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secularism.org.uk

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Your daily media briefing - Wednesday 29 January

  

In the Media is our daily collection of news and commentary related to secularism, available delivered to your inbox. You can also read the latest news and opinion and listen to our podcasts on our website.

  

Secularism in the media

 

New Catholic school challenged over ‘bias’

An appeal has been brought against a plan to open what is thought to be the first new Catholic state school in England for more than a decade as critics argue that its supporters are not local.

The Times (£)

 

Lancashire bishop set to take seat in House of Lords

The bishop of Blackburn will take up his seat as one of the 'lords spiritual' on 6 February.

Lancashire Post

 

‘Why we must banish bishops from the House of Lords’ – NSS mentioned

Dick Taverne says the separation of church and state is far from complete and the House of Lords sets a bad example for democracy.

New Statesman

 

School curriculum overhaul for Wales published

The final version of the new curriculum for Wales has been published. Religion, values and ethics and relationships and sex education are among the mandatory subjects.

BBC

 

Investigation re-opened into employment tribunal judge accused of being 'anti-Christian'

An investigation has been re-opened into the conduct of a judge who oversaw the employment tribunal of a Christian nurse dismissed following complaints that she pushed her faith on patients.

Christian Today

 

Police Scotland took down large-scale grooming gang in Glasgow – but kept it secret

Police took down a huge grooming gang in Glasgow - but kept it secret. The perpetrators were all asylum seekers from predominantly Muslim countries.

The Scottish Sun

 

Church of England bishops break ranks over sex guidance

A number of Church of England bishops have broken ranks to distance themselves from guidance issued last week which said only married heterosexual people may have sex and those in civil partnerships should be celibate.

The Guardian

 

Opposition to evangelist Franklin Graham’s UK visit gains momentum – NSS quoted

A petition has been launched against a visit by evangelical preacher Franklin Graham to the UK. The NSS is quoted regarding the Church of England's position on sex, which Graham recently praised.

The Freethinker (Patheos)

 

Child abuse victim launches nation's first think tank to tackle extremism in Judaism and "isolation" within strictly Orthodox communities

A Jewish child abuse victim has warned that some strictly orthodox communities are so isolated, it feels like "being a refugee in your own country", as she launched the UK's first think tank to tackle extremism in Judaism.

The Sunday Telegraph (£)

 

New Zealand to hold referendum on legalising euthanasia

New Zealanders will be asked to vote on whether to legalise euthanasia for those with incurable or terminal illnesses in a ballot on 19 September.

Mail Online

 

Asia Bibi: Pakistani woman jailed for blasphemy releases photos in exile

Asia Bibi, the Christian woman who spent eight years on death row in Pakistan for blasphemy, has released two photographs taken in exile, as she prepares for the launch of her autobiography on Wednesday.

The Guardian

  

Latest from the NSS

 

Bill to end bishops’ automatic right to sit in Lords introduced

A bill to end bishops' automatic right to sit in the House of Lords, which the NSS helped to draft, has been introduced to parliament.

  

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