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Your daily media briefing - Thursday 4 July

  

In the Media, 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

 

Bishop accepts he failed to pass on vicar's abuse confession letter to safeguarding adviser or police

The bishop of Chester has admitted that he allowed a vicar to continue working despite having read a letter from him alluding to child abuse.

Chester Standard

 

Birmingham school to resume modified version of equality lessons ‘for a faith community’

A primary school in Birmingham that suspended lessons about LGBT equality following protests by parents is to resume a modified version of the programme in September. Its new version of 'No outsiders' will be called 'No outsiders for a faith community'.

The Guardian

 

Ministers accused of blocking law change on Northern Ireland gay marriage

The government will attempt to pass a Northern Ireland devolution bill in a single day on Monday – a move that could frustrate a cross-party amendment to legalise equal marriage.

New Statesman

 

Bishop criticises ‘unhealthy’ level of bishops’ power at child abuse inquiry

The bishop of Buckingham has criticised the "unhealthy and excessive" centralisation of power in bishops in the Church of England and called for an independent safeguarding body to hold bishops and dioceses to account.

Church Times

 

Christian wins appeal after being thrown off social work course

A devout Christian thrown off a university social work course after being accused of posting derogatory comments about gay and bisexual people on Facebook has won the latest round of a legal battle.

The Guardian

 

Public backs education which includes gay relationships in schools, poll suggests

The majority of people approve of schoolchildren being educated about gay relationships, despite some public protests, according to a survey.

ITV News

 

Archbishop of Canterbury to christen royal baby Archie on Saturday

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the duke and duchess of Sussex's son Archie will be christened on Saturday. The archbishop of Canterbury will perform the ceremony.

Sky News

 

Parents to launch legal action against Catholic body over ‘forced’ academisation of primary school

Parents at a primary school due to be turned into an academy are planning launch legal proceedings against the Catholic body in charge of the school.

East London & West Essex Guardian

 

‘How secular feminists are caught in the middle’

Rahila Gupta says religious fundamentalists and anti-Muslim bigots alike eroded vital breathing space for secular feminists in Pakistan.

New Humanist

 

Fears for press freedom under internet abuse law

Government plans to regulate social media pose a danger to press freedom, the newspaper industry has warned.

The Times (£)

 

Indonesian woman faces five years in jail for ‘blasphemy’

A woman in Indonesia faces up to five years in jail after she was accused of blasphemy for taking a dog into a mosque.

Yahoo News

  

Latest from the NSS

 

Government online harm plans could curb free expression, NSS warns

Government plans to require the censorship of "hateful" content online could act as "a de facto blasphemy law", the NSS has warned.

  

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