National Secular Society - Your daily media briefing

Your daily media briefing - Thursday 3 October

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

‘Want a non-faith school place for your child? You’d better start praying’ – NSS extensively cited

More than 20,000 children have started this new academic year at state faith schools against their parents' preferences, NSS research has found.

Mirror

Welsh government to consult on ending right of withdrawal from RE and sex education

The Welsh government plans to remove parents' right to withdraw children from sex and relationship classes and religious education.

BBC

Radio 4's Thought for the Day should be scrapped because it is discriminatory, says John Humphrys

Former presenter John Humphrys has said the BBC's Today programme should scrap its Thought for the Day feature because it is discriminatory against people without a religion.

The Telegraph

Belfast High Court to rule on landmark abortion case

Belfast's High Court is due to rule on a woman's challenge against Northern Ireland's abortion laws.

BBC

Swedish party votes to ban non-medical circumcision of boys – but leader regrets it

The leader of Sweden's Centre party has said she "regrets" a party vote to work for a ban on non-medical circumcision.

The Local (Sweden)

Scotland to ban smacking despite some religious opposition

Scotland is to become the first country in the UK to make it a criminal offence for parents to smack their children. Some religious groups opposed the ban, while others supported it.

BBC

Latest from the NSS

Scrap ‘discriminatory’ Thought for the Day, says former presenter

The NSS has urged the BBC to reform its Thought for the Day slot after the former presenter John Humphrys said it was "discriminatory".

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