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Tue, 06 Jul 2021
Jewish man abused twice in an hour on London transport network
A Jewish man who was abused twice in one hour in central London was threatened because of his appearance, his brother said.
BBC
‘The Batley and Spen by-election result is a repudiation of identity politics’
The by-election result offers proof that self-proclaimed Muslim leaders who act as the spokesmen for the Muslim community represent no-one other than themselves, says Khalid Mahmood.
Policy Exchange
‘Prim, sexually intolerant Muslims in Batley & Spen and Birmingham don’t reflect the real Islam’
In Islam there is no burden of guilt or shame about sex – holy texts stress the importance of sexual satisfaction for both women and men, says Yasmin Alibhai-Brown.
iNews
Minister quits 'homophobic' Church of Ireland
A Church of Ireland minister has resigned his post claiming that the church is "structurally, culturally and socially homophobic".
BBC
France: Ex-Vatican adviser faces church trial after claiming he could cure gay men by having sex with them
A former Vatican adviser who campaigned against same-sex marriage and gay priests is facing trial over claims he told gay men he could cure them with sex.
Pink News
Complaint filed against Twitter for allowing 'objectionable' tweets on Hindu gods
A Delhi-based lawyer has filed a police complaint against Twitter for allegedly 'spreading communal hatred' and 'outraging religious feelings' of Hindus.
India Today
‘Burned churches stir deep Indigenous ambivalence over faith of forefathers’
After hundreds of unmarked graves were found at Canada's former Catholic-run residential schools, churches in First Nations territories have been destroyed by suspected arson.
The Guardian
Mon, 05 Jul 2021
Britain found to have funded ‘conversion therapy’ clinics in Africa
The UK government is among major aid donors to have funded clinics in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania that offer so-called "conversion therapies", which pressurise gay people to "quit" same-sex attraction, an investigation has found.
The Guardian
Archbishop of Canterbury endorses urgent plan for church-planting
The Church of England needs to plant churches to "let Jesus out", the Archbishop of Canterbury has told a conference.
Church Times*
DUP deputy leader apologises over party’s history of LGBT comments
Paula Bradley apologised for any negative comments made against the LGBT community by her party in the past.
ITV
Irish Methodist Church reaffirms marriage is ‘between man and woman’ after UK vote
The Methodist Church in Ireland has reaffirmed its understanding of marriage as between a man and a woman following a decision on Wednesday by the Methodist Church in UK to allow same-sex marriage.
The Irish Times*
Ireland: Catholic Church head hits out at Government’s ‘grossly disrespectful’ sacrament postponement announcement
The head of the Catholic Church has criticised the Government for what he called the "grossly disrespectful" treatment of the Church over the manner in which the postponement of communions and confirmations was announced.
Independent.ie
Vatican embezzlement trial: Cardinal Angelo Becciu among 10 charged
Cardinal Angelo Becciu has become the highest-ranked cleric in the Vatican to be indicted over charges that include embezzlement and abuse of office.
BBC
‘LGBT rights and the battle for Europe's soul’
A seemingly unbridgeable chasm is splitting the continent between countries that see LGBT rights as the core of European identity of freedom and tolerance, and those that see them as a threat to that same identity, says Nick Thorpe.
The New European
Ten churches vandalised in Alberta on Canada Day
Ten churches have been vandalised in Alberta, Canada, in attacks that police have linked to anger over historic injustices against indigenous people.
BBC
US Supreme Court to hear Maine religious school tuition case
The U.S. Supreme Court decided on Friday that it will hear a case brought by families from Maine who want to use a state tuition program to send their children to religious schools.
The Associated Press
US Supreme Court rejects appeal in Christian florist's gay wedding case
The US Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal by a Christian florist who was fined for refusing to provide wedding flowers for a same-sex couple.
Christian Today
US: Atheists like those of other faiths more than Christians do, study finds
Atheists, overall, view their neighbours in a positive light, according to a new study.
The Washington Post*
Pakistani policeman accused of killing man acquitted of blasphemy
A Pakistani police constable has been arrested over the murder of a man who was acquitted of blasphemy charges last year, a police spokesman said.
Reuters*
Fri, 02 Jul 2021
Rabbis refuse divorces for women who take their fight to court claiming coercion
Senior rabbis have warned that they will refuse to grant a religious divorce to any woman who initiates a criminal prosecution against her husband for "coercive and controlling behaviour" under the new Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
The Jewish Chronicle
Methodist Church bans conversion therapy ‘in any form’ after historic, unequivocal vote
The Methodist Church has voted to ban conversion therapy in "any form" and urged the government to do the same.
Pink News
Entire Jewish community 'did not lock down early enough'
The Jewish community may have initially been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic because it did not lock down early enough, new data suggests
The Jewish Chronicle
Street preacher wins compensation for wrongful arrest
A street preacher has reportedly been awarded £3,250, plus legal costs, in compensation from the police after being arrested and then released without charge.
Premier Christian News
Professional body expels architect who called Judaism and Islam ‘cults’
The Royal Institute of British Architects has expelled Peter Kellow, nine months after he was removed from the Architects Registration Board register for saying in an online post that Jews and Muslims are "cult members".
Architects' Journal
‘How the UK government is launching an attack on freedom of speech’
The Online Harms Bill and the Policing Bill will set up Britain to become the safest place in the world for the status quo to go unchallenged, says Timandra Harkness.
The New Statesman*
‘More than one voice on assisted dying’
Religious lobbies' arguments against assisted dying must be heard but it's hard to shake the feeling that their position is underpinned by a religious belief that only their god can give and take life, says Neil Barber (scroll down to see the letter).
Edinburgh Evening News*
Israel: Chief Rabbi says science, math are nonsense, study in yeshiva instead
Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef described the school core curriculum studies program as "nonsense" and said pupils should study in yeshivot instead where only religious studies are taught.
The Jerusalem post
Iran names hardline cleric as top judge amid calls for probe into past abuses
Iran's supreme leader promoted a hardline cleric to serve as head of the judiciary on Thursday, amid international calls for investigations into allegations of abuses.
Reuters*
‘Why it is vital to decriminalise abortion: the case of Malta’
Malta is the only EU country with a total ban on abortion, with abortion laws dating back to the 1800s.
The Conversation
‘What India’s Christians, Hindus, Muslims and more think about religion’
Pew surveys 30,000 Indians across 6 faiths and 17 languages and finds support for tolerance yet also segregation.
Christianity Today
‘Uncage Mubarak Bala’
Nigerian humanist Mubarak Bala is accused of blasphemy and has been detained for more than a year, since April 2020, without any formal charge. When will he be freed from unlawful detention, asks Femi Macaulay.
The Nation
Thu, 01 Jul 2021
Methodist Church allows same-sex marriage in 'momentous' vote
The Methodist Church has become the largest religious denomination in Britain to permit same-sex marriages.
BBC
Muslim women in Batley and Spen call out actions of ‘loud minority’ of men
The women, who write anonymously citing safety fears, say that a "loud minority" of Muslim men have been "endlessly heard" during the tense byelection campaign, described as "the same faces that have plagued our area as 'community leaders' for many years" but do not represent them.
The Guardian
University report highlights inequalities amongst UK faith schools
An independent report highlights concerns about potential inequality for minority faith schools in the UK and has concluded that Roman Catholic and Church of England schools seem to enjoy additional protection via a Memoranda of Understanding agreed with the Department for Education and benefit from an extra level of support that is not available to other faith schools and academies.
FE News
Council public health and equalities chief resigned over 'Abrahamic religion' tweet
A former council public health and equalities chief resigned his post after a tweet about 'Abrahamic religion' which led to complaints, it has emerged.
Oxford Mail
Ireland: ‘Religious ethos should no longer be allowed flourish in our schools’
The 'Flourish' relationships and sexuality education programme, developed by the Irish Bishops' Conference for children from junior infants to sixth class, seeks to indoctrinate rather than educate, says David Graham.
Irish Examiner
Ireland: ‘Ending church control of State-funded hospitals may need vote’
Canadian experience suggests a referendum may be only way to resolve the issue, says Gerry NcNamara.
The Irish Times*
EU considers legal action against Poland over "LGBT-free" zones - officials
The European Union's executive is considering legal action against Poland over "LGBT-free" zones set up by some local authorities there, two officials have said.
Reuters*
US: Catholic school that fired pregnant teacher gets hearing in highest court
A Catholic school in New Jersey will argue that it had the right to fire an unmarried teacher who became pregnant when it presents its case to the state's highest court.
The Times*
US: ‘My relatives went to a Catholic school for Native children. It was a place of horrors’
After the discovery of 751 unmarked graves at the site of a former school for Native children in Canada, it is time to investigate similar abuses in the US, says Nick Estes.
The Guardian
Canada: ‘It is time to end public funding of Catholic schools’
Having a dual public/Catholic school board system reeks of elitism and is a clear waste of public funds, says Philip White.
The Hamilton Spectator
Wed, 30 Jun 2021
Christian fostering agency bids to overturn ‘heterosexual couples’ policy ruling
An evangelical Christian fostering agency that lost a part of a High Court case over its policy of only placing children with heterosexual married couples has made a bid to overturn the decision at the Court of Appeal.
Premier Christian News
Call to withdraw Hindu play from Edinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival has been urged to withdraw a play because of 'alleged sacrilege', where it shows rebirth of Hindu gods as Dundee wideboys.
Eastern Eye
British Embassy in UAE faces backlash after flying rainbow flag for Pride
The British Embassy in the United Arab Emirates has been met with a backlash online after it hoisted a rainbow flag at its Abu Dhabi residence and spoke out in favour of Pride Month.
The Independent
Charity that accused Mohammed cartoon teacher of ‘terrorism’ got donation from Jo Cox Foundation
An organisation accused of endangering the safety of a teacher who showed a cartoon of Mohammed to his class in Batley received a donation from the Jo Cox Foundation.
The Jewish Chronicle
‘Symphysiotomy, the “mass medical experiment” that butchered young women “in the name of Catholic doctrine”’
A "mass medical experiment" that butchered young women, permanently maiming them in the name of Catholic doctrine, the surgical procedure of symphysiotomy was practised in Ireland from 1944-1984, Liz Dunphy writes.
Irish Examiner
Islamist motive ‘likely’ in deadly knife attack in Germany
German investigators said Tuesday they suspected an Islamic extremist motive behind a knife attack last week by a Somali man that left three women dead in the southern city of Würzburg.
TheLocal.de
German Islamic teacher's license revoked for being too liberal
Abdel-Hakim Ourghi has written books including "You Don't Have to Wear a Headscarf" and "Reform Islam: 40 Theses." His application to train other Islamic teachers was turned down for vague reasons.
Deutsche Welle
Colorado memorial draws religious freedom concerns
A memorial honouring veterans in a cemetery in Monument, Colorado, has attracted national attention due to its reference to Jesus Christ.
The Washington Post*
‘The unholy alliance of religion and politics’
Republicans may benefit from the weaponizing of Christianity, but the religion itself is the big loser, says Tom Mockaitis.
The Hill
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