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Challenging Religious Privilege

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Your daily media briefing - Tuesday 17 March

  

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

 

Plan to merge church school with community school faces local opposition – NSS quoted

Plans to shut two village schools and create a new church school are being pushed forward despite opposition from many parents.

Surrey Live

 

Church of England accused of 'marking own homework' after dean returns to work following safeguarding scandal

The Church of England has been accused of "marking its own homework" after a cathedral dean left her post amid an abuse scandal – but was allowed to return to work following extra training.

The Telegraph

 

True numbers of FGM victims globally could be far higher as countries fail to record cases

The number of women and girls who have undergone female genital mutilation could be much higher than previously estimated, as a new report shows the practice is carried out in more than 90 countries around the world.

The Guardian

 

Faith groups warned over burial backlog if coronavirus kills large numbers

Religious groups' wishes to bury their dead as soon as possible may have to be denied if the steep rise in deaths under a coronavirus pandemic leads to a severe backlog of funerals, government guidance has warned.

The Telegraph

 

Coronavirus: possible religious exemption from facial hair ban in ambulance service

NHS officials have considered telling paramedics they must be clean shaven to protect themselves from coronavirus. But a memo suggests staff with religious beliefs could be exempt.

BBC

 

Defrocked French priest jailed for abusing scouts over 20-year period

A defrocked French Catholic priest has been sentenced to five years in jail for sexually abusing scouts in his care several decades ago, ending a case in which it was claimed his superiors shielded him from prosecution.

The Guardian

 

Charedi school which did not teach about homophobic bullying still earns good Ofsted

A Charedi girls' primary school in Stamford Hill has won a good rating from Ofsted despite inspectors noting it did not teach about homophobic bullying.

The Jewish Chronicle

 

Kenya split over campaign to give women the right to safe abortions

A campaign for reproductive rights has provoked a backlash from conservative groups in Kenya, where 85% of the population is Christian.

The Guardian

 

‘Trevor Phillips, Islamophobia and the death of free speech’

Stuart Walton says Trevor Phillips's suspension from Labour has shown there is little or no space in British society to have a mature, nuanced debate about culture and religion without being denounced as a racist heretic.

The Herald

  

Blog

 

Trevor Phillips and the MCB: the case against governmental re-engagement

David Toube argues that the Muslim Council of Britain's stance on the Trevor Phillips issue should remind government why it is advisable to continue to steer clear of this organisation.

Quilliam

  

In case you missed it: from the No More Faith Schools campaign

 

Recommendation to turn community school into faith school approved

Plans to convert a community school into a faith school in Surrey are set to proceed, despite objections from residents and a councillor.

  

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