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Tue, 02 Apr 2019
‘Parkfield LGBT protest: Why has the school’s top teacher been silenced?’
Liz Lightfoot says Andrew Moffatt, who drew up an award-winning lesson programme for equality and diversity, has been targeted and effectively silenced.
The Guardian
‘Progressive Muslims can’t stay silent about homophobia in Islam’
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown says it is hard to be a progressive Muslim in today's riven, regressive, fanatical and tribalised world.
iNews
‘Islamic bigotry has been fuelled by the left’
Janice Turner says religious conservatives have been emboldened to reject gay rights by the stay-in-your-lane creed of identity politics.
The Times (£)
Respect Christians at Easter, advertisers warned
The advertising watchdog has asked companies to avoid causing "serious or widespread offence" to Christians at Easter.
The Times (£)
Labour MP says voting against LGBTI-inclusive lessons was a 'mistake'
A Labour MP who opposed LGBTI-inclusive education because "there were concerns from the faith community" has said it was a "mistake".
Gay Star News
Google removes ‘gay conversion therapy' app
Google has bowed to pressure to remove an app accused of promoting gay conversion therapy.
The Irish News
After court battle, Cayman Islands legalises same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage has become legal in the Cayman Islands following a landmark court case brought by a lesbian couple which their lawyers said on Monday could have implications in the wider Caribbean region and beyond.
Reuters
Iranian women's rights activist condemns Western feminists for wearing the hijab when visiting Iran
Masih Alinejad, who has spearheaded Iranian women's struggle against the head covering, said female dignitaries from Europe had left her fellow campaigners "on their own" by choosing to wear the hijab when they visited Iran.
Mail Online
Muslims 'will get protection they deserve' amid security threats, says home secretary
Muslims in Britain "will get the protection that they deserve", the Home Secretary has said, in the wake of the Christchurch massacre and subsequent attacks on mosques in Birmingham.
Birmingham Mail
Mon, 01 Apr 2019
Psychologist anti-RSE campaigner to be investigated over position on homosexuality – NSS quoted
A psychologist who has played a key role in opposing the introduction of relationship and sex education lessons in schools is being investigated by her profession's governing body over her fitness to practise.
The Observer
Head of LGBT protest school urges government to act and says: 'We feel under siege'
The head at a Birmingham primary school has called for the government to reject attempts to dilute messages of equality around LGBT issues - or risk a "bleak future".
Birmingham Live
Angry mums challenge LGBT protesters outside Birmingham school
Two angry mums have challenged protesters waging a daily campaign to try to force a city primary school to suspend equality teaching.
Birmingham Live
‘Inside the Muslim protests over lessons about LGBT relationships in Birmingham primary schools’
Oliver Harvey says angry demonstrations over lessons about LGBT relationships have spread from Parkfield Community School to Anderton Park School in Birmingham.
The Sun
‘Don’t let homophobes reverse 20 years of progress’
Luke Tryl says children learning about same-sex relationships needn't be contentious.
The Guardian
‘How Wales can avoid England's turmoil over LGBT-inclusive education’
Laura McAllister says publicly-funded, free and secular schools should reflect and champion shared values.
Wales Online
Pope defends decision to reject French cardinal's resignation
Pope Francis has defended his decision to reject the resignation of Philippe Barbarin, the French Roman Catholic cardinal convicted on charges of failing to report sexual abuse.
Reuters
MSPs join together to call for assisted suicide law
Senior politicians from across the political divide have joined together in an effort to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland.
Mail Online
Question Time criticised over LGBT debate
BBC political show Question Time has been criticised for airing a debate over whether it is "morally right" to teach children about LGBTQ+ "issues".
Belfast Telegraph
Hard-hitting film on anti-Muslim attacks ‘promotes fear’
Muslim groups have said a hard-hitting short film made to help tackle anti-Muslim hate crimes should be withdrawn, arguing that it promotes violence and fear.
The Observer
‘Heartbeat' abortion ban heads to Georgia governor's desk
The US state of Georgia's legislature has passed legislation outlawing abortions after a foetal heartbeat can be detected, sending the bill to the state's Republican, anti-choice governor Brian Kemp.
ABC News
Fascists and Christian extremists unite for World Congress of Families meeting
The World Congress of Families, a coalition of far-right politicians, conservative activists and religious leaders, was staged this weekend in the Italian city of Verona.
The Freethinker (Patheos)
Fri, 29 Mar 2019
Protests over LGBT+ classes ramp up at Birmingham school as MPs back more inclusive curriculum
Protests over lessons on same-sex relationships continued into their ninth day at a Birmingham primary school just hours after MPs voted in favour of a compulsory LGBT+ inclusive curriculum in schools.
The Independent
Marriage is becoming ‘more social and less sacred’ as church ceremonies hit a record low
Fewer than a quarter of all marriage ceremonies are held in places of worship, new figures reveal.
iNews
Primary school to close in Perthshire after deciding votes fall to church representatives
A Perthshire primary school has been shut after the casting votes at a meeting of a council education committee fell to unelected church representatives.
The Courier
‘Sex and relationship education is about consent’
Yehudis Fletcher says an interfaith coalition protesting against new sex and relationship education guidance is trying to undermine vital education.
Jewish News
‘MPs have just passed a law which will save thousands of LGBT+ kids’ lives’
Douglas Robertson welcomes a vote to make LGBT-inclusive relationships and sex education compulsory.
The Independent
Private Islamic school rated inadequate over gender segregation plans separate schools for boys and girls
A private religious school in south London which unlawfully segregated girls and boys has been rated inadequate by Ofsted. But the school has now been given approval from the Department of Education to register for a separate girls' school.
Sutton & Croydon Guardian
Muslim charity repays cash to council after concerns raised about how it was spent
A Muslim charity has repaid £2,300 of taxpayers' money to a council after worshippers raised concerns about how the money had been spent.
Kidderminster Shuttle
Church of England continues to oppose assisted dying
The Royal College of Physicians has adopted a neutral position on assisted dying. The Church of England has responded by reaffirming its opposition to the legalisation of assisted dying.
Church Times
‘We need a modern alternative to our patriarchal wedding system’
Peter Tatchell says the one-size-fits-all model of relationship recognition epitomised by marriage and civil partnerships is no longer appropriate.
The Huffington Post
Quebec government tables secularism bill
The Quebec government has tabled its long-awaited secularism bill, laying down proposed ground rules it says will ensure the religious neutrality of the state.
CBC News
New York faces major measles outbreak amid religious vaccination exemptions
Measles cases have spread across the US this year, with the state of New York now facing its worst outbreak in decades. The vast majority of states affected allow families to opt out of getting vaccinated if they object on religious grounds.
The New York Times
US Supreme Court halts execution of Texas inmate seeking to allow Buddhist spiritual adviser in death chamber
The US Supreme Court has halted the execution of a Texas inmate after he argued the state was refusing to allow his Buddhist spiritual adviser to accompany him into the chamber.
CNN
Thu, 28 Mar 2019
Groups applying to open fully selective faith schools with government funding revealed – NSS quoted
The groups applying for government funding to create new faith schools that can select 100% of their pupils on the basis of religion have been unveiled. The NSS is among opponents of the plans.
The Independent
MPs vote for LGBT-inclusive, compulsory relationship and sex education
A large majority of MPs have voted in favour of the government's new regulations for relationships and sex education.
Pink News
Trump-linked US Christian ‘fundamentalists’ pour millions of ‘dark money’ into Europe, boosting the far right
Christian right 'fundamentalists' are among a dozen American groups that have poured at least $50m of 'dark money' into Europe over the last decade, according to an openDemocracy investigation.
openDemocracy
‘Outlawing “Islamophobia” would help jihadis’
Qanta Ahmed says the mayor of London Sadiq Khan is right about anti-Muslim sentiment but wrong about 'Islamophobia'.
The Spectator
Humanists call for repeal of NI’s blasphemy laws
A campaign calling for the repeal of Northern Ireland's blasphemy laws has been launched by the group Northern Ireland Humanists.
News Letter
Sikhs can continue to possess large swords despite knife crackdown
British Sikhs can continue to buy, possess and gift large kirpans (swords) after amendments in parliament's Offensive Weapons Bill were passed.
The Times of India
Brunei brings in death by stoning as punishment for gay sex
Brunei is to begin imposing death by stoning as a punishment for gay sex and adultery from next week, as part of the country's highly criticised implementation of sharia law.
The Guardian
Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland lifts ban on members entering Catholic churches
Members of the Orange Order in Scotland will be allowed to enter Catholic churches for the first time after a ban on the practice was lifted by the organisation.
Evening Times
Chilean court orders Catholic Church to compensate abuse victims
An appeals court in Chile has ruled that the Roman Catholic Church must pay compensation to three victims of the country's most notorious paedophile priest.
Los Angeles Times
Liberals in Pakistan fear hate crimes following lynching victim's death
The trial of the killers of a student in Pakistan has raised questions about whether legal punishments will help prevent future hate crimes.
DW
Facebook to ban white nationalism and separatism in wake of NZ mosque massacre
Facebook has said it will block "praise, support and representation of white nationalism and separatism" on Facebook and Instagram from next week.
BBC
North Carolina’s 20-week abortion ban is unconstitutional, US federal judge rules
A decades-old law that banned women from having abortions after their 20th week of pregnancy in the US state of North Caroline is unconstitutional, a judge has ruled.
The Washington Post
Wed, 27 Mar 2019
Plans for new wave of religiously segregated schools revealed – NSS quoted
The Department for Education has published details of 14 proposed new voluntary aided schools which will be able to select all their pupils on the basis of their families' faith.
Tes
Parents' right to withdraw children from sex education could be removed in Wales – NSS mentioned
Parents' right to withdraw their children from sex education lessons could be scrapped under reform plans being considered by the Welsh government.
BBC
Report from charity highlights social selection at faith schools
A report from the Sutton Trust has revealed that faith schools under-represent the rates of disadvantage in their catchment areas.
The Independent
UK to reconsider asylum application of Iranian Christian – NSS quoted
The British Home Office has agreed to reconsider the asylum claim of an Iranian Christian, after it denied the application on the grounds that Christianity is not a peaceful religion.
Catholic News Agency
University hosting church summit where same-sex partners are banned to raise ‘ethical concerns’ with archbishop
A university which has come under fire for hosting an Anglican summit that will exclude same-sex partners is due to meet the archbishop of Canterbury to raise "significant ethical concerns".
The Independent
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