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** Your daily media briefing - Thursday 31 October
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 and opinion <[link removed]> and listen to our podcasts on our website.
** Secularism in the media
* Calls for memorial to Scotland's tortured and executed witches <[link removed]>
Almost 400 years after the last execution of a woman accused of witchcraft in Scotland, calls are growing for a national memorial to the thousands who were tortured and killed for their supposed black magic.
The Guardian
* Forced marriage protection orders granted for "several" children at risk in South Yorks <[link removed]>
A number of Rotherham children who were at risk of forced marriage have been granted a protection order after a 42 year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of forced marriage offences.
Rotherham Advertiser
* Vatican continues to decline IICSA’s invitation to discuss abuse <[link removed]>
The refusal of the Vatican to provide evidence requested by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is "very disappointing", a lawyer for the inquiry has said.
Church Times
* Law banning assisted dying must be reviewed, say MPs <[link removed]>
The law banning terminally ill people from being helped to end their lives must be reviewed because it may not be working, a cross party group of MPs has said.
The Guardian
* 'Assisted dying laws are in need of review’ <[link removed]>
A cross-party group of more than 20 MPs calls on the Ministry of Justice to examine the effects of the ban on assisted suicide.
The Guardian
* M&S to sell own-brand halal ready meals <[link removed]>
Marks & Spencer is to become the first mainstream food giant to sell own-label halal ready meals in stores with a large number of Muslim shoppers. The supermarket has said meat used in the meals will be from animals stunned before slaughter.
Daily Mail
* Virgin investigating in-flight kosher dining <[link removed]>
The airline is investigating ways of offering kosher food in flight.
The Jewish Chronicle
* Child sex abuse still being hidden, warns watchdog in Australia <[link removed]>
Victoria's commission for children fears many cases of abuse are still being kept secret, despite religious groups reporting 88 cases of sexual and physical abuse in the past financial year.
Brisbane Times
* US objects to mention of ‘sexual and reproductive health’ in UN resolution <[link removed]>
Shortly after a unanimous vote in the UN Security Council to pass a resolution on women, peace and security, the US mission to the UN released a press statement criticising references to "sexual and reproductive health". The mission said the references promoted abortion.
Newsweek
* All the near-total abortion bans passed in the US this year have now been blocked in court <[link removed]>
Near-total bans on abortion have swept the US this year, with state after state banning the procedure six weeks into pregnancy or even earlier. These laws have been blocked by the courts, but anti-abortion groups now appear to be backing incremental laws that restrict clinic operations or introduce new requirements for getting an abortion.
Vox
* Faith leaders sign declaration opposing end-of-life procedures <[link removed]>
Leaders of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam presented a signed declaration to Pope Francis on Monday expressing their total opposition to euthanasia and any form of physician-assisted suicide.
The Irish Catholic
* ‘Conscientious objections’ delaying roll-out of abortion services in Ireland <[link removed]>
The head of Ireland's health service executive has said conscientious objections are delaying the expansion of abortion services.
The Irish Times
** Most recent NSS podcast
* Ep 17: Thought for the Day | RE in Wales <[link removed]>
In this week's episode, Emma Park is joined by Chris Sloggett and Helen Nicholls to discuss whether BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day should still be exclusively for "speakers from the world's major faiths". Emma also speaks to Stephen Evans and Alastair Lichten about a consultation on the reform of sex and religious education launched by the Welsh government this month.
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