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** Your daily media briefing - Wednesday 14 August
In the Media <[link removed]>, our daily collection of news and commentary related to secularism, is one of the most popular features on our website and now available delivered to your inbox.
** Secularism in the media
* Church of England's handling of John Smyth abuse allegations to be probed <[link removed]>
An independent inquiry is being launched into the Church of England's handling of allegations against a barrister who led Christian camps and allegedly violently beat boys.
BBC
* Children in Scotland miss out on chosen schools due to rules on religion <[link removed]>
Hundreds of children have been turned away from their chosen schools due to strict rules on residence and religion. Some have been turned away from Catholic schools because children from Catholic families are given first preference.
The Times (£)
* University of St Andrews criticised over religious grant – NSS quoted <[link removed]>
The University of St Andrews has accepted a £2.3m grant from a US religious organisation to teach 'science-engaged theology'. The NSS has warned that accepting money from groups who promote a pro-religious agenda could undermine universities' credibility.
The Times (£)
* C of E general synod member links change in marriage rules to potential disestablishment <[link removed]>
Changes to the way marriages are registered could lead to a devaluing of the Church of England's relationship with the state, according to a member of its general synod.
Premier Christian Radio
* US Republican lawmaker aided group training young men for 'biblical warfare' <[link removed]>
US Republican politician Matt Shea connected close allies with a group offering training to young men in "biblical warfare" that includes how to use knives, pistols and rifles, with lessons based in part on the teachings of a Georgia-based neo-Confederate pastor.
The Guardian
* Catholic Church digs in as Victoria forces disclosure of abuse revealed in confession
The Catholic Church is set to defy new laws that would punish priests with jail time if they refuse to report sexual abuse revealed during confession in the Australian state of Victoria.
Brisbane Times
* ‘How an abortion in the US south can push one over the financial edge’ <[link removed]>
Khushbu Shah says in a poor, rural corner of Louisiana, getting an abortion is not only logistically and emotionally difficult, but a battle against poverty.
The Guardian
* Liberal Democrat peer calls protester in Tommy Robinson shirt a ‘Nazi’ over mosque row <[link removed]>
A Liberal Democrat peer described a protester as "a Nazi" during a council meeting, leading demonstrators angry over a local mosque to disrupt the session.
The Independent
* Far-right anti-gay Israel party likens LGBT activists and reform Jews to Nazis and suicide bombers <[link removed]>
A new campaign video by the Noam party, which went viral on Tuesday evening among Hebrew-speaking social media users, compares Reform Jews, left-wing activists and gay rights advocates to Nazis and Palestinian suicide bombers, saying all of them "want to destroy us".
The Times of Israel
* 'Whenever you have sex, it’s on your mind': comedian speaks out on show about circumcision <[link removed]>
Circumcision left comedian Tom Rosenthal with sexual anxiety – and a tell-all show at the Edinburgh festival.
The Guardian
* 'Several lives lost': note reveals early details of Peterloo massacre <[link removed]>
Almost 200 years on from the Peterloo massacre in which peaceful protesters were cut down by sabre-wielding cavalry, a hastily scribbled note has been unearthed to reveal what could be the first account of the bloodshed.
The Guardian
** From the NSS archive
* Peterloo’s heroes represented the finest traditions of secular democracy <[link removed]>
The film Peterloo is a reminder of the close links between the campaign for church-state separation and the push for a truly democratic society in the 19thcentury and beyond, writes Bob Forder.
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