Daily media briefing
Stay informed with our daily media briefing newsletter. Every weekday morning we'll bring you the most relevant news and updates related to secularism directly to your inbox.
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Wed, 15 Jan 2025
Priest admits sexual harm prevention order breach
A former priest has pleaded guilty to using an online chat service which discussed having sex with children.
BBC
Muslim convert planned mosque attack, trial hears
A Muslim convert threatened to "flatten" a mosque, plotted to attack an Islamic cleric who was an outspoken critic of terrorism and researched potential military and police targets, a jury heard.
BBC
Fresh criticism over school's curriculum failures
A school which inspectors last year said was not preparing pupils for life in modern Britain has received further criticism by the regulator for failing to teach children about "different kinds of families".
BBC
Abuse, corruption, dark dealings’: Pope Benedict handed scandal documents to Francis
Pope Francis has said he inherited a "large white box" full of documents related to various scandals faced by the Catholic church when he took over from his predecessor.
The Guardian
Inside the RSS, the world’s most powerful volunteer group
Among the foot soldiers of Hindu nationalism, bored young men find purpose
The Economist*
Tue, 14 Jan 2025
The 'cult'-like church taking over London — and its links to Labour politicians
The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God has been accused of conducting conversion therapy, controlling members' lives and coercing people to donate their life savings
The Londoner
Councils and universities urged to boycott Holocaust Memorial Day
The Islamic Human Rights Commission, an Iran-linked group funded by a registered charity, is urging councils and universities to boycott Holocaust Memorial Day.
The Telegraph*
Charity urges Christians to stop funding harmful orphanages
A report for the Hope and Homes charity says that 'well-meaning' Christians in the UK are donating hundreds of millions of pounds every year to overseas orphanages that are helping to support facilities that can leave children suffering from emotional damage.
Premier Christian News
Archbishop of Canterbury role could lose status as global Anglican leader
The role of Archbishop of Canterbury could lose its status as the global Anglican leader amid a split over same-sex relationships.
The Telegraph*
Education Minister insists he followed the law in refusing integrated status for two schools
Stormont's Education Minister Paul Givan has insisted that he followed the law when making a decision to refuse applications from two Co Down schools for integrated status.
ITV
Prisoner accused of trying to murder jail guards because they were not Muslim
A suspected Islamic extremist tried to kill five prison officers with homemade weapons including a sharpened plastic spoon because they are not Muslims, the Old Bailey has heard.
Evening Standard*
Spain: Church accused of hate crime after ‘banning gay mayor from mass’
Spain's Catholic Church has been accused of a hate crime after a gay mayor claimed that he had been banned from receiving communion by his priest.
The Telegraph*
Ghana to investigate controversial $400m cathedral project
Ghana's government will investigate controversial plans to build a $400m (£330m) national cathedral, new President John Mahama has said.
BBC
Mon, 13 Jan 2025
Archbishop of Canterbury no longer world Anglican leader in shake-up plan
The Archbishop of Canterbury will no longer be the de facto head and sole "face" of the world's 85 million Anglicans under official proposals for a "post-colonial" shake-up.
The Times*
New national groups needed ‘to give Muslims a voice’
Prominent imams are in talks with lawyers, doctors, economists and charities to set up new national bodies that can provide a voice for Britain's Muslims and engage with the government.
The Times*
‘Charedi leaders don’t believe their own rhetoric and neither should you’
Yehudis Fletcher: "The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is urgent and does what it says on the tin: it ensures the wellbeing of all youngsters, including Charedi children".
Jewish News
Education minister under pressure after Northern Ireland’s largest school turned down for integrated status
Stormont education minister Paul Givan is under pressure after rejecting plans by Northern Ireland's largest school to become integrated.
The Irish News via MSN
Lisa Nandy rejects calls for England to boycott Afghanistan cricket match
Culture secretary says it should go ahead despite pressure for it to be cancelled over Taliban's treatment of women
The Guardian
Spain eyes repeal of blasphemy law amid debate over free expression
Spain's Socialist-led government said it had proposed legislation to stop religious groups seeking to prosecute people for blasphemy, amid a debate about how to balance freedom of speech against religious rights.
Reuters
Dalit woman in India alleges rape by 64 men over five years
An 18-year-old Dalit woman from the southern India state of Kerala has accused 64 men of sexually abusing her since she was 13 years old.
BBC
Malala urges Muslim leaders to challenge Taliban
Malala Yousafzai has told an international summit on girls education in Islamic countries that Taliban "do not see women as human beings".
BBC
Fri, 10 Jan 2025
Row breaks out as Diocese of Portsmouth plans to convert Havant schoolchildren to Christianity – NSS quoted
A row has broken out plans to hire a new member of staff to help convert 60 pupils to Christianity at a Havant school.
The Portsmouth News
Inquiry into Barnabas Fund expanded to five Christian charities
An investigation into the Barnabas Fund which found "evidence of serious financial impropriety" is to be expanded to other Christian groups with links to the charity, the regulator has announced.
The Times*
Minister accused of 'solo run' over integrated school rejection
Parents and principals have expressed their disappointment at a decision by the education minister on Wednesday to turn down a bid by Northern Ireland's largest school to become integrated.
BBC
Alliance MLA: ‘Education minister needs to urgently set out rationale for turning down integrated education proposals’
The Alliance MLA says 'every parent deserves access to an integrated education'
The Irish News
‘Pagan’ pastry cooks up trouble at French schools
Marseilles' council has been accused of trying to 'destroy' the country's Christian heritage during traditional Epiphany celebrations
The Times*
Sydney synagogue vandalised with swastikas in attack in NSW premier’s electorate
Nazi swastikas have been scrawled across a Sydney synagogue in another episode of antisemitism, horrifying the Jewish community.
The Guardian
Controversial Buddhist monk jailed for insulting Islam
A hardline Sri Lankan monk who is a close ally of ousted former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has been sentenced to nine months in prison for insulting Islam and inciting religious hatred.
BBC
US: Sex offender serving in leadership 'not disqualified from grace of God', says church
A lifetime registered sex offender and former fugitive is currently serving in leadership roles at Grace Place Church of Christ in Duncanville, Texas, and as a part-time staffer with Watermark Community Church in Dallas.
Premier Christian News
Thu, 9 Jan 2025
Labour policy suggested ‘grooming gang’ phrase was racist – NSS quoted
The definition of Islamophobia adopted by the Labour Party put "grooming gangs" in inverted commas and suggested that using the term in relation to Muslims was racist.
The Times*
Givan rejects schools' bids to become integrated
The Education Minister has turned down a bid by Northern Ireland's largest school to become integrated.
BBC
Regulator investigates four charities linked with Barnabas Aid
The Charity Commission has opened statutory inquiries into four charities linked to Barnabas Aid, which it is also investigating.
Civil Society
Schools Bill ‘like living under Stalin’ claim Charedi leaders
Strictly Orthodox leaders have compared the Government's Schools Bill to "antisemitic" moves introduced in the Soviet Union under Stalin and Nazi Germany under Hitler as they staged another protest outside parliament.
Jewish News
Victims of abuse within faith-based settings urged to tell their stories
Victims of abuse within faith-based organisations and settings are being asked to tell their stories for a government-backed oral history project.
The Irish News
Downing Street urges cricket chiefs to ‘deliver on own rules’ amid Afghanistan boycott calls
Downing Street has called on the International Cricket Council to "deliver on their own rules" as the England cricket team resists pressure to boycott their forthcoming match against Afghanistan.
Independent*
Gaza protesters set to clash with police over march near synagogue
Pro-Palestine protestors are set to clash with police after rejecting an attempt to stop them marching by a synagogue.
The Times*
Nigerian atheist freed from prison but fears for his life
A prominent Nigerian atheist, who has just been freed after serving more than four years in prison for blasphemy, is now living in a safe house as his legal team fear his life may be in danger.
BBC
Wed, 8 Jan 2025
CofE school drops name of former Archbishop of York over failure to stop child sex abuser
A Church of England school plans to drop the name of a former Archbishop of York over his failure to act on a report of child sexual abuse.
The Telegraph*
Priests could be classified as ‘employees’ to hold them to account
The Most Rev Stephen Cottrell is the Church of England's most senior cleric until a permanent replacement is found for Justin Welby in the now vacant Canterbury role.
The Times*
Justin Welby lays down archbishop’s staff as church faces ‘dark’ days
The outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury ended his 12-year tenure with events at Lambeth Palace, as the church grapples with abuse scandals
The Times*
Ads showing banknotes on fire banned by regulator
Six adverts for an Islamic investment platform showing banknotes on fire have been banned after a regulator ruled they were likely to cause serious offence.
BBC
Icon gifts to ensure Russian troops keep their faith in Putin
Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, blessed crosses and icons bearing the president's initials to be sent to commanders in Ukraine
The Times*
France marks 10 years since deadly Charlie Hebdo attack
A decade after Islamic extremist gunmen stormed the offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in a deadly assault that shook France to its core and ignited a global outcry in defense of freedom of speech, the nation paused on Tuesday to honor the victims and renew its resolve to fight for liberty and democracy.
Associated Press
Podcast: How abuse scandals shattered the Church of England but were hidden by the Vatican
In this end-of-year episode of Holy Smoke, Damian Thompson discusses the abuse scandals that have forced the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to resign his post, his predecessor Lord Carey to resign his ministry as a priest, and now threaten the survival of the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell.
The Spectator*
Christian Pakistani man shot dead following harassment and persecution
Pakistan's Christian community is reeling after the tragic death of a man who was shot following months of targeted harassment and persecution.
Premier Christian News
Tue, 7 Jan 2025
Justin Welby throws leaving ‘celebration’ after quitting over child abuse scandal
The Most Rev Justin Welby spent his final day as head of the Anglican Church entertaining guests at Lambeth Palace.
The Telegraph*
No swift return for Justin Welby after his final day as archbishop
Justin Welby will not be able to officiate as a priest after he steps down as Archbishop of Canterbury on Monday unless he seeks special permission from a bishop, under church rules.
The Times*
Failure to report child sex abuse to be made a crime
Anyone working with children who fails to report child sexual abuse will face professional and criminal sanctions under a change in the law.
The Times*
‘There is such a thing as society: faith schools and the vacuum left by the state’
"Stripping back the state has become the cant of our time. If only the same scrutiny were applied to the forces that have ineluctably encroached on the spaces vacated by the state. A re-examination of the prevailing consensus on faith schools is required in light of the growing realisation that there is such a thing as society."
The Freethinker
‘My friend was a gay C of E minister – she was betrayed by the church’s hypocrisy’
"At Katie's funeral, I felt sadness but also anger. She devoted her life to the church, but her family was still, somehow, seen as unworthy."
The Guardian
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