Daily media briefing

Religious leaders in the holy city of Qom believe that artificial intelligence can strengthen the country's Islamic character.

Financial Times*

A system of social hierarchy that originated in India centuries ago could soon be outlawed in California.

The New York Times*

Soul Survivor congregants welcomed suggestions they formally "say goodbye" to Rev Canon Mike Pilavachi despite a Church of England investigation concluding that he "used his spiritual authority to control" and abuse victims.

The Telegraph*

A charity linked to an NHS chaplain is being looked into by the regulator after sending a delegation to meet with the Taliban.

The Telegraph*

A vicar who claims he was a victim of repeated racial stereotyping when applying for posts in the Church of England has called on the equalities watchdog to investigate racism within the church, The Independent can reveal.

The Independent*

Islamists are "weaponising" claims of Islamophobia to shut down debate on head scarves and veils, a think tank has found.

The Telegraph*

Police have apologised to a woman who was arrested after she silently prayed outside an abortion clinic.

LBC

A former Eucharistic minister jailed for "predatory" historic sexual abuse of a schoolboy is to have his sentence reduced, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

The Irish News

After dramatic developments in Canada, where PM Trudeau has said there is credible evidence to suggest India was involved in the killing of a Canadian Sikh, rumours now swirl around the deaths of other Sikh activists around the world, including in the UK.

BBC

As an independent Iranian broadcaster reopens in Britain months after a terrorist scare, its workers are ready to run the gauntlet again

The Times*

Pope Francis' views on Russia and its invasion of Ukraine are alienating many Catholics in Central and Eastern Europe, who believe that the pontiff is understating Russia's historic expansionism in the region and the threat it poses today.

The Wall Street Journal*

A statue of late German Cardinal Franz Hengsbach will be removed from outside a cathedral in western Germany after allegations of sexual abuse against him surfaced, Catholic church officials said Friday.

Associated Press

A prominent Uyghur academic has been reportedly jailed for life by China for "endangering state security".

BBC

The Archbishop of Canterbury welcomed two controversial Muslim leaders to Lambeth Palace for tea and cake last week, including a cleric with close ties to the brutal Iranian regime.

The Jewish Chronicle

The government needs to take a stronger stance in preventing the imposition of dress codes on Muslim women, a think tank has said.

The Independent*

Investigative reports by The News Movement (TNM) and ITV Cymru Wales, in the form of a documentary film, have raised concerns about what was being presented to schoolchildren during the decade of annual school visits by First West Baptist Church (FWBC), Louisiana, to Bridgend, in south Wales.

Church Times*

A UK equivalent of France's new national fund for restoring small communities' church buildings, whose creation was confirmed by President Macron last Friday, is urgently needed, charities have said this week.

Church Times*

Sion Mills Primary School in Co Tyrone has secured approval for its transformation to integrated status.

Newsletter

"The morally emaciated West has failed to offer solidarity to the brave rebels against the hijab."

Spiked

"Sally wanted to die on her own terms. But despite voluntary assisted dying being legal in Victoria, her advocates say a Catholic palliative care facility obstructed access."

The Guardian

The Catholic church has handed police a report detailing allegations of sexual assault and grooming against a former Western Australian bishop.

The Guardian

A settlement worth millions of pounds in the case of one of Canada's most prolific sexual abusers has been agreed with the Anglican Church of Canada and Scouts Canada.

Church Times*

Indian opposition leaders have raised concerns over crucial words missing from copies of the constitution handed to them on Tuesday as they entered a new parliament building.

Bloomberg*

'One in seven local authorities in England has adopted the contested APPG definition. Moreover, a panoply of other, similarly problematic definitions of Islamophobia or of anti-Muslim hatred have been adopted by several English councils.'

Spiked

The Church of England safeguarding bodies' response has been given to the government consultation on mandatory reporting of child abuse — without being clear whether it supports any religious exceptions, including the seal of confession.

Church Times*

Police have appealed for communities in Leicester to help them prevent tensions during a religious festival. Leicestershire Police said officers were called to reports of an unplanned procession in Belgrave Road on Monday.

BBC

The lower house of Switzerland's parliament voted Wednesday to give final legislative passage to a ban on face coverings, such as the burqas worn by some Muslim women.

Associated Press

Several Catholic priests held a ceremony blessing same-sex couples outside Cologne Cathedral on Wednesday night in a protest against the city's conservative archbishop, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki.

Associated Press

Iran's parliament has passed a controversial bill that would increase prison terms and fines for women and girls who break its strict dress code.

BBC

A court in Indonesia has jailed a woman for two years after she posted a TikTok video in which she said a Muslim prayer before eating pork.

Independent*

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is close to fulfilling a decade-old election promise months out from nationwide polls with the announcement that a controversial new Hindu temple will open on disputed land in January.

CNN

A sense of fear is all pervasive in Manipur since shocking violence between their community and minority Kuki groups broke out, marked by brutal killings and sexual crimes against women. More than 200 people have been killed, roughly two-thirds of them Kukis, a collective name for the Kuki, Zomi, Chin, Hmar and Mizo tribes who are mostly Christians.

BBC

Women who say they were abused by a once-prominent Jesuit artist said Tuesday they had been revictimized by his superiors, saying Pope Francis' recent gestures and an apparent effort to exonerate him publicly showed church pledges of "zero tolerance" were just a "publicity stunt."

Associated Press

"The idea that the seal of the confessional is sanctified and justified by centuries of tradition entirely misses the point. Clerical sex abuse of children has been going on for centuries too, but has only recently been exposed. Its exposure means that centuries of tradition are no longer a reliable guide to future action."

Surviving Church

Evangelical organisation New Wine announced on Tuesday that a "full and independent review" into its relationship with Mike Pilavachi and Soul Survivor would be carried out. The announcement follows criticism of earlier statements by the network, which were said to minimise the relationship.

Church Times*

Muslim leaders addressing the United Nations on Tuesday berated the West over burnings of the Quran, denouncing the acts protected as free speech as discriminatory.

France24

German Cardinal Franz Hengsbach is accused of having sexually abused three individuals in the 1950s and 60s. Victims groups want to know if Pope Benedict was involved in quashing an investigation a decade ago.

Deutsche Welle

A former Hamline University adjunct art professor can proceed with her lawsuit against the private Minnesota school but only on the basis of religious discrimination, a federal judge has ruled.

Associated Press

Police say they are considering a criminal investigation into a West Australian Catholic bishop accused of sexual misconduct, in light of a leaked Vatican report that levels serious allegations against him.

ABC News

Queensland authorities should be able to hold X responsible for the Islamophobic tweets of an American white supremacist because they were downloaded in the state and caused harm to local Muslims, a tribunal has heard.

The Guardian

Hundreds of Chileans have in recent years distanced themselves from the Catholic Church as victims of sexual abuse by priests have come forward. The cases have shaken the Vatican itself and marred Pope Francis' trip to Chile in 2018. Instead of applause, he was greeted with unprecedented protests against a papal visit.

Associated Press

On Monday, Justin Trudeau alleged there was "credible evidence" that the Indian government was behind the assassination of Nijjar, an explosive accusation that torpedoed already frayed diplomatic relations between India and Canada. India called the allegation "absurd" and both sides expelled senior diplomats in response.

The Guardian

The mental health of Afghan women, who have suffered under harsh measures imposed by the Taliban since taking power two years ago, has deteriorated across the country, according to a joint report from three U.N. agencies released Tuesday.

Associated Press

One in seven councils have adopted a definition of Islamophobia rejected by the Government over free speech concerns, a think tank has found.

The Telegraph*

A large majority of Scottish voters support proposals to allow terminally-ill people to take their own lives, according to a poll released by campaigners for assisted dying laws.

The Guardian

MPs may have voted in favour of nationwide "buffer zones" outside abortion clinics in England and Wales last October, but centre staff say protesters have ramped up their activities since then.

Independent*

A new sculpture, believed to be the first of its kind in the world, has been designed to celebrate women who wear hijabs.

BBC

President Macron has launched a fund that he hopes will raise €200 million to save thousands of churches from falling into ruin, mostly in rural areas.

The Times*