National Secular Society - Your daily media briefing

Secularism in the media

Calls for memorial to Scotland's tortured and executed witches

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

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

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

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’

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

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

The airline is investigating ways of offering kosher food in flight.

The Jewish Chronicle

Child sex abuse still being hidden, warns watchdog in Australia

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

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

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

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

The head of Ireland's health service executive has said conscientious objections are delaying the expansion of abortion services.

The Irish Times

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Your daily media briefing - Thursday 31 October

Secularism in the media

Calls for memorial to Scotland's tortured and executed witches

Forced marriage protection orders granted for "several" children at risk in South Yorks

Vatican continues to decline IICSA’s invitation to discuss abuse

Law banning assisted dying must be reviewed, say MPs

'Assisted dying laws are in need of review’

M&S to sell own-brand halal ready meals

Virgin investigating in-flight kosher dining

Child sex abuse still being hidden, warns watchdog in Australia

US objects to mention of ‘sexual and reproductive health’ in UN resolution

All the near-total abortion bans passed in the US this year have now been blocked in court

Faith leaders sign declaration opposing end-of-life procedures

‘Conscientious objections’ delaying roll-out of abortion services in Ireland

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Ep 17: Thought for the Day | RE in Wales

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