Tags: Disestablishment
A state Church is no bulwark against extremism – but secularism is
With its commitment to the separation of religion and state and safeguarding the rights of all individuals, secularism can provide an effective defence against the spread of extremism, says Stephen Evans. Read More »
The time to disestablish the Church of England has come
Lib Dem peer Paul Scriven explains why he has introduced a bill in parliament to separate Church and state. Read More »
Time for Church and state to part ways
Separating church and state would signal a forward-looking Britain committed to equality, inclusivity and freedom of religion or belief. National Secular Society CEO Stephen Evans explains why the NSS is backing a bill to disestablish the Church of England. Read More »
The Church of England is legitimising spiritual abuse
The Exorcist director William Friedkin died at the age of 87 this week. His seminal film immortalised the concept... Read More »
Sexist state church should be disestablished
Imagine if a colleague of yours, due to his deeply held religious beliefs, refused to follow his manager's instructions... Read More »
Taxpayers shouldn't be burdened with propping up the Church
Faced with dwindling congregations, the Church of England is looking for ways to fund the growing repair bill of its... Read More »
Thanks, but no thanks: the US can keep its culture war
American efforts to export regressive religious views under the guise of the 'culture war' are to be resisted, argues... Read More »
Hold the Church to account for abuse – separate it from the state
The Church of England's increasingly dire record on safeguarding should have consequences for its established status,... Read More »
House of Lords makes politicians out of prelates
Religious leaders should be free to speak out on matters that concern them, but they should do so on the basis of... Read More »
The coronation isn’t for us. It’s for the Church.
As King Charles' coronation approaches, Megan Manson says we must stop letting the Church using our affairs of state to promote itself. Read More »
Homophobic churches and liberal states make for unhappy bedfellows
Parliament should begin the process of disestablishment rather than try to fix the Church of England, argues Stephen... Read More »
Parliament’s rift with the Church shows the need to separate religion and state
MPs dismayed over the Church of England's position on homosexuality are pushing for legislation to permit the Church... Read More »
A homophobic church shouldn’t be an arm of the state
Anglican bishops' stance on same-sex marriage shows Church and state have drifted apart. Formal separation should... Read More »
It’s not just the Census. Everywhere you look, the CofE is withering.
By every measure membership figures for Church of England are in freefall – and the church's increasingly outdated... Read More »
Secularism has never been so relevant and necessary – unlike the established church
The Census 2021 results reveal that for the first time, most people in England and Wales aren't Christian. Megan Manson... Read More »
Time for an anthem we can all sing with sincerity
The religious and monarchical God Save the King should make way for something that the whole country can sing along... Read More »
Our head of state should not have constitutional ties with religion
As King Charles assumes the title of Defender of the Faith, Stephen Evans argues that the role of head of state in... Read More »
Talk of a public appetite for religion is wishful thinking
The established church's proclivity to insert itself into the secular realm should not go unchallenged, argues Stephen... Read More »
Anglican gay sex debate is a reminder of the need for secularism
The Church of England's position on same-sex relationships should set the wheels of disestablishment in motion, says... Read More »
The Church shouldn’t have a privileged platform in political debate
Following the furore over the archbishop of Canterbury's latest political intervention, Stephen Evans argues Justin... Read More »
Appointments of future archbishops shouldn’t be the state’s business
Church of England plans to give Anglican church leaders from around the world greater power in choosing future archbishops... Read More »
Christian lobby groups’ doublespeak is a distortion of human rights
Evangelical activists' insistence that equality amounts to discrimination is a narcissistic approach to human rights,... Read More »
Heads of state shouldn’t have to swear religious oaths
A challenge to Ireland's religious presidential oath should be supported – and prompt questions across the Irish... Read More »
The C of E has serious questions to answer over the death of a gay priest
A coroner's report has laid bare the Church of England's cruel and scandalous handling of the case of Alan Griffin,... Read More »
The PM's Catholic wedding shows the need for a church-state divorce
In light of his Catholic wedding, Boris Johnson has handed over the duty of advising on the appointment of bishops.... Read More »