Trouble reading this email? View newsletter in your browser <[link removed]> | Add to your safe senders

* secularism.org.uk <[link removed]>

* Challenging Religious Privilege

Donate <[link removed]>

Join us

** Your daily media briefing - Tuesday 23 February

In the Media <[link removed]> is our daily collection of news and commentary related to secularism, available delivered to your inbox. You can also read the latest news <[link removed]> and opinion <[link removed]> and listen to our podcasts <[link removed]> on our website.

*= Registration may be required to read the article.

** Secularism in the media

* Hate Crime Bill: Humza Yousaf proposes guidelines to quell free speech fears <[link removed]>

Scotland's justice secretary Humza Yousaf has moved to address concerns over his controversial Hate Crime Bill by suggesting the Scottish Government would print "detailed explanatory notes" on freedom of expression provisions when the final Bill is published.

The Scotsman*

* Plans for controversial new Catholic school in Peterborough submitted <[link removed]>

The maintained voluntary aided school run by the Diocese of East Anglia school will be the first state-funded Catholic school in England for more than 10 years, but its admissions policy has angered local residents who fear their child will miss out on a place.

Peterborough Telegraph

* Police break up lockdown-flouting religious gathering of 75 people in Birmingham <[link removed]>

Officers were called to a building and found more than 75 people inside who claimed they were attending a religious ceremony.

Birmingham Mail

* Christian MP wants to see churches in England re-open as lockdown restrictions start to ease <[link removed]>

Under current government guidelines churches in England and Wales can hold in-person services, however, many places of worship decided to close given the very high infections rates across the UK. But Conservative MP Sir Desmond Swayne says churches should have not closed in the first place.

Premier Christian News

* Raab calls for UN to respond to ‘appalling’ human rights violations in China <[link removed]>

The Foreign Secretary has placed diplomatic pressure on the United Nations to respond to China's "appalling treatment" of the Uighur Muslims and people in Hong Kong.

Hereford Times

* Church bans grieving family from having the word ‘Nan’ carved on gravestone <[link removed]>

The church said the family could only use terms from their handbook, such as Grandma, Granny or Grandmother.

The Sun

* Leader of Islamist terrorist network jailed for over 3 years after sparking manhunt at UK borders <[link removed]>

A senior leader of a terrorist network has been jailed after sparking a manhunt that caused nine-hour tailbacks in Dover.

The Independent

* Police apologise over 'being offensive is an offence' billboard <[link removed]>

The message, displayed on an advertising van on the Wirral from the Merseyside force, encouraged people to report hate crime, but warned: "Being offensive is an offence."

LBC

* Cork-based nuns breach Covid guidelines to attend exorcism of parliament <[link removed]>

A pair of nuns who have so far raised over €77,000 in crowdfunding after being ordered to leave a site in West Cork broke Covid guidelines to attend an exorcism of the Dáil before Christmas.

Irish Examiner

* New Zealand: Conversion therapy survivors call for bill without religious exemptions

Survivors of conversion therapy shared their stories outside Parliament and called for a bill banning the practice to have no religious exemptions.

NZ Herald

** Latest from the NSS

* NSS research bank shows deep flaws in case for faith schools <[link removed]>

A substantial new analysis of academic research has highlighted significant weaknesses in the arguments for state-funded faith schools.

* The evidence against faith schools is overwhelming <[link removed]>

A comprehensive new bank of academic research shows how shaky the main arguments for faith schools are, say its authors Steven Kettell and Rebecca Vernon.

** Viewing this online?

If you're viewing this online and would like to receive the daily media briefing straight to your inbox, click subscribe.

Subscribe <[link removed]>

** While you're here

Please support our work so we can make the case for a fairer secular democracy for all.

Support us from just £1 a month <[link removed]>

Disclaimer: Links are provided to external websites for information and in the interests of free exchange. We do not accept any responsibility for the content of those sites, nor does a link indicate approval or imply endorsement of those sites.

News <[link removed]>

About <[link removed]>

Campaigns <[link removed]>

Get involved <[link removed]>

You can support the NSS by buying from our Shop.

This email has been sent to you by National Secular Society in accordance with our Privacy Policy <[link removed]>.

Address: Dutch House, 307-308 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7LL <[link removed]>.

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7404 3126 <[link removed]>
Unsubscribe from this list (In the media): [link removed]
Opt out of all emails: [link removed]
Update your details: [link removed]
National Secular Society
Dutch House
307-308 High Holborn
LONDON, WC1V 7LL
United Kingdom
| Your contact ID 168455