Latest News

Home Secretary under pressure to reform Public Order Act

Tue, 15 May 2012 23:21:52 GMT

The National Secular Society has joined together with human rights campaigners and religious groups to launch a major new campaign to reform the 1986 Public Order Act, after mounting evidence suggests it is strangling free speech.

Norway shows the way by separating church and state

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:07:00 GMT

In a move that has many by surprise, the Norwegian Parliament separated church and state when it carried a constitutional amendment that abolished the Church of Norway.

Has Michael Gove already made up his mind about Catholic political agitation in state schools?

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:17:02 GMT

Damian Thompson, high profile Catholic and editor of the Daily Telegraph's blog section, accidentally tweeted over the weekend that he was told it would be OK for Catholic schools to oppose same-sex marriage at a dinner party attended by Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Why is the Government promoting one particular religion in state schools?

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:59:04 GMT

The Government has gone ahead with its plan to send a free copy of the King James Bible to every state-sponsored primary and secondary school in the country.

Catholic Church promises to be a thorn in the side of new French President

Tue, 15 May 2012 08:56:08 GMT

The Catholic Church and other right-wing groups in France have given notice that they intend to resist the newly-elected President's progressive social agenda.

Monarch’s role as head of Church of England “unsustainable”

Mon, 14 May 2012 23:03:28 GMT

The National Secular Society says that the Queen's or any future Monarch's role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England is unsustainable – despite the results of a new poll showing that 79% of British adults think that the Queen still has an important "faith role".

Faith school transport subsidies under scrutiny

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:15:25 GMT

Cheshire East is the latest council to axe free or subsidised transport to faith schools. The council took the decision despite fierce opposition from Catholic families who said they were being 'discriminated' against.

Ofcom may close TV station after show condones murder for blasphemy

Thu, 10 May 2012 10:49:56 GMT

A British TV channel that broadcast a talk saying it is acceptable to murder someone who has shown disrespect to the prophet Muhammad is facing a heavy fine or potential closure by Ofcom.

Kuwait approves death penalty for blasphemy

Thu, 10 May 2012 10:47:30 GMT

Kuwait's parliament has passed a bill authorizing the death penalty for Muslims who curse their god, the Qu'ran, its prophets and the wives of Mohammed.

Welsh Minister says Catholic schools may be breaking the law by opposing gay marriage

Wed, 09 May 2012 10:32:11 GMT

The Welsh Government has written to Catholic schools in Wales to warn them that they may be breaking the law in encouraging pupils to oppose equal marriage for LGBT people.

Councils abandon prayers following NSS High Court victory

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:39:20 GMT

A survey by The Sunday Telegraph has found that 40 councils have recently decided to drop, or "water down" the practice of saying prayers, with more considering doing so.

NSS call for Northern Ireland child abuse investigation

Fri, 04 May 2012 08:31:05 GMT

The National Secular Society has called on the Northern Ireland Justice Minister to launch an investigation into child abuse in the Catholic Church.

Latest 'persecuted Christian' case dismissed by employment tribunal

Wed, 02 May 2012 05:35:48 GMT

Dr David Drew, the latest Christian to claim victimisation in the workplace has had his case for religious discrimination dismissed by an employment tribunal in Birmingham.

Community and church school amalgamation plans criticised by secularists

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:37:21 GMT

The National Secular Society has challenged a London council over its failure to consult properly about proposals to close a community school in order to amalgamate it with a Church school.

Michael Gove to investigate Catholic schools’ anti-gay petition

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 08:07:48 GMT

The Department for Education has announced that it will investigate complaints that rules were breached when Catholic schools were asked to encourage their pupils to sign a national petition against gay marriage.

Ireland rejects abortion law reform

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:25:01 GMT

The lower house of the Irish Parliament has rejected a private member's bill to ease the Republic's abortion laws. In a vote of 109 to 20, the Dáil rejected the bill brought by Clare Daly of the opposition Socialist Party that would permit "termination of pregnancy where a real and substantial risk to the life of the pregnant woman exists."

Protest as Gideons’ attempt to get Scottish police forces to hand out Bibles

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:20:51 GMT

Gideons International has offered commemorative editions of the New Testament and Psalms to the Scottish police forces for them to give out to their employees ahead of an amalgamation of the forces.

Tribunal kicks out claim that calling someone ‘darling’ amounts to religious discrimination

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:27:44 GMT

A claim of religious discrimination was so ridiculous that it was thrown out of an employment tribunal this week before the hearing even got under way.

Catholic Education Service is abusing its authority in state schools

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:29:09 GMT

The Catholic Education Service (CES) has been accused of abusing its authority by contacting Catholic schools asking them to tell pupils about a political campaign against equal marriage legislation for LGBT people.

Increased religious representation in the House of Lords would be a disaster

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:20:57 GMT

The suggestion from the House of Lords Reform Committee that representatives from "all major faiths" should be appointed to a reformed second chamber will not create the intended diversity but risks turning the Upper House into a religious battleground.