boy' hurt Hindu sentiments", says BJP youth wing leader
The National Secretary of the youth wing of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded an apology and the removal of "objectionable scenes" showing a man and a woman kissing inside in a temple.
NDTV
Russia police carry out mass raids on Jehovah's Witnesses across the country in new crackdown
Authorities carried out the raids today and made arrests as part of a new criminal case against the group, the Investigative Committee said.
Mail Online
Tue, 24 Nov 2020
Islamic hardliner invited to address civil servants
The founder of a hardline Islamic lobbying group that has been accused of sowing division and hate has been invited to address civil servants, an investigation by The Times has discovered.
The Times (£)
Cardinal Nichols criticised for 'Mafia-esque' question-blocking during apology to abuse victims
Earlier this month the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse concluded that Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who acts as the Pope's representative in England and Wales, failed to show "personal responsibility and compassion" for victims, and instead prioritised Church reputation.
The Telegraph
‘Cardinal Vincent Nichols has failed victims of abuse and must step down’
An independent inquiry has criticised the Catholic leader's handling of sexual allegations. Those who have suffered for years say he must go.
The Times (£)
Public worship can restart in all tiers once lockdown ends
Places of worship are to reopen for public worship when the lockdown ends on 2 December, the Prime Minister has confirmed.
Church Times
Churches defy lockdown with secret meetings
According to church leaders, an increasing number of congregations are breaking the law in order to worship together, an activity banned under current restrictions.
The Guardian
Campaign to ban protesters outside Scottish abortion clinics goes national
Campaigners are calling for a ban on pro-life groups protesting outside all abortion clinics in Scotland, after setting up a petition to prevent women in Edinburgh being targeted.
Edinburgh Evening News
France demands withdrawal of "Nazi" comments by Pakistan minister Shireen Mazari
The French foreign ministry has demanded the withdrawal of comments made by Pakistan's Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari on Saturday in which she accused President Emmanuel Macon of treating Muslims the way Nazis had treated Jews in the Second World War.
EU Today
Teen shoots and kills Ahmadi Muslim in Pakistan
A sixteen-year-old Muslim youth opened fire on Friday and killed a member of Pakistan's minority Ahmadi Muslim community in eastern Punjab province, police and the community's spokesman said.
Associated Press
Hindu cleric asks Brazilian clothes brand to remove image of Ganesh
Hindu cleric Rajan Zed demanded that clothes maker Jon Cotre offer an apology for "deeply trivializing" a Hindu deity.
Reuters
Australia: Christian couple who thought they could make an LGBT+ child ‘overcome’ their sexuality sue foster agency that rejected them
A couple are suing a foster agency in Australia after they were turned away because of their belief that they could change an LGBT+ child's identity.
Pink News
Mon, 23 Nov 2020
Faith schools waive church attendance requirements – NSS quoted
Faith schools are amending requirements for prospective pupils to have attended places of worship in the wake of Covid-19 disruption. NSS head of education Alastair Lichten is quoted.
Schools Week
Catholic bishops admit safeguarding ‘not fit for purpose’
Catholic bishops of England and Wales have admitted that their safeguarding work must change and have outlined how this will happen.
The Tablet
‘Make reporting church abuse law’ – NSS letter
A mandatory reporting law would be a way of protecting children within religious settings, says NSS chief executive Stephen Evans (letter is towards the bottom of the page).
The Times (£)
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf ready to make U-turn on Hate Crime Bill
Humza Yousaf is expected to perform a second U-turn on the controversial Hate Crime Bill when he appears before the Justice Committee on Tuesday.
The Scotsman
NI: Pre-schools are 'highly segregated', report finds
Pre-schools in Northern Ireland are "highly segregated" despite perceptions they are generally mixed, according to a new study.
The Irish News
Muslim parents urged to give children nasal flu vaccine
Some Muslim families say they are unsure whether to let their children get the latest flu vaccine due to its gelatine contents.
Asian Image
Jehovah’s Witness girl, 15, fights blood transfusions
A teenage Jehovah's Witness should be allowed to refuse lifesaving blood transfusions, the High Court has been told in the latest medical clash over law and religion.
The Times (£)
Trustees of charity founded by disgraced Buddhist guru failed to act on abuse claims, watchdog rules
Students were put at risk of harm as a result of serious safeguarding failures.
The Telegraph
NI pastor vows to keep church open despite Covid lockdown
An evangelical pastor in Belfast has vowed to keep his church doors open despite the coronavirus lockdown.
News Letter
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