National Secular Society - Your daily media briefing

Your daily media briefing - Wednesday 4 September

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

Boris Johnson delays proposed snap election by a day because of clash with Jewish holiday

The prime minister has delayed the proposed date of his snap election by a day because the original 14 October date clashes with a Jewish holiday.

The Sun

Justin Welby makes more comments on Brexit

The archbishop of Canterbury has apologised for telling Remainers to "stop whingeing" about the EU referendum result and further outlined his views on Brexit.

The Times (£)

Orthodox Jewish vaccination rates now seven times below average

Sharp drops in vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella in five-year olds have been recorded in London boroughs with large Orthodox Jewish populations.

Jewish News

No-fault divorce and heterosexual civil partnerships under threat, says senior judge

The suspension of parliament could threaten legislation designed to allow divorce without fault and heterosexual couples to enter civil partnerships, a senior family law judge has warned.

The Times (£)

Church of England school opens in Wiltshire

The Deanery Church of England Academy, a secondary school in the Wichelstowe area of Swindon, opens its doors to children today.

Swindon Advertiser

White supremacist behind ‘Punish a Muslim Day’ jailed for 12 years

A white supremacist behind the "Punish a Muslim Day" campaign has been jailed for 12 and a half years.

The Independent

Council in Birmingham investigates claims that pharmacy was 'being used as a mosque'

An investigation has been launched after residents in Birmingham claimed a mosque has been operating from their local pharmacy.

Birmingham Live

Harry Potter books banned at US Catholic school after pastor claims they contain ‘real’ curses and spells

A school in Tennessee has banned the Harry Potter books after its pastor claimed they contain real curses and spells.

The Sun

In case you missed it: NSS quoted

Blasphemy laws are quietly vanishing in liberal democracies

Erasmus blog, for The Economist

Despite the abolition of blasphemy laws, a culture of free speech on religion is failing to take hold. Within this piece NSS chief executive Stephen Evans warns against the tendency to see free speech as a necessary evil rather than a good in its own right.

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