Daily media briefing
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Mon, 4 Sep 2023
Germany: Bavarian deputy leader keeps job after antisemitism claims
The deputy premier of the German state of Bavaria, Hubert Aiwanger, will stay in his post following controversy concerning an antisemitic pamphlet written in the 1980s.
BBC
US: NJ battles Christian group blocking beach on Sundays
New Jersey officials are in a stand-off with a local religious group that controls the resort town of Ocean Grove, which says thou shalt not go to the beach before noon on the Lord's day.
New York Post
US: Missouri asks Supreme Court to consider jury disqualification over Christian beliefs
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey asked the Supreme Court this week to hear a case over disqualifying jurors based on their Christian beliefs, saying the Constitution doesn't support religious discrimination.
The Washington Times
Mob attacks on Christian churches and homes in Pakistan set off by false implication, police say
Last month's mob attacks on churches and homes of Christians in eastern Pakistan erupted after three Christians threw the pages of Islam's holy book outside the house of two others to falsely implicate them in a blasphemy case due to a personal dispute, police said Monday.
Associated Press
Japan may seek to dissolve Moonies church in wake of Shinzo Abe killing
Courts may be asked to disband the Unification church amid criticism of ruling party's ties to organisation.
The Guardian
Australia: Schools force Anglican backdown on statement opposing same-sex marriage
Principals at Sydney's Anglican schools will no longer be forced to sign a document affirming they believe marriage should only be between a man and a woman under a new proposal by the church that is set to abolish the controversial requirement.
The Sydney Morning Herald
Fri, 1 Sep 2023
"We should separate Church and state!" Stephen Evans on Christianity's falling popularity – NSS interviewed
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans interviewed yesterday on TalkTV following a new survey revealing that more than half of Church of England clergy no longer believe the UK is a Christian country.
TalkTV
Church of England clergy say UK ‘not a Christian country’ – NSS interviewed
NSS president Keith Porteous Wood interviewed yesterday on Times Radio following a new survey of Church of England clergy. Keith features from 1:04:11.
Times Radio
Taxpayers fund mosques that host hate preachers
At least four mosques have received grants totalling millions of pounds with the largest of £2.2 million awarded to a Birmingham Islamic centre that has hosted a speaker who described Jews as 'people of envy'
The Jewish Chronicle
Edinburgh council strip voting rights from religious representatives on education committee
Unelected religious representatives who sit on Edinburgh Council's education committee have been stripped of their voting rights after councillors overwhelmingly voted in favour of the change.
Edinburgh Live
‘Death of Christian Britain? It’s good that people are turning away from church’
"Those lamenting the death of Christian Britain can dry their tears. The fact that more people in the UK are turning away from the established church is a good thing. It demonstrates a refusal to accept the imposed assumptions and values of a privileged institution."
The i
Sectarian incidents in Northern Ireland rise to highest levels in six years according to PSNI
The number of recorded sectarian incidents in Northern Ireland is at its highest level since 2016, according to police figures.
ITV
Religious leader who has led worship ceremonies in Milton Keynes is arrested for sex crimes
A religious leader who led Sikh worship ceremonies in Milton Keynes has been arrested and charged with a string of sex offences.
MK Citizen
'Why Sweden tolerates Quran burning'
"Sweden has long been a country known for its commitment to tolerance and its embrace of human rights: a "moral superpower" devoted to foreign aid, progressive causes and support of developing nations. All the more surprising, then, that Sweden now stands accused of being a hotbed of Islamophobia and intolerance."
UnHerd
More than 60 people arrested at same-sex wedding in Nigeria
Nigerian police raided an alleged gay wedding, which is illegal in the country, and arrested 67 people, officials said on Tuesday.
Evening Standard
Why the Pope’s message to young Russians has not gone down well in Ukraine
Pope Francis' video speech to the All-Russian Meeting of Catholic Youth in St Petersburg, urging them to "not forget their heritage" has caused quite a stir. Its tone-deaf praise of the heritage of "Mother Russia", which he urged his listeners to never give up, has been received badly in Ukraine.
The Conversation
Thu, 31 Aug 2023
Most Church of England priests support gay conversion therapy ban
More than two thirds of Church of England priests back the government's plan to introduce a ban on conversion or so-called "gay-cure" therapy, with less than a fifth against it, a new survey has found.
The Times*
‘The Times view on the Church of England: Behind the Times’
'The Anglican church is not only trailing behind the liberal instincts of ordinary people, its doctrines do not even convince the majority of its own priesthood'
The Times*
Student accused of terrorism wanted to argue against IS, court told
A PhD student accused of plotting to make a drone capable of delivering a bomb was "fascinated" by the Islamic State group because he wanted to argue against their views, a court has heard.
BBC
Islamic charity says shared video clips are ‘highly misleading’ after government pauses funding
The Department for Culture Media and Sport confirmed that a £2.2m grant to the charity had been paused while allegations of homophobia and misogyny were investigated
Third Sector
US cardinal, 93, not fit to stand trial over sexual abuse charges, judge rules
A Massachusetts judge has dismissed a criminal case charging the former Roman Catholic cardinal Theodore McCarrick with molesting a 16-year-old boy in 1974, saying the 93-year-old was not competent to stand trial due to dementia.
The Guardian
BJP politician among six charged with gang-rape in India
A politician from India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is among six people charged in connection with the alleged gang-rape of a 45-year-old woman and the harassment of her minor daughter in the western Indian state of Rajasthan.
Independent*
Just 1 in 10 Chinese say they’re affiliated with a ‘formal’ religion, study finds
Only 1 in 10 Chinese adults said they "formally identify" with a religion, even though many hold religious beliefs or observe religious traditions, a new study shows.
The Washington Times*
French chess’s new queen: Iranian exiled for shunning hijab
An Iranian grandmaster who was once barred from competition for refusing to wear the hijab has captivated the chess community by winning the French women's championship.
The Times*
Wed, 30 Aug 2023
Britain is no longer a Christian country, say frontline clergy
Britain can no longer be described as a Christian country, three quarters of Church of England priests believe, according to a newly published survey.
The Times*
Edinburgh's Catholic archbishop to appeal direct to councillors to retain voting rights for religious reps
Edinburgh's Catholic Archbishop is to make a personal plea to councillors not to take away the voting rights of religious representatives on the city's education committee.
Edinburgh Evening News
‘Outlawing Islamophobia: A Terrible Idea’
"In 2019, Labour adopted the definition of "Islamophobia" proposed by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims (APPG). But this definition may only have impaired Labour's ability to protect people from discrimination regardless of their beliefs…It is a term that has been routinely used in ways that completely undermine any claim to serious meaning it may once have had."
Areo Magazine
Kremlin says Pope's comments on Russian history are 'very gratifying'
The Kremlin on Tuesday described as "very gratifying" comments by Pope Francis urging young Russians to remember their history, saying that the Russian state had a rich legacy and that it was good that the Pope knew Russian history.
Reuters
Australia: Military leadership ‘protected’ air force chaplain’s abuser, royal commission hears
When the Rev Dr Nikki Coleman wanted to complain about the abuse and bullying she had experienced as an air force chaplain, she was told to deal with it herself. The senior chaplain she spoke to said she should think again and that her report could "cast aspersions on an innocent man".
The Guardian
Pakistani ex-cricketer Khalid Latif 'offered money to kill' Dutch politician Geert Wilders
Dutch prosecutors have demanded a 12-year prison sentence if a former Pakistani cricketer is found guilty of incitement to murder Dutch politician Geert Wilders. Mr Wilders received death threats after saying he would organise a competition of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, which sparked outrage.
Sky News
Muslim call to prayer can now be broadcast publicly in New York City without a permit
The Muslim call to prayer will ring out more freely in New York City under guidelines announced Tuesday by Mayor Eric Adams, which he said should foster a spirit of inclusivity.
Associated Press
Uganda: Man faces death penalty for 'aggravated homosexuality'
A man in Uganda faces the death penalty after being charged with "aggravated homosexuality". His lawyer said the 20-year-old was the first to be prosecuted for the offence under new anti-LGBTQ legislation signed into law in May.
BBC
‘Despair is settling in’: female suicides on rise in Taliban’s Afghanistan
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in the summer of 2021, there has been a disturbing surge in the number of women taking their own lives or attempting to do so, data collected from public hospitals and mental health clinics across a third of Afghanistan's provinces shows.
The Guardian
A year since Mahsa Amini’s death, what’s changed for women in Iran?
After the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, women in Iran risked death, rape and blinding when they removed their headscarves and took to the streets in protest. After being brutally crushed, they're now changing tactics.
The Times*
Tue, 29 Aug 2023
Government funding to charity halted after problematic videos emerge – NSS quoted
Recently announced government funding for an Islamic charity in Birmingham has been pulled after concerns were raised over videos appearing to express "misogynistic, homophobic and antisemitic views".
Civil Society
‘Why Prof Jay must impose an external Safeguarding Regulator on the CofE’
"So this is what Jay needs to do: recommend a truly independent Regulator, and recommend that parliament intervenes to create it. And that in respect of safeguarding at least, the CofE becomes subject to the Human Rights Act, freedom of information laws and the Nolan principles– the mechanisms which underpin accountability and transparency in other public bodies…"
Surviving Church
Tory councillor arrested for ‘hate crime’ after sharing video criticising police
A Conservative councillor was arrested for an alleged hate crime after re-tweeting a video criticising how the police treated a Christian street preacher.
The Telegraph*
Man arrested over damaged gravestones in Jewish cemetery in Kent
A man has been arrested after gravestones were damaged in a Jewish cemetery in Kent. Officers have been investigating the incident as a hate crime, with the damage believed to total about £19,000.
The Guardian
Two-thirds of Britons support legalising assisted dying, poll shows
More people believe it is acceptable to break the law to help a friend or loved who wants to die than believe it is wrong, a snapshot of UK public opinion on assisted dying has revealed.
The Guardian
Denmark bans ‘unsympathetic’ Koran burnings to protect national security
Denmark on Friday said that it plans to ban Koran burnings after a string of desecrations of Islam's holy book in the Scandinavian nation sparked anger in Muslim countries.
The Telegraph*
France to ban female students from wearing abayas in state schools
Pupils will be banned from wearing abayas, loose-fitting full-length robes worn by some Muslim women, in France's state-run schools, the education minister has said.
BBC
Taliban ban women from national park in Afghanistan
The Taliban have banned women from visiting one of Afghanistan's most popular national parks, adding to a long list of restrictions aimed at shrinking women's access to public places.
The Guardian
Fri, 25 Aug 2023
Muslim group accused of antisemitism allowed to register as charity by watchdog – NSS quoted
The Cricklewood Muslim Youth Trust (CMYT) posted a tweet in December 2021 warning Muslims: 'Keep away from the enemies of Allaah the Jews and Christians'
The Jewish Chronicle
Letters: Defence of seal needs more rigour
"Any discussion, however, must take place in full acknowledgement of the catastrophic safeguarding failures of the Church and its chronic poor performance in incorporating learning from external reviews or inquiries."
Church Times*
‘Is the Church of England giving up on Sunday worship?’
"An unfortunate conflict of timings meant that just as the England women's football team were limbering up to kick the first ball in Australia, church services in England were launching into their first hymn", writes Marcus Walker.
The Spectator*
Catholic church can be sued by family of George Pell’s accuser
Melbourne archdiocese loses legal bid to block choirboy's father from suing for damages.
The Guardian
Reforms needed after ‘horrendous’ Catholic church approach in paedophile priest cases, lawyers say
Lawyers say strategy a 'matter of continuing concern' after church succeeds in permanently blocking claim by two Indigenous men.
The Guardian
Pastor is among those indicted with Donald Trump
Thousands of people have signed a petition calling for the expulsion from the ministry of a Lutheran pastor who has been named as a co-defendant, with Donald Trump, in the latest indictment relating to attempted electoral fraud.
Church Times*
Rights groups oppose Texas law that lets chaplains work as school counsellors
Opponents argue it is a violation of religious freedom and the separation of church and state guaranteed by the US constitution. Lawmakers against the bill called it a "Trojan horse" to evangelise children.
The Guardian
US: Bishop threatens nuns with excommunication after they banned him from convent over his claim Mother Superior 'sexted with a priest'
A Catholic bishop in Texas has threatened to excommunicate a group of nuns, after they banned him from their convent over his allegations that their Mother Superior sexted with a priest.
Daily Mail
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