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Your daily media briefing - Thursday 16 April

  

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

 

Coronavirus: Top Freemason in ‘God’s revenge’ row - NSS quoted

The leader of Scotland's Freemasons has become embroiled in a controversy over claims that coronavirus is a punishment from God. NSS CEO Stephen Evans said he is using the pandemic to "push an anti-secularist message".

The Times (£)

 

Poles divided on ‘draconian’ abortion, sex education bills

Polish lawmakers began debating draft laws Wednesday that would impose a near-total ban on abortion, criminalize sex education in schools and equate homosexuality with pedophilia, revisiting proposals backed by a Catholic group that were shelved after a popular outcry.

AP News

 

Police in Germany arrest four Islamic State suspects planning attack on US bases

German authorities say police have arrested four suspected members of the Islamic State group alleged to be planning an attack on American military facilities.

The Independent

 

Opposition to Samaritan’s Purse Central Park field hospital grows

Activists with the Reclaim Pride Coalition holding signs saying "help not hate" called out New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the leadership of Mount Sinai just across the park, for allowing the organization headed by evangelist Franklin Graham to treat New Yorkers while adhering to an anti-gay statement of faith.

Religion News Service

 

Virginia becomes first southern US state to sign comprehensive LGBTQ protections into law

State governor Ralph Northam has signed the Virginia Values Act, which will protect people from discrimination when it comes into force in July.

Attitude

 

Donald Trump invited a pastor who said gays “want to recruit your kids” to deliver Easter blessing

Bishop Harry Jackson has gotten national media attention since 2012 for his opposition to LGBTQ rights and extreme statements, which include saying that LGBTQ people are "folks who cannot reproduce who want to recruit your kids" and said that the movement for marriage equality proved that the U.S. was "just like during the times of Hitler."

LGBTQ Nation

 

Pakistani Christians refused Covid-19 aid because of faith

Some Christians in Pakistan have reported being refused Covid-19 aid because of their faith.

Christian Today

 

'Child sex abuse in Pakistan’s religious schools is endemic'

An investigation by The Associated Press found dozens of police reports, known here as First Information Reports, alleging sexual harassment, rape and physical abuse by Islamic clerics teaching in madrassas or religious schools throughout Pakistan, where many of the country's poorest study.

AP News

 

'The global crisis hammers home this truth: people matter more than religion'

'We are slowly waking up to the reality that we will thrive only when authentic concern for people drives every aspect of society.'

The Guardian

 

'How do you become, formally, not-a-Catholic? You take the law into your own hands'

'The church has tried to make it so it can't be divorced. Yet people do want to leave. In droves.'

The Guardian

  

Latest from the NSS

 

Charity and homophobia shouldn’t mix

The proliferation of religious charities openly expressing anti-LGBT views should prompt us to rethink religion's privileged position in charity law, says Megan Manson.

  

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