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Fri, 20 Dec 2019
Jewish charity linked with organisation named in fraud allegations documentary goes into administration
Insolvency experts were hired on Tuesday after the Society of Friends of the Torah (SOFT) went administration. SOFT was part of an umbrella group of charities that included Agudas Israel Community Services, which was named by a BBC documentary last year which alleged involvement in widespread fraud in the Orthodox Jewish community.
Jewish News
Mesut Ozil deleted from computer game in China following Uighur Muslims criticism
Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has been removed from the Chinese version of eFootball PES 2020 following criticism of the country's treatment of Uighur Muslims
Video Games Chronicle
'Islamophobia vs Anti-Muslim Bigotry – We’re Losing Against Racists And Bigots'
A recent article in the Jewish Chronicle emboldens the very people we are all meant to be fighting against which are racists and bigots, says a piece published by Faith Matters.
Faith Matters
'The case for infant circumcision is weakening'
Infant male circumcision is "standing on thin and slippery (and rapidly melting) ethical ice", says Noam Shpancer.
Psychology Today
Thu, 19 Dec 2019
Church of England reassures evangelicals that new archbishop will uphold anti-gay positions
The Church of England has said Stephen Cottrell, the new archbishop of York, "upholds the teaching of the Church of England that recognises marriage as being between one man and one woman" in response to criticism from some evangelicals.
Christian Today
Catholic bishops oppose putting information about abortion on NI school curriculum
Catholic bishops in Northern Ireland have outlined their opposition to allowing any abortion provisions to be made available in schools in a move which has been backed by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools.
Belfast Telegraph
Bible reading to end BBC One’s Christmas Day
The rapper Stormzy is to close BBC One's Christmas Day coverage with a Bible reading.
The Guardian
‘Conspiracism threatens both Jews and Muslims’
David Toube calls for a proper understanding of the nature and the shape of anti-Muslim bigotry and conspiracism, rather than dismissal of it, in response to a recent column by Melanie Phillips.
The Jewish Chronicle
Wakefield Conservative incorrectly named as first openly gay Muslim MP
The Conservative LGBT+ group has apologised after a new MP was "incorrectly" named as the UK's first openly gay elected Muslim.
ITV
Disposable sterile hijabs introduced at hospital in Derbyshire
A hospital trust has introduced disposable sterile headscarves for staff to use in operating theatres.
BBC
Citizenship Act protests: Hundreds held across India for defying ban
Indian police have detained hundreds who defied a ban on protests against a controversial new citizenship law.
BBC
‘Sudanese brides who feel forced to undergo FGM to get married’
Zeinab Mohammed Salih looks at a growing phenomenon of "re-circumcision" in Sudan.
BBC
US Supreme Court will hear church-state separation case brought by religious schools that fired teachers
The US Supreme Court has agreed to consider the separation of church and state in a case testing the right of religious schools to fire teachers despite job discrimination claims.
USA Today
Germany's cabinet approves ban on gay, transgender 'conversion therapy'
The German cabinet has approved a bill to ban the advertising or offering of "conversion therapy" to transgender and gay people. The proposed legislation was expanded to include 16- to 18-year-olds.
DW
Unesco removes Belgium ‘hatefest’ carnival from heritage list
Jewish groups have welcomed the decision to formally remove a Belgian street carnival depicting big-nosed Charedi Jews from a United Nations list of "intangible cultural heritage".
The Jewish Chronicle
Wed, 18 Dec 2019
New archbishop tells PM it is job of Church of England to ‘hold politicians to account’ – NSS quoted
The incoming archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has told Boris Johnson that it is the Church of England's job to "hold the politicians to account" on their promises. The NSS has said the appointment illustrates the need for separation of church and state.
Belfast Telegraph
Pope lifts ‘secrecy’ rule on sexual abuse when the law requires reporting
Two documents issued by the pope have brought changes to the way the Catholic Church handles child sexual abuse. They include allowing suspicion of sexual abuse to be reported to civil authorities where required by law.
The Guardian
Peterborough homeowners start petition against new Catholic school over discrimination claims
Residents living near the site of a proposed new Roman Catholic school have started a petition against the plans.
Peterborough Today
Conservatives launch independent review into ‘Islamophobia’ in the party
The Conservative Party has launched an independent review into its handling of complaints of discrimination and prejudice, including 'Islamophobia'.
Sky News
School apologises over Manchester Arena bombing homework
A school has apologised after children were set homework asking them to imagine they were the parent of a victim of the Manchester Arena bombing. According to some parents, the homework also asked Year 8 pupils to "write a response to the point of view that 'all terrorists should be forgiven'".
The Telegraph
Jewish Chronicle under fire over article which argued 'Islamophobia a bogus label'
The Jewish Chronicle has come under criticism from Jewish groups and others after it published an article by Melanie Phillips claiming that Islamophobia is a bogus term that provides cover for antisemites.
The Guardian
‘Like China, India's Modi is engaged in a massive faith cleansing of its Muslim minority’
Shikha Dalmia says that for Hindu nationalists, India is meant only for indigenous faiths whose holy places reside on the Indian subcontinent, not in Mecca or Bethlehem.
Reason
‘How a new law moves India closer to being a Hindu country’
Critics say a new citizenship law in India discriminates against Muslims, who make up 14% of India's 1.3 billion people, the largest religious minority in a country that is 80% Hindu.
Los Angeles Times
Teaching sacraments at school in Ireland: ‘I was a hypocrite through need’
Peter Gunning says a bishop in Ireland's request that prayers be taught is fair but asking more of teachers who don't believe is not.
The Irish Times
US secretary of state backs Mesut Özil in criticism of China's Uighur persecution
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo on Tuesday came out in support of Arsenal footballer Mesut Özil for his criticism of China's treatment of ethnic Uighur Muslims, saying Beijing can censor the team's football games but cannot hide human rights violations.
The Guardian
Pennsylvania House of Representatives spends fortune to exclude secular sermonising
Christian activists (elected and unelected) are not only working feverishly to insert more and more of their religious dogma into American government but also to keep non-theism out.
Patheos
Tue, 17 Dec 2019
Regulator criticised for not opening inquiry into charity chaired by man barred from UK – NSS extensively quoted
The NSS has criticised the Charity Commission for not opening a statutory inquiry into a charity that promotes extremist views.
Third Sector
SPAC Nation: Church group 'financially exploited members'
An evangelical church praised for helping ex-gang members has been accused of financially exploiting young people from its congregation.
BBC
Supreme Court to hear appeal over arrangements by housing association to allocate properties only to members of religious community
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal over whether a charitable housing association's arrangements for allocating housing, which amount to direct discrimination on the ground of religion, were lawful.
Local Government Lawyer
'Extremist books promoting ISIS' removed from Islamic school in Birmingham
An Islamic school has removed 'extremist' books from its library which promoted ISIS and warned against befriending Jews and Christians.
Birmingham Live
Church of England school branded 'inadequate' by Ofsted inspectors
A voluntary aided school in Hartlepool has been branded "inadequate" by education watchdogs amid concerns over both attainment and bullying.
Hartlepool Mail
China says footballer was ‘deceived by fake news’ after he criticises treatment of Uighur Muslims
China's foreign ministry has said Arsenal's Mesut Ozil was "deceived by fake news" after he criticised the country's treatment of Uighur Muslims. Beijing had already decided not to show a game he played in on Sunday on TV in response to his criticism.
BBC
Indian students join fierce protests against ‘anti-Muslim’ citizenship law
Intense protests against a divisive Indian citizenship law that excludes Muslims have spread to university campuses across the country, fuelled by a brutal police crackdown on a demonstration in Delhi at the weekend.
The Guardian
‘Religious discrimination bill: what will Australians be allowed to say and do if it passes?’
An explanatory memo from the Australian government outlines how a new bill's far-reaching effects will change public life dramatically – in medical services, schools, offices and hospitals.
The Guardian
Cries of abuse in Catholic Church start to be heard in Japan
A handful of people have gone public as survivors of Catholic clerical sexual abuse in Japan, where values of conformity and harmony have resulted in a strong code of silence.
AP
Mon, 16 Dec 2019
‘No evangelism in GPs’ surgeries’ – NSS letter
NSS CEO Stephen Evans says it is alarming that the General Medical Council has taken no action against a doctor who openly stated that he initiates conversations about faith with patients. (Scroll down to read.)
The Sunday Times (£)
Four in ten warned private schools are faith schools – NSS quoted
The number of warning notices issued to underperforming private schools has risen, with 40% going to faith schools.
Schools Week
Sikh Federation taking census battle to Court of Appeal to demand recognition as ethnic group
The Sikh Federation has confirmed it will be taking its census battle on to the Court of Appeal. The federation wants a tick box included in the 2021 UK census for Sikhs to record themselves as an ethnic group, not just as a religion.
Birmingham Live
Archbishop of Canterbury voices opinions on direction of UK
The archbishop of Canterbury has said he is concerned about the direction the UK is travelling in. But during an interview he refused to comment directly on allegations against Prince Andrew.
BBC
Christian parents stir up outrage after school changes words of Christmas carol
Some Christian parents and a former bishop have criticised a school which has told children to sing "baby boy Jesus" rather than "Lord Jesus" in a Christmas carol so children of all beliefs can join in.
Daily Star
Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy blasts Christian People’s Alliance for 'deeply distressing' leaflets
Pro-choice MP Stella Creasy used her acceptance speech as an MP in Walthamstow in east London to take aim at Christian Peoples Alliance for disseminating 'deeply distressing' leaflets.
East London & West Essex Guardian
Protests erupt across India over citizenship law
Protests over a new law which entitles non-Muslim migrants from three Muslim-majority countries to citizenship if they are facing religious persecution are raging across several Indian cities.
BBC
1.5m ask Netflix to censor Brazilian show depicting Jesus as gay
Some Christians in Brazil have asked Netflix to ban a show which depicts Jesus as gay.
VT
Trump order on anti-semitism criticised for broad definition
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at combating anti-semitism on college campuses. But the way it's written opens the possibility for misuse.
Bloomberg
Fri, 13 Dec 2019
‘After the worst election campaign in memory, Britain’s religious minorities must unite’
Sunny Hundal says the manner in which faith groups have been set against each other is unprecedented and dangerous.
New Statesman
Sikhs lose High Court battle to be included as ethnic group in UK census
A bid for Sikhs to be included as an ethnic group in the UK census has been rejected by a High Court judge.
Birmingham Live
School apologises after deputy head told pupils 'there is no Father Christmas'
A faith school has apologised after its deputy head told pupils "there is no Father Christmas".
Mirror
Latest Oxfordshire FGM victim numbers revealed by NHS
At least three new victims of female genital mutilation have been seen by NHS services in Oxfordshire so far this year.
The Herald (Oxfordshire)
Two dead, several wounded in India as protests escalate over citizenship law
Violent mobs in India's northeastern state of Assam torched buildings and clashed with police on Thursday, leaving two dead and 11 with bullet wounds, as protests grew over a new citizenship law for non-Muslim minorities from some neighbouring countries.
Reuters
Costa Rica's president says therapeutic abortions will be allowed
Costa Rica's president Carlos Alvarado on Thursday issued a technical decree that will allow for therapeutic abortions in the Central American nation, despite opposition from religious and conservative political groups.
Reuters
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