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Thu, 29 Nov 2018
Government peer rejects calls for disestablishment of C of E – NSS mentioned
Ministers have said antidisestablishmentarianism is official government policy and rejected calls in the Lords to sever the links between church and state. Labour peer Lord Berkeley cited figures reported by the NSS to make the case for disestablishment.
Mail Online
MP calls for mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse during PMQs
An MP has raised the harrowing case of a constituent who suffered abuse at the hands of a member of the Church of England. Tracy Brabin has urged Theresa May to commit to introducing mandatory reporting across all institutions, including the C of E.
The Telegraph & Argus
Oxford group says attempts being made to shut down screening of film on genital cutting
A men's group in Oxford says it has had to deal with multiple complaints about a planned screening of the film American Cicumcision, and that some are attempting to stop the screening.
Oxford Mail
Schools in Wiltshire could join in church-led RE scheme
Teachers, church representatives and councillors will discuss whether they want schools in the Wiltshire town of Swindon to enter a religious education scheme run by the Diocese of Bristol.
Swindon Advertiser
South-west London MP backs school facing Christian criticism for holding Pride event
An MP in the Croydon area of south-west London has backed a school's decision to hold an LGBT+ Pride event. The school has been threatened with legal action by a conservative Christian lobbying organisation.
Croydon Advertiser
‘How America sanitised FGM’
Joan Smith says a US judge has sent an alarming message at a time when female genital mutilation is on the rise.
UnHerd
Germany plans mosque tax to curb radical preachers
Germany may impose a "mosque tax" on its five million Muslims in a measure partly designed to ward off meddling by Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
The Times (£)
Investigators raid offices of president of US Catholic bishops
Dozens of local and federal law enforcement officers conducted a surprise search of the offices of a Catholic archdiocese in Texas on Wednesday, looking for evidence in a clergy sexual abuse case.
The New York Times
Buildings lit up red in solidarity with persecuted Christians
The Vatican and the Houses of Parliament were among the buildings which were lit red on Wednesday in a mark of solidarity with Christians around the world being persecuted for their faith.
Christian Today
Chile approves landmark transgender law
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Wednesday signed into law a bill allowing people over the age of 14 to change their name and gender in official records, marking a historic shift in a traditionally conservative, predominantly Roman Catholic country.
Reuters
Irish parliament votes down proposal to fully decriminalise abortion
Attempts to fully decriminalise abortion as part of new legislation in Ireland have failed.
The Irish Times
Australia’s opposition introduces bill to protect LGBT+ students but not teachers from discrimination
Australia's Labor party has introduced a bill that would protect gay students from discrimination at religious schools but that does not address the hiring and firing of gay teachers or other staff.
Q News
Wed, 28 Nov 2018
Prime minister faces equal marriage protesters on Northern Ireland trip
Theresa May has faced protesters calling for equal marriage in Northern Ireland at an event in Belfast.
Pink News
Oxford men’s group labelled anti-semitic as it plans to show film about genital cutting
The director of the film American Circumcision has hit back at accusations of anti-semitism as a screening is planned in Oxford.
Oxford Mail
Church of England calls for government action on rural schools
The Church of England has said the government should protect the future of education in rural communities.
The Yorkshire Post
‘The “Islamophobia” problem’
Douglas Murray says a parliamentary group's push for an official definition of 'Islamophobia' could have significant implications for free speech in Britain.
The Spectator
Church spends another £1m on mission in Manchester
The Church of England is investing £1m into the pioneering of small worshipping communities across Manchester.
Christian Today
Russia’s ban on Pride events breaches human rights, court rules
Russia has violated LGBT+ people's human rights by banning Pride events, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled.
Pink News
Indonesian app that allows uses to report 'misguided' religious beliefs criticised by human rights groups
Human rights groups have warned about a newly launched mobile phone application which allows members of the Indonesian public to report religious beliefs they consider "misguided".
The Independent
Catholic Church sexual abuse: Cardinal blames ‘moral depravity’ of gays
A cardinal has blamed the child sex abuse scandal that has engulfed the Catholic Church on the "moral depravity" of gay people.
Pink News
Two women jailed for FGM in Kenya
Two women who admitted forcing their daughters to undergo female genital mutilation in Kenya have been sentenced to seven years in prison.
Daily Nation
‘Annie Besant, the first woman to endorse birth control’ – NSS mentioned
A feature on Annie Besant, who helped to found the NSS in the 19th century.
The Irish Times
‘Why you shouldn’t choose Operation Christmas Child’
Libby Anne says giving to charity at Christmas is an excellent idea, but parents and children should research the impact of the charities they give to.
Patheos
Tue, 27 Nov 2018
‘Why religious rules on butchering beasts make many people see red’ – NSS cited
In Britain and Belgium the clash between religion and animal rights is heating up, partly as a response to the NSS's recent findings on non-stun meat in schools.
The Economist
Graphic novel about suicide bomber pulled from publication amid mob outrage
A book called A Suicide Bomber Sits in the Library, in which going to a library persuades a suicide bomber to change his mind, has been pulled from publication amid accusations of 'Islamophobia'.
The Guardian
Asia Bibi lawyer tells London conference: I have no regrets
The lawyer for a woman who faced a death sentence for eight years after being convicted of blasphemy in Pakistan says he has no regrets about defending her - despite facing death threats himself.
Law Gazette
Theresa May accused of blocking Asia Bibi asylum application
Theresa May has been accused of refusing asylum to a mother who is being hunted by lynch mobs in Pakistan.
The Mail on Sunday
Jewish wife who fled orthodox life wins home in court battle with ex-husband
A Jewish woman who rebelled against her ultra-orthodox upbringing has won a "hugely acrimonious" court battle against her strictly religious ex-husband. Miriam Kliers has spoken out about the restrictions placed on women, her difficulties getting an education and the "sinister" balance of power in relationships in the community.
Evening Standard
Hardline group calls on C of E to refuse to report crimes when revealed in the confessional
The 'traditionalist' group Forward in Faith has called on priests to maintain the absolute confidentiality of the seal of the confessional under all circumstances.
Church Times
Property management agent withdraws request to Jews to take down prayer outside houses
Some Jewish residents of the Stamford Hill area of north London have said a request to take down a religious prayer was discriminatory. The property management agent which made the request initially said it had done so for health and safety reasons, but has now withdrawn it.
ITV
Anti-abortion student group banned at Aberdeen University
An anti-abortion group has been banned from becoming an official club at one of Scotland's oldest universities.
The Herald
‘Secularism creates safe place for world’s religions to co-exist’
Andrew Fiala says the virtue of secular governments is that they don't pick sides in religious disputes.
The Fresno Bee
Hard-line Hindus pressure Modi over temple at disputed site
Tens of thousands of hard-line Hindus have rallied to demand a Hindu temple be built on a site in northern India where hard-liners sparked deadly Hindu-Muslim violence in 1992.
Mail Online
‘Hijabs and yarmulkes will be allowed in the US Congress. What about colanders?’
David Gee says moves to repeal a ban on head coverings in the US Congress should extend to all coverings, not just religious ones.
Patheos
Mon, 26 Nov 2018
Pressure growing on Kirklees to reveal schools serving non-stunned halal meat
Pressure is growing on Kirklees Council in West Yorkshire to reveal which of its schools are serving meat from animals that are not pre-stunned before slaughter. The local MP has called for the meat to be labelled and parents informed. The NSS recently revealed that the council was supplying the meat to schools.
Examiner Live
Scotland’s deputy first minister praises Christian teaching in schools
John Swinney has claimed Catholic schools are "an essential part" of Scotland's education system and praised education based on "the teaching of Jesus". He was speaking at an event to mark the 100th anniversary of Catholic state schools in Scotland.
Scottish Catholic Observer
NSS questions Muslim hate preacher’s role in a UK charity
The NSS is asking why Zakir Naik is a trustee of a registered charity.
The Freethinker (Patheos)
Scotland’s ancient blasphemy law branded a ‘stain’ on rights
Scotland's centuries-old law on blasphemy should be axed amid concerns the country is being left behind by the rest of the world on human rights, according to campaigners.
The Scotsman
MP stops private members' bill on FGM from passing quickly
A parliamentary bill to help protect children from female genital mutilation has been blocked by a Conservative MP shouting "object".
The Independent
Sexual exploitation of British Sikh girls by Muslim men has been ignored by police due to political correctness, says report
A report backed by Labour MP Sarah Champion has said police have ignored concerns about the sexual exploitation of Sikh girls by Muslim men.
The Sun
Paedophile priest was paid by church after he was jailed for his sexual abuse
The Catholic Church in Birmingham gave money for years to a priest after he was released from prison for abusing children.
Birmingham Live
Forced marriage victim felt 'trapped like a sparrow in a cage' by husband
A victim of forced marriage from Newcastle has said that she felt "trapped like a sparrow in a cage" after her family beat her into marrying a husband who locked her up and abused her.
Chronicle Live
Taiwan voters reject same-sex marriage in referendums
Voters in Taiwan have rejected legalising same-sex marriages in a series of referendums.
BBC
Pakistan blasphemy case: Supporters of hard-line cleric detained
Pakistan's authorities have held dozens of supporters of a hard-line Islamic cleric whose party led mass protests last month over the acquittal of Asia Bibi, who was accused of blasphemy.
BBC
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools in New York ‘deny entry to city investigators’
New York City education officials were denied entry into half of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools under investigation over allegations of not providing state-mandated secular education, according to a letter the city schools chancellor sent to state authorities.
The Washington Post
Fri, 23 Nov 2018
UK pledges £50m to help end FGM in Africa
The UK is to give £50m in aid money to help stop female genital mutilation in Africa.
BBC
Let terminally ill man choose when he dies, Supreme Court told
A retired lecturer who is paralysed from the neck down by progressive motor neurone disease should be able to preserve his dignity by choosing the time of his death, the Supreme Court has been told.
The Guardian
‘If we value life, we’ll allow assisted dying’
Philip Collins says when we are confronted with the suffering of the terminally ill, the law must allow us to do everything possible to alleviate it.
The Times (£)
Jewish group calls for ‘trigger warnings’ on Bible and Koran
A group of Jewish leaders has said new editions of the New Testament and the Koran should have 'trigger warnings' added in the margins to highlight "antisemitic passages".
The Times (£)
‘Bible Bashing’
This editorial says if readers are to be warned about all the Bible verses they may find upsetting, new Bibles will need very wide margins indeed.
The Times (£)
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