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Mon, 08 Apr 2019
‘In Indonesia, LGBT people are viewed as a moral threat – condemned by religion and, increasingly, by law’
Muslim-majority Indonesia is using a pornography law to target LGBT people, with public humiliation a ritual punishment.
South China Morning Post
‘Will Brunei's anti-LGBT sharia law spread across southeast Asia?’
Brunei's new law punishing homosexual sex with death by stoning has sent a wave of fear across the LGBT population in neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia.
CNN
Ireland’s Catholic Church halts school divestment programme over confusion and misinformation
Church authorities have halted consultations to divest Catholic patronage at a number of schools after 'confusion and misinformation' had spread over the process.
Extra.ie
‘Bulldozing mosques: the latest tactic in China’s war against Uighur culture’
Rachel Harris says the levelling of ancient sites in Xinjiang, alongside mass detention, is part of an attempt to destroy an entire society.
The Guardian
Fri, 05 Apr 2019
Advertising Standards Agency calls for deference to religious sensibilities over Easter
In a release last Friday, the ASA said: "Given the sensitivities surrounding people's religious beliefs, marketers must take care not to cause serious or widespread offence when using religious references in their campaigns in or around Easter."
Church Times
Bishop bans family members from giving eulogies at funeral services – NSS quoted
Stephen Evans of the National Secular Society branded the letter "out of step", and said: "Dogmatic directives like this explain why people are turning away from religious ceremonies."
The Times
Church of England told to print sexual abuse helpline on service sheets in landmark review
Abuse in the Church of England is so widespread all parishes should print the safeguarding hotline number on service sheets, an independent report has concluded.
Independent
Lord Faulks QC: Islamophobia definition conflates criticism of beliefs and practices with racism
"The definition, rather than focusing on protecting Muslims, conflates criticism of beliefs and practices with racism, treating Islam as a race and privileging "expressions of Muslimness" over guarding the rights of individuals who happen to be Muslims."
Spectator
Complaint process begins into Bishop of Chester over response to sex abuse
A formal complaint of serious misconduct could be made against a Church of England bishop over his response to a case of child sex abuse involving a vicar. The Church's interim safeguarding director has began a complaint process against Dr Peter Forster under the Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM).
Premier Christian Radio
Belgium decides to test its ban on non-stun slaughter in a European Union court
Belgium's ban on non-stun slaughter is set to be tested in the European Union's highest court after a judge delayed a decision on the legality of restrictions in Flanders.
Jewish Chronicle
‘LGBT inclusion in classrooms teaches children about respect and differences’
Parents and pupils stage protest outside Parkfield community school Saltley, Birmingham, demanding LGBT lessons are banned. March 7, 2019. See SWNS story SWMDprotest. A school which has suspended lessons about LGBT rights and homophobia following protests from parents has denied the move is a U-turn.
Yorkshire Post
Gay Muslims on LGBT lessons row
Gay Muslims have told the BBC the No Outsiders books would have helped their mental health growing up.
BBC
International rights groups condemn Brunei over sharia announcement
International legal bodies have condemned the Sultanate of Brunei's adoption of a new sharia-based penal code which includes punishment by amputation and stoning. The Commonwealth Lawyers Association said it is appalled by reports of the decision to implement the death penalty by stoning for adultery and homosexual acts by consenting adults.
Law Gazette
Virgin Australia ends staff deal with Brunei airline over sharia law
Virgin Australia has cancelled a staff travel agreement with Brunei's national airline in response to the country's adoption of sharia law, including the death penalty for gay sex.
Guardian
Polish priest apologises for Harry Potter book burning
Priest says the public destruction of 'evil' items, including JK Rowling's books and Buddhist figurines, was not intended to condemn specific authors or religions
Guardian
'German Islam': Can a state-led project succeed with a new interpretation of religion?
In late November the German Islam Conference was held in Berlin. The project triggered many controversies and heating debates in Germany and beyond.
New Arab
USA: Texas bans religious chaplains from execution chambers after a Supreme Court ruling
The Texas prison system has banned religious chaplains from execution chambers after a Supreme Court ruling. America's highest court last week said the state must grant a condemned prisoner's request for a Buddhist monk. Texas officials said it refused Patrick Murphy as the state only employs Christian and Muslim clerics.
BBC
India: Modi's Hindi nationalist measures on cows causing headaches for rural communities
One of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's signature policies has been protecting cows, but for Raghuvir Singh Meena -- a Hindu farmer struggling to protect his crop of chickpeas from roaming cattle -- it has gone too far.
Associated Press
India: Hindu nationalists attack Christian prayer meeting
A Christian fellowship was attacked by a mob of Hindu radicals in Chapar village, located in India's Uttar Pradesh state, religion watchdog International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. The incident happened on February 7, but has only come to light recently, with the perpetrators threatening to kill the victims if they reported the incident to police.
Express
China: Local government razes Catholic parish to ground
This morning, the Qianyang (Shaanxi) government in northwest China, razed the only parish in the city to the ground. A bulldozer reduced the two-story building to rubble under the supervision of a group of policemen. Bernardo Cervellera writes for AsiaNews.
AsiaNews
Mormon Church pledges to reduce it's anti-LGBT policies
The Mormon church has pledged to roll back a series of anti-LGBT policies introduced four years ago. In a surprise move, the Utah-based religious group said it would no longer ban the children of gay parents from being baptised.
BBC
USA: 'Death sentence for women': Alabama proposes law to make abortion punishable by up to 99 years in prison
Alabama is proposing a law that would make carrying out an abortion at any stage of the pregnancy punishable by 10 to 99 years in jail. The strict abortion ban, which has been branded a "death sentence for women", would even criminalise performing abortions in cases of rape and incest.
Independent
USA: Anti-LGBTQ adoption bills 'snowballing' in state legislatures, rights group says
At least nine states have laws allowing for religious exemptions in the foster and adoption process, and several others are considering similar measures. "Once considered fringe policy in just a couple states, the push behind child welfare religious exemption bills has picked up alarming speed and momentum."
NBC News
Humanists warn of confected outrage over Easter eggs
Shoppers should not be "duped" into believing criticism that marketing and packaging for chocolate Easter eggs do not go far enough to promote the season's Christian elements, humanists have said. Richy Thompson added: "The farce which targeted Cadbury and the National Trust in 2017 was an overstated, ridiculous attempt to promote Christianity with chocolate Easter eggs and we hope there is no such 'eggsaggeration' this year."
Premier Christian Radio
Thu, 04 Apr 2019
Psychologist against LGBT+ lessons investigated by professional body for ‘unethical’ comments
A prominent campaigner against relationship and sex education lessons is being investigated by her professional body after the NSS raised concerns about anti-LGBT comments she had made.
The Independent
Newborn boy becomes the latest child to die after relatives perform a circumcision in Italy
A newborn boy has died after a ritual genital cutting in Italy.
Mail Online
Scottish ministers urged to save charity promoting LGBT-inclusive education from collapse
Ministers in Scotland are being urged to provide funding to save a charity that helps to tackle homophobic bullying.
The Herald
Scottish church minister criticises Cadbury’s Easter egg advert
A killjoy church minister has criticised Cadbury's Easter bunny TV advert, insisting chocolate has nothing to do with the holiday.
The Scottish Sun
University rector wants sultan’s degree revoked over stoning gay people
The rector of Aberdeen University has joined the growing chorus of voices calling for the Sultan of Brunei to be stripped of his honorary degree after he decreed that sex between men will be punishable by stoning to death.
The Times (£)
‘The weaponisation of Christchurch’
Rakib Ehsan says we cannot let the anti-Muslim outrage in Christchurch be used to silence debate.
Spiked Online
Catholic schools in Ireland erroneously claim Christmas will be cancelled if the schools change hands
Ireland's education minister has said he is open to the idea of writing to schools who claimed this week that Christmas would be cancelled if their school was removed from Catholic control.
Irish Examiner
Spanish Catholic Church probed over 'gay conversion' courses
A Roman Catholic diocese near Madrid is being investigated after a newspaper reported that it was running courses to "cure" gay men of homosexuality.
BBC
Pope recognises Catholic 'male authoritarianism', but refuses women priests
Pope Francis has said the Catholic Church has to acknowledge a history of male domination and sexual abuse of women and children, but added that the church "could not agree with everything some feminist groups propose".
ABC News (Australia)
‘Heartbeat abortion bills were once a fringe idea in the US. Could they now overturn Roe v Wade?’
Emily Shugerman says the idea of 'heartbeat' abortion bans used to be viewed as ridiculous, but is now mainstream among US Republicans.
The Daily Beast
Texas bans clergy from executions after US Supreme Court ruling
Texas prisons will no longer allow clergy in the death chamber after the US Supreme Court blocked the scheduled execution of a man who argued his religious freedom would be violated if his Buddhist spiritual adviser couldn't accompany him.
US News & World Report
Wed, 03 Apr 2019
Home secretary orders 'urgent investigation' into asylum rejection letter with theological justification
The home secretary Sajid Javid has ordered an "urgent investigation" into a letter sent to an Iranian Christian asylum seeker explaining that his application had been turned down because Christianity was not the peaceful religion he claimed it to be.
Christian Today
Brunei implements stoning to death under new anti-LGBT laws
Brunei's strict new Islamic laws that make gay sex an offence punishable by stoning to death come into force today.
BBC
UK universities under pressure to rescind sultan of Brunei’s honorary degrees
The University of Oxford, King's College London and the University of Aberdeen have all awarded the sultan with nominal degrees. Only Aberdeen is considering rescinding the degree over Brunei's decision to introduce the death penalty for gay sex.
Gay Star News
Jeremy Corbyn to meet anti-Ofsted Charedi Jewish activist
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is to attend a meeting organised by a Charedi activist who has strongly opposed the government's plans to make teaching about LGBT people compulsory.
The JC
At least seven from my university joined IS, says captured fighter
An Islamic State fighter held in Syria has told the BBC he was one of at least seven students and ex-students from University of Westminster to join IS.
BBC
Poll finds 84% of Brits support change in assisted dying law
The largest poll ever conducted on assisted dying has found that 84 per cent of people in Great Britain support a change in the law.
Shropshire Star
Majority of Scots back assisted dying, poll finds
Nearly nine in 10 people in Scotland support legalising assisted dying, according to a new poll.
The Scotsman
Homophobic and misogynistic books found in library at Islamic primary school
Ofsted has found homophobic and misogynistic books at an independent primary school in east London.
Newham Recorder
Charity behind LGBT-inclusive Scottish curriculum faces collapse
A charity tasked with making LGBT issues "visible" in Scottish classrooms is facing collapse.
The Times (£)
‘Shouldn’t we consider consent when altering children’s genitals?’
Justin Lehmiller says contentious arguments that circumcision brings 'health benefits' may not be a good basis for deciding to alter children's genitals.
Men's Health
FGM victims discovered or treated every hour in England, says charity
A case of female genital mutilation is either discovered or treated at a medical appointment in England every hour, a charity has said.
Jefferson Business Journal
Trump ‘saving’ anti-abortion judge for US Supreme Court seat
President Trump has reportedly told confidants he is "saving" Amy Coney Barrett, a Catholic judge seen as open to overturning the landmark Roe v Wade decision, for the next vacancy on the US Supreme Court.
Axios
Tue, 02 Apr 2019
Children educated at home to be registered, education secretary announces
A home education register will enable councils to identify children receiving a "solely religious education" at unregistered faith schools such as Jewish Orthdox yeshivas or Islamic madrasas.
The Telegraph
Amanda Spielman: LGBT protests ‘setting terrible example for children’
The head of Ofsted has called on campaigners to halt protests outside the gates of schools that teach pupils about LGBT issues, claiming it "serves no one well to intimidate teachers".
Schools Week
Head teachers 'feel alone' and unsupported over teaching about LGBT rights
Head teachers involved in a row over primary school diversity classes say they "feel alone" and unsupported.
BBC
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