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Tue, 16 Oct 2018
‘When theology cannot be seen as charitable’
Andrew Brown says Amazon's relationship with a charity promoting extreme views should bring lessons for the state.
Church Times
‘Does the UK counter-terrorism bill threaten free speech?’
The government's new counter-terrorism bill crosses the line on human rights and could restrict free speech and curb access to information, MPs and rights group have claimed.
The Week
Evangelical bishops warn the Church of England over changing stance on sexuality
Eleven leading evangelical bishops have warned the Church of England not to change its stance on sexuality.
Premier Christian Radio
‘Ireland’s blasphemy referendum offers chance to remove dangerous law’
Ivana Bacik says anti-blasphemy laws have typically been used by members of one religion against adherents of other faiths, and people in Ireland should vote to remove them.
The Irish Times
‘Hate preacher’ Anjem Choudary will be sent to hostel and given web ban
Anjem Choudary, who was convicted of inviting support for terrorism, will be required to live in a probation hostel for up to six months after his release from prison this Friday.
The Times (£)
Hate crime definition could be broadened to include more categories
Crimes motivated by misogyny, a loathing for men, ageism and a loathing of goths could all be classed as hate crimes as the Law Commission reviews the law.
Sky News
Abortion laws that once led to police raids and arrests may be scrapped in Queensland
Queensland's abortion laws have not changed for more than 100 years, but this week MPs will be asked to make abortion legal.
ABC News (Australia)
Australia’s opposition plans to force vote on teacher discrimination
The leader of the opposition in Australia is escalating a political row over discrimination laws with a plan to force a vote in parliament to protect gay students and teachers. Bill Shorten's move comes amid signs of a split on the issue within the ruling coalition.
The Sydney Morning Herald
‘Australia’s religious freedom row is not just about gay teachers’
David Marr says the Ruddock proposals to entrench discrimination against gays and the unchaste in Australia reveal the churches' attempts to cling to outdated powers.
The Guardian
Majority of Catholics want more positive approaches towards LGBT+ community
A majority of Catholics want more positive approaches towards the LGBT+ community within the Catholic Church, poll figures show.
Pink News
Finnish hospitals see more babies born to mothers with FGM
Leading Finnish obstetricians are calling on doctors to become more knowledgeable of female genital mutilation, as more women who have undergone FGM give birth in Finland.
YLE
New Syria law expands state regulation of religious affairs
Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has signed into law a new bill expanding the powers of a government ministry overseeing religious affairs and limiting the term of the country's top Muslim cleric.
Mail Online
Mon, 15 Oct 2018
Church accused over failure to quiz Amazon and Google – NSS quoted
The Church of England has been absent at Amazon and Google annual shareholders' meetings for at least three years, despite insisting that its investments meant that it was "in the room" to raise concerns over their tax affairs. NSS CEO Stephen Evans said it appeared the C of E had been disingenuous.
The Times (£)
‘Are faith schools better? An issue of correlation vs causation’ – NSS mentioned
Jonathan MS Pearce tackles some common myths put out by the pro-faith school lobby and encourages people to support the NSS's No More Faith Schools campaign.
Patheos
Scottish children's home abuse survivors suing nuns over physical and sexual abuse
Survivors of physical and sexual abuse at two children's homes are suing the religious order which ran them.
Daily Record
Scottish health boards ‘dragging their feet’ on offering take-home abortion pill a year after law change
Women cannot get hold of the take-home abortion pill in swathes of Scotland a year after the Scottish government announced its introduction.
The Courier
‘Yes, praying with debt victims makes us queasy – but it’s the state that’s failing them’ - NSS quoted
Anoosh Chakelian says the dubious ethics of debt advice given out by charities with a religious ethos is part of a broader problem. NSS chief executive Stephen Evans is quoted.
New Statesman
Charlie Gard and Alfie Evans cases cost NHS half a million in legal fees after lengthy court battles
Two high-profile legal battles involving parents who wanted doctors to keep treating their severely-ill children have left the taxpayer with lawyers' bills in the region of £500,000, figures show. In both cases Christian groups supported the parents' cases.
The Independent
Lincoln council worker admits sending 'Punish a Muslim day' letters
A Lincoln man has pleaded guilty to sending 'Punish a Muslim day' letters which were sent out to a large number of people to encourage violence.
Lincolnshire Live
Firm wins right to kill animals again at site of halal horror abattoir in Norfolk
Animals will be killed again at the site of a halal abattoir in southern Norfolk where secret cameras exposed a string of offences.
Eastern Daily Press
Bakers in gay cake case urge other Christians to ‘take their stand’
The Northern Irish bakers who claimed a legal victory in the 'gay marriage cake' case have urged fellow Christians to "take their stand" on religious issues.
The Independent
Islamists in Pakistan stir up protests in bid to secure execution for blasphemy
Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a hardline religious-turned-political party, called for countrywide protests after Pakistan's Supreme Court delayed a final judgment on the fate of Asia Bibi, who was sentenced to death in 2010 for committing blasphemy.
Voice of America
Huge majority of Australians oppose allowing expulsion of gay students and teachers
Australian voters have strongly rejected laws to allow religious schools to discriminate against gay students and teachers.
Sydney Morning Herald
Quebec’s new premier says crucifix ‘not a religious symbol’
The newly-elected premier of Quebec in Canada has raised eyebrows by saying a crucifix hanging in the provincial legislature is not a religious symbol.
BBC
Fri, 12 Oct 2018
Child abuse inquiry says Catholic orphanages were places of 'threat and abuse'
Children at a Catholic-run orphanage in Lanarkshire were sexually abused and beaten with leather straps, hairbrushes and crucifixes, the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has found.
BBC
Marks & Spencer criticised for selling hijabs for three-year-old girls
NSS honorary associate Maajid Nawaz has criticised Marks and Spencer for selling school uniform hijabs for children as young as three.
LBC
Jewish school warned for solely teaching RE in Year 8
Twelve independent schools have been issued with warning notices by Department for Education. One Jewish independent school received a notice after Ofsted found it was only teaching pupils religion in Year 8.
Tes
Church of England academy faces termination over ‘unacceptably low’ standards
A Church of England academy in Lincolnshire faces having its funding withdrawn and being rebrokered to a new sponsor after Ofsted warned of "unacceptably low" standards.
Schools Week
Group that backed Ashers bakery refused service by photography company ‘on moral grounds’
The Christian Institute, the lobbying group that bankrolled the bakers in the 'gay cake' case that concluded this week, has been denied service by a photography business. During the case the institute argued for the right of private companies to deny service.
Pink News
‘Gay cake cases show strength of Christian right legal armies on both sides of the Atlantic’
Nandini Archer and Claire Provost say 'gay cake' cases on both sides of the Atlantic show the strength of organised and internationally connected Christian legal armies. They add that the legal teams have growing track records of successfully defending opponents of sexual and reproductive rights in US, UK and other courts.
openDemocracy
Royal family prepares for another C of E wedding today
Princess Eugenie will get married at St George's Chapel in Windsor today, with Church of England officials presiding.
BBC
‘Blasphemy ruling could signal strength of hardliners in Pakistan’
On Monday, Pakistan's Supreme Court heard the final appeal of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy in November 2010. Rafia Zakaria says the upcoming verdict could signal if hardline Islamists are gaining influence throughout the country and helping to shape its future.
CNN
The full 20 recommendations from Australia’s religious freedom review
The Sydney Morning Herald has a list of 20 recommendations which Australia's government review into religious freedom will make. The recommendations include amending federal laws permitting discrimination against gay students and teachers and introducing a new Religious Discrimination Act.
The Sydney Morning Herald
Australian PM says he “would not be comfortable” with schools expelling gay children
Australia's prime minister Scott Morrison has said he would "not be comfortable" with gay children being expelled from religious schools as the fallout continues from the leaking of the Ruddock review.
SBS News
German lawmakers criticise AfD for proposing ban on Koran
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has proposed a ban on the Koran, prompting criticism.
The Muslim News
Missouri man charged with illegally circumcising two teenagers
A Missouri man who started his own religious ministry has been charged with illegally cutting the genitals of two teenagers.
VoA News
Thu, 11 Oct 2018
Ashers 'gay cake' row: Bakers win Supreme Court appeal
The Christian owners of a Northern Ireland bakery have won their appeal in the so-called "gay cake" discrimination case.
BBC
Police 'must assess impact of terror inquiries on communities', says legislation reviewer
Max Hill QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, has said police chiefs need to take into account the "community impact" of anti-terrorist operations.
The Guardian
Catholic police officers in NI not sent to own communities due to dissident threat
Catholic police officers in Northern Ireland are not sent to their home communities due to the threat from dissident republican terrorists, Ireland's justice committee has heard.
Belfast Telegraph
US secularists react to Kavanaugh confirmation: “Goodbye church-state separation”
Michael Stone says dramatic change is coming to the US with the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and outlines the concerns of several leading secularist advocates.
Patheos
Australian PM promises response to religious freedom review by end of year
A review into religious freedom in Australia will be released alongside the federal government's response before the end of the year, the prime minister has said.
News.com.au
‘The right to expel gay children from school isn't about freedom; it's about cruelty’
David Marr says religious leaders in Australia are insisting on laws which are too awful to enforce in most cases to "set a godly example".
The Guardian
China 'legalises' internment camps for million Uighurs
China's far north-western region of Xinjiang has retroactively legitimised the use of internment camps where up to one million Muslims are being held.
The Guardian
China launches sweeping campaign against ‘pan-halalisation’
An anti-halal campaign has been launched in the capital of China's heavily Muslim region of Xinjiang to stop everyday products like food and toothpaste from fuelling "extremism" among the ethnic Uygur population.
South China Morning Post
All 15 Texas Catholic dioceses to name accused priests
All 15 Catholic dioceses in Texas will release early next year the names of clergy who have been "credibly accused" of sexual abuse of a minor, the Diocese of Dallas said in a statement yesterday.
ABC News
Pope compares having an abortion to hiring a hitman
Pope Francis compared abortion to hiring a "hitman to solve a problem" during his weekly general audience at the Vatican yesterday.
CNN
Critics of the Saudi regime are at risk – wherever they may be
The disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi shows Riyadh has little respect for borders.
The Guardian
Wed, 10 Oct 2018
Amazon supports church that backs ‘gay conversion’ – NSS quoted
A church linked to an extreme form of gay 'conversion therapy' is set to receive funding from the world's largest internet retailer. NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said it should be clear to regulators that 'charities' like this are not delivering a public benefit.
The Times (£)
D-Day arrives for gay cake row bakers Ashers at Supreme Court
The Supreme Court's decision over whether Ashers bakery in Belfast had the right to refuse to provide a cake bearing a pro-gay marriage slogan will be announced today.
Belfast Telegraph
Let pupils make up own minds about religion, say academics
Schoolchildren in English state schools would no longer sing hymns, say prayers or be directed towards belief in any particular religious faith, under proposals made by a group of academics today.
Tes
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