Your daily media briefing - Thursday 16 July

In the Media 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 and listen to our podcasts on our website.

Secularism in the media

Majority of public want 'gay conversion therapy' banned

62% of those surveyed by YouGov on behalf of the Ozanne Foundation, which campaigns to end conversion therapy, said that they support a ban.

ITV

Scottish places of worship reopen with 50 person limit

Religious venues across Scotland can host a maximum of 50 people at any one time, regardless of venue size.

BBC

Ian Paisley praises anti-abortion Catholics

Ian Paisley has revealed that his admires the fact that 'pro-life' Catholics are not "embarrassed" to stand up for their views.

Belfast Telegraph

‘Neutral’ appearance requirement for employees gets a conditional green light in France

The French Cour de Cassation has ruled that employers can only prevent employees from wearing visible signs of their political, philosophical or religious affiliation in the workplace if they have contact with the public, or for health and safety reasons.

Lexology

Tunisia sentences woman to six months for Koranic Facebook joke

A Tunisian court has sentenced blogger Emna Chargui to six months in prison and a $700 fine for reposting a Facebook joke about the coronavirus written as if it was a Koranic verse.

Reuters

'Is Poland a Catholic theocracy?'

People fear that a religious revival could open 'the gates to something darker.'

The Trumpet

China: US Xinjiang warning ‘bad for the whole world’

China's government has warned it will protect Chinese companies after Washington said enterprises may face legal trouble if they help carry out abuses in the Muslim northwestern region of Xinjiang.

Russian parliament begins formulating ban on same-sex marriage

Putin, who has aligned himself with the Russian Orthodox Church and sought to distance Russia from liberal Western values, has said he will not legalise gay marriage as long as he is in the Kremlin.

Reuters

'The Catholic Church siphoned away $30 million paid to Native people for stolen land'

Free, government-funded schools were rarely built on reservations—meaning that for many Native families, Catholic mission schools were the only option.

In These Times

'Shameful denial and defence of marital rape in Charedi communities must end'

"Those who can't sit with their discomfort may experience a certain cognitive dissonance, but that changes nothing for a woman who finds herself lying beneath a man she doesn't know and to whom she cannot say no."

Jewish News

The latest from the NSS

Jehovah's Witnesses restructure mustn’t impede abuse payouts, says NSS

The NSS has urged a regulator to ensure the restructuring of JW charities doesn't obstruct abuse victims from claiming compensation.

NEW: NSS podcast

Ep 30: Religious freedom in China

On paper, the Chinese constitution permits 'normal religious activities'. In reality, if you try to practise your religion in China independently of the state, you risk prison and worse. In this episode, Dr Sophie Richardson, China director of Human Rights Watch, speaks to Emma Park about freedom of religion and belief in China – or the lack of it.

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