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Thu, 18 Apr 2019
Orthodox Jewish charity allegedly used for “money laundering on a gigantic scale”
A father and son laundered more than £10 million from the illegal sale of Viagra and slimming pills through charities they set up to 'tackle Jewish poverty', a court heard.
Evening Standard
Lib Dem candidate suspended over comments about Muslims
A Liberal Democrat candidate has been suspended from the party over comments such as: 'There is no such thing as Islamophobia.'
Metro
Assistant head of Catholic school banned for inappropriate relationships with pupils
A former senior leader at a prestigious independent Catholic school has been banned for life from teaching for inappropriate relationships with three male pupils.
TES
Jewish leaders shouldn't have signed 'harmful' sex ed letter, says LGBT+ Jewish group
A Jewish LGBT charity based in West Hampstead has joined voices criticising a "harmful" open letter signed by a number of north London rabbis and community figures.
Ham & High
Britain now has more churches than pubs
There are 40,300 church buildings compared to just 39,000 boozers in Britain, according to new figures.
Mail Online
Male circumcision could 'arguably be called bodily harm'
An anti-genital mutilation campaigner has claimed there is "no legal basis" for carrying out male circumcision.
Talk Radio
"Whose decision is circumcision?"
"I'm on board with the bodily harm view – it is sickening to cut off a piece of a child's body"
NZ Herald
FGM survivor: 'I was held down until I passed - I woke up bleeding. Another girl died'
Neneh Bojang, a survivor of FGM, wants to speak out to help protect girls in Scotland from suffering as she has
Herald Scotland
"Taxpayers Effectively Completely Fund Faith Schools"
"These faith schools are big business in the UK. And I mean that in the truest sense of the word."
Patheos
Churches demand help for Christians under attack
The Church of England and the Catholic Church have demanded extra training for diplomats and asylum for Christian refugees.
The Times
Wed, 17 Apr 2019
Loyalist Easter march re-routed after 2018 priest attack
A Loyalist parade on Easter Sunday has been re-routed as it would pass the spot where a Catholic priest was spat on last year.
BBC News
Man who 'hates Catholics' jailed for trying to burn down church
A Penzance man, who told police he hated Catholics, has been jailed after twice trying to set fire to a church is his hometown.
Cornwall Live
Christian teaching assistant fired after claiming LGBTQ lessons are 'brainwashing' children
Kristie Higgs was dismissed from Farmor's School in Gloucestershire on the grounds of illegal discrimination.
Attitude
Primary pupils 'must learn about same-sex relationships'
Teachers are calling for same-sex relationships education to be made compulsory in UK primary schools.
BBC News
'Children get caught in the LGBT crossfire'
Ministers are ducking responsibility as schools are enveloped in protests over LGBT-inclusive education, says Sian Griffiths
The Sunday Times
'Circumcision caused my son’s suicide'
A 23 year old man committed suicide after being circumcised, which he regarded as a 'catastrophe'.
BBC News
Chaos could release wave of jihadists on Europe, warns Libya
The battle for Tripoli could lead to hundreds of Islamic State fighters escaping from jails and joining a wave of migrants fleeing the Libyan capital in boats across the Mediterranean, the country's internationally recognised government has warned.
The Times
"Why women are terrorism's secret weapon"
When women make the news because of terrorism, the focus has often been on their role as victims or as potential allies in countering the threat.
BBC News
Arizona Teachers Can Now Discuss LGBTQ Issues Without Worrying About The Law
On Thursday, Arizona lawmakers repealed a law that restricted how public school teachers could talk about LGBTQ relationships in health classes.
NPR
Measles Outbreak: Jewish School's Preschool Program Is Closed by New York City Health Officials
New York City closed a preschool program at a yeshiva (Jewish faith school) in Brooklyn on Monday for violating a Health Department order that required it to provide medical and attendance records amid a measles outbreak.
The New York Times
Australia: Secular lobby advocates equality as religious leaders weigh in on election
The National Secular Lobby is launching a campaign aimed at jolting a complacent secular majority to consider the impact of religious exemptions and privileges that are flying under the radar.
The Guardian
Tue, 16 Apr 2019
Brunei defends gay-stoning laws - NSS quoted
Brunei is defending its new anti-gay sharia laws, which make sodomy and adultery punishable by death by stoning, claiming there was an international "misconception".
Asean Economist
"Don’t blame the 1960s for clerical sex abuse"
"Ex-Pope Benedict's apparent prioritising of church authority over justice for abused children is a worrying step back"
The Times
"The fire at Notre Dame, a Catholic icon, was made even more heartbreaking by the timing"
"A symbol of Paris, a triumph of Gothic architecture and one of the most visited monuments in the world, the Cathedral of Notre Dame is a beloved icon for millions across the globe."
The Washington Post
"The Notre-Dame Cathedral Fire is Tragic No Matter What You Think About Religion"
"It's more than a Catholic institution; it's a landmark of engineering that has survived for hundreds of years, through wars and restorations, through the French Revolution, through natural disasters, and now through a fire."
Patheos
UK-based TV station fined for anti-Ahmadi Muslim hate speech
A UK-based TV station has been fined £75,000 by Ofcom after broadcasting hate speech about the Ahmadi community, amid growing fears that the religious group is facing persecution.
The Guardian
Orthodox rabbis distance themselves from letter they signed that attacks LGBT issues
One says the 'tone of the campaign... and the extreme views held by a number of the signatories' led him to remove his signature from open letter.
The JC
Peterborough mosques leader defends sex education talk from anti-LGBT psychologist
The leader of a Peterborough mosques association has defended inviting psychologist Dr Kate Godfrey-Faussett, who is under investigation by her professional body to address parents on sex education.
Peterborough Telegraph
Church of England pressed to end ban on same-sex marriage
A new campaign has launched, calling on the Church of England to end its ban on same-sex weddings.
Pink News
Rector: ‘I would marry same-sex couples if I could’
The new rector of St Mary's Parish Church says he would not hesitate to marry couples from the LGBT community if same-sex marriage was permitted by Canon law.
Jersey Evening Post
Religious weddings drop in Medway while marriage rate remains at historic low
Fewer couples are choosing to marry in a church, synagogue or other religious venue in the Towns, new figures reveal.
Kent Online
Shamima Begum: IS bride set to be granted legal aid
Shamima Begum - who joined the Islamic State group aged 15 - is set to be granted legal aid to fight the decision to revoke her UK citizenship.
BBC News
Boston Spa residents win battle with Church of England over new homes plan
Diocese of York wanted to redevelop vicarage and build six new homes
Leeds Live
Mon, 15 Apr 2019
Muslim charities push links to sites defending marital rape – NSS quoted
Muslim charities have been promoting links to websites that endorse marital rape and support the death penalty for gay people and apostates. IslamBradford is one of three charities cited in a dossier submitted to the Charity Commission by the NSS.
The Sunday Times (£)
Calls for plan for new faith school in Cornwall that's 'not needed' to be scrapped – NSS quoted
Calls have been made for plans for a new Christian school in Cornwall to be rejected as there is no need for it. NSS education and schools officer Alastair Lichten has been contacted by some councillors who are opposed to the school.
Cornwall Live
Celebrities and campaigners hit out at plans for new faith schools
Celebrities, politicians, prominent thinkers and campaigners have united to fight a plan for a new wave of single-faith schools, which they say "fundamentally threatens social cohesion".
Tes
‘Single-faith schools will split society’ – letter including NSS signature
One hundred and eighty signatories to a letter agree that, whatever their character, state schools should be inclusive, diverse and integrated, not exclusive, monocultural or segregated.
The Sunday Times (£)
Birmingham leaflet against LGBT-inclusive teaching 'inflammatory'
Leaflets accusing a school in Birmingham of having a "gay ethos" have been branded "inflammatory" by a parent.
BBC
Muslim parents' outrage as school child comes home with 'Daddy's Roommate' book
A group of Muslim parents have objected to a four-year-old child coming home from school with a book which tells the story of the lives of a gay couple and their son.
MyLondon
‘The culture war over “LGBT lessons” is based on distortion. Here are the facts’
Janeen Hayat says public perceptions of relationships education are plagued by exaggeration and myth, and we need to reframe this debate.
The Guardian
Archbishop of Canterbury defends decision to ban gay spouses from conference
The archbishop of Canterbury has defended his decision to ban the spouses of gay bishops from attending a major conference next year.
Christian Today
Cardiff University cancels talk from psychologist who said LGBT+ lessons can ‘corrupt’ children
A psychologist who claimed lessons on LGBT+ relationships can "corrupt" children has has a talk cancelled by Cardiff University.
The Independent
Rugby board to meet England player over defence of anti-gay comments
The Rugby Football Union says it does not support Billy Vunipola's views after the England player defended a social media post from Australia's Israel Folau claiming "hell awaits" gay people.
BBC
US government backs off case of female genital mutilation
A decision by the US Department of Justice not to fight to defend a federal law banning female genital mutilation sends a "damaging message" to those working to end the practice, advocates said on Friday.
Thomson Reuters Foundation
New Jersey legalises assisted dying
New Jersey is now the eighth US state to allow terminally ill residents to end their lives with medical help under a bill Democratic governor Phil Murphy signed into law on Friday.
USA Today
Fri, 12 Apr 2019
Unregistered schools given council funding
Local authorities are paying for places for children in settings that are not even registered, education inspectors are warning. A report from Ofsted also says one in five unregistered schools are linked to religious groups.
BBC
Private Jewish school refused to let Ofsted speak to its pupils
Ofsted has raised concerns about an independent Jewish girls' school that refused to let inspectors speak to pupils during a monitoring visit.
Tes
Brunei says implementing sharia law is about “prevention rather than punishment”
Brunei's foreign ministry has said implementing sharia is about prevention rather than punishment, after intense criticism of new laws introduced under its strict Islamic code.
BBC
US states push ahead with near-bans on abortion for Supreme Court challenge
Ohio has passed one of the US's most restrictive abortion laws, banning the procedure after the first detectable heartbeat in a foetus, as similarly restrictive measures move forward in other states.
The Telegraph
‘Under Modi, a Hindu nationalist surge has further divided India’
Jeffrey Gettleman, Kai Schultz, Suhasini Raj and Hari Kumar say the Hindu right has never been more enfranchised at every level of government in India.
The New York Times
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