Latest News

Eric Pickles’ favouring of Christianity risks causing rifts in society

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:23:33 GMT

The Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles – and the Coalition Government as a whole – risks alienating huge swathes of the population of this country with calls to return Christianity to the centre of public life, says the National Secular Society.

Poll shows majority think councils shouldn’t pray

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:04:55 GMT

A new Yougov poll has shown that 55% of respondents were against councils holding prayers with only 26% of respondents in favour.

Council prayers: doubts over Eric Pickles' “general power of competence”

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 07:40:34 GMT

The government is activating a power it claims will allow councils in England to hold prayers at meetings.

Bideford Council will appeal council prayers ruling

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:09:59 GMT

Bideford Council reportedly decided last night to appeal against the High Court's decision that prayers during Council meetings were unlawful.

Hardline evangelicals seek funding for free school

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:54:44 GMT

A controversial evangelical church has announced plans to open a free school in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Christian hotel owners fined for refusing to let a gay couple stay

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:45:50 GMT

The Christian owners of a private hotel have lost their appeal against a £3,600 fine imposed on them for refusing to allow a gay couple to occupy a double room at Chymorvah House in Marazion, Cornwall, in 2008.

NSS supports Freedom of Expression Rally

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:41:55 GMT

Several members of the NSS Council and several members of staff attended the One Law for All Free Speech rally outside parliament last week. Speaking for the NSS was Executive Director Keith Porteous Wood.

Muslims more successful at enforcing their religion from generation to generation

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:33:38 GMT

An academic study by Cardiff University shows that the proportion of adult Muslims actively practising the faith they were brought up in as children was 77%. That compares with 29% of Christians and 65% of other religions.

Polish Airline bans display of religious symbols by cabin crews

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:25:53 GMT

Conservative MPs in Poland have complained to the national airline LOT that banning staff wearing the Roman Catholic cross on flights is "discriminatory" and "unconstitutional".

Establishment means the Queen does not belong equally to us all

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:09:28 GMT

In a speech at Lambeth palace today, the Queen told the Archbishop of Canterbury how inclusive the Church of England is and how important its establishment is to the nation.

Poll reveals majority of Christians support secular outlook

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:12:59 GMT

Results of a poll carried out by Ipsos MORI for the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science show that UK Christians are overwhelmingly secular in their attitudes on a wide range of issues.

Council prayers ruling starts national debate

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:31:52 GMT

Media reaction to the judgement on council prayers last week has inevitably been mixed while the public reaction has been strongly supportive of the National Secular Society.

Religious proselytisers move into academy school

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:31:30 GMT

An organisation that lends out resources for religious education and provides training for religious education teachers has moved into the Oasis Academy in Shirley Park, Croydon.

Council Prayers unlawful rules High Court

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:08:32 GMT

The High Court today ruled that "The saying of prayers as part of the formal meeting of a Council is not lawful under s111 of the Local Government Act 1972, and there is no statutory power permitting the practice to continue". The judgement follows a Judicial Review initiated by the National Secular Society.

Bishops lie about NSS chaplaincy campaign at the General Synod

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:10:29 GMT

The National Secular Society's campaign to get the church to pay the salary of their clergymen who are working in hospitals as chaplains was falsely portrayed at this week's Church of England General Synod.

Catholic and Episcopal churches shrinking

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:18:13 GMT

Statistics from the latest edition of the Catholic Directory of England and Wales reveal a picture of a shrinking church.

Why is the Government consulting the Vatican on national policy?

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:04:15 GMT

A large delegation of Government Ministers is to visit the Vatican next week to consult about British Government policy with the Pope.

Miracle Soap claims lead to £25,000 fine for religious TV channel

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:34:18 GMT

A religious TV channel has been fined £25,000 by the media regulator Ofcom after it permitted a televangelist to claim that his "Miracle Olive Oil Soap' could cure cancer.

Sarkozy’s smoke and mirrors promises to religious leaders

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:56:57 GMT

As the French election draws near, President Nicolas Sarkozy is suddenly very enthusiastic for religion to play an important role in "public life".

Vatican back in charge in Spain as Government promises to roll back abortion reforms

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:27:52 GMT

Spain's new right-wing government, headed by the People's Party, has announced that it will seek to reform the nation's abortion law, which permits abortion on demand during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, and allows minors to obtain the procedure without parental permission.