Newsline 1 March 2013

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News, Blogs & Opinion

	NSS objects to new workplace guidelines on religious discrimination News \| Thu, 28th Feb 2013 The National Secular Society has objected to new workplace guidelines issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to reflect the outcome of the recent European Court cases relating to the four Christians who claimed they had been discriminated against at work. We were given the opportunity to comment on draft guidelines, which included a fictional example about a Hindu nurse offering prayers to a patient, and concluded that this was not inappropriate. We objected to the example on the basis that it was practically identical to the actual case of Caroline Petrie, the Somerset nurse who offered prayers to a patient at home, where prayers were considered not to be appropriate. A Christian, sensitive to the likely inappropriateness of this to those who would not want prayers, complained to the Health Authority. It transpired that nurse Petrie had already being disciplined for such behaviour and instructed not to repeat it. She lost her case at the employment tribunal. Our objection, backed up by 2009 Department of Health guidance warning about proselytising (pdf), was taken on board and the Hindu nurse example was removed. It seems that the Commission were determined to produce an example where praying was acceptable. So they replaced the Hindu nurse case with a Christian, but needed to introduce a ridiculously unlikely scenario in an attempt to do so: "A Christian hospital nurse offers to say prayers for a patient, making it clear that there is no pressure or obligation on the patient to agree and he will not be offended if the patient declines. The patient decides that she would like the prayers to be said for her as she will gain some comfort from them. The hospital nurse's colleagues who witness this raise concerns with their manager who, after investigation, decides nothing inappropriate occurred in these circumstances. This was because the nurse had discussed and agreed in advance with his employer that he could offer prayers, when the hospital chaplain was unavailable, to patients who had identified spiritual needs and who accepted the offer without any pressure or abuse of power. We have written to the EHRC Chair to complain about the inappropriateness of the example, but also about what appears to us to be the lack of even-handedness in the way the guidelines have been drawn together.
	Surveys reveal attitudes to religious symbols at work News \| Tue, 26th Feb 2013 YouGov has been conducting surveys on public attitudes to the wearing of religious clothing and symbols in the workplace. The polls were taken in the light of the four cases recently heard in the European Court of Human Rights. In the study, opinion was sought about the entitlement to wear three religious items (a chain necklace with a Christian cross, a Jewish kippah/skullcap, and an Islamic burka) in four professional situations: flight attendant, nurse, teacher, and accountant. The survey found people are more receptive to accountants being entitled to wear religious symbols than the more public facing professions such as nurses, teachers and flight attendants. Across all four professions settings it found that people were more comfortable with crosses and kippahs being worn that the burka. People were generally happier with a flight attendant wearing a cross (80% approval) than a nurse (70%) which reflects to some extent the results of the court cases, when Nadia Eweida of British Airways won her case and nurse Shirley Chaplin lost hers. Overall only 27% of people thought it was okay for people to wear a burka at work, with a nurse in a burka likely to gain least approval (18%) with a teacher not far behind at 22%. See the Yougov poll here
	Is the Catholic Church at last getting the come-uppance it has so long deserved? Opinion \| Mon, 25th Feb 2013 By Terry Sanderson Freedom of religion is a vital freedom and one that must be protected. As a secularist I know I should not be concerned about the inner workings of churches and, so long as they remain within the law, they should be able to organise themselves as they wish. They should be able to create doctrines by which their followers are obligated to live and, at least in the West, nobody is obliged to follow a religion they find uncongenial. But all the same, it is taking much discipline to resist the feelings of schadenfreude at the accumulating catastrophes that are assailing the Catholic Church. And trying not to wallow in the hope that more will follow. If ever an institution has been in need of humbling, it is this one. If it were prepared to keep its unreasonable, inhumane teachings to its own members, we would not protest. But increasingly it tries to impose those teachings on the world outside by the ruthless pursuit of secular political power. Not content to forbid abortion and contraception to its own faithful, it tries to deny them to us all. It instructs its bishops to agitate in the political arena, it threatens Catholic politicians who do not vote in the way they "should" and it operates covertly behind the scenes using its diplomatic power to gain access to the decision makers. And yet despite its manipulation of the democratic processes, it does not operate democratically itself. It answers no questions, covers its secrets and hides its corruption behind impenetrable walls. Now we have the case of Cardinal Keith O'Brien, a classic example of church hypocrisy coming back to give him a well-earned bite on the bottom. Like many holy men before him (such as the US televangelists Jim Bakker and Ted Haggard) it appears that his virulent attacks on homosexuality may eventually be shown to be little more than a cover for his own tendencies in that direction. As is usual with the Catholic Church, everything possible is being done to stop this scandal unravelling any further. O'Brien has been rapidly dispensed with in the hope that no further details will emerge. Faint hope of that. And still the questions swirl around the head of Ratzinger. Why precisely has he decided to resign? Old age and infirmity? Perhaps, but the agitation of the Vatican's officials who are berating the media for daring to speculate suggests that there is more to come. But still the Church thinks it can simply dismiss its scandals in the hope — as in so many times in the past — they will soon be forgotten. That is certainly the way that Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor is behaving. He had the gall to sit in front of TV camera yesterday and say that the church must be "transparent" about child abuse. This from the man who, when he was Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, covered up the activities of one of the worst clerical child abusers this country has seen. It is one of the mysteries of the age as to why the BBC investigation into his wrong-doings was dropped and why the secular authorities did not take action. It seems there is now developing a dual perception of the Catholic Church. On the one had there is the corrupt, scandal-ridden hierarchy and on the other the ordinary Catholics in the pew who are struggling to hold on to their loyalty to the church. Whatever good individual Catholics do in the world (and it is substantial good), it is undermined by the rottenness in Rome.
	Catholic Church’s attempt to evade responsibility for child abuse liability is stymied by Supreme Court News \| Thu, 28th Feb 2013 The Supreme Court has this week refused to hear a case from the Catholic Church that it could not be held responsible for abuse committed by one of its priests because he was not an 'employee'. This means the Catholic Church can now be financially liable for child abuse by priests working under its control. The case arose when a Portsmouth woman brought a civil action against the Church after claiming she was abused by a priest at a children's home run by the Church. The woman, identified in court as Miss E, was seven years old when she was admitted to the Firs Children' Home in 1970. She alleges she was sexually abused by Father Wilfred Baldwin, a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth, who died in 2006. In November 2011, High Court judge Mr Justice Alistair MacDuffs ruled that the church is legally responsible for sexual abuse committed by its priests. This week's ruling by the Supreme Court has now confirmed that decision. Peter Furlough, who represents the lawyers of the Waterlooville victim, said it was a landmark case that could not be challenged in Europe– and one that would have international ramifications for the Catholic Church. He told The Portsmouth News: "The Supreme Court has refused the Catholic Church permission to make further appeals to it. Therefore the Catholic Churches' case is lost. That's to say they are responsible for the misbehaviour of their priests. "The Catholic Church were looking to use a loophole. They were arguing that because priests are technically self-employed the church could not be held responsible for their misbehaviour. The Supreme Court was having none of it." Because the point of the law has now been settled, it means that other cases of alleged abuse by Father Baldwin can be heard. Mr Furlough said there were known to be several 'local' victims. Mr Furlough said: "It's known there are a number of other cases involving the late Father Baldwin. We should expect a number of other cases to come forward. There's a list of half a dozen or so that are known." He added: "It's not possible for the church to go toEurope. The Supreme court has refused even to hear it. Therefore the case stops there and can't go any further." He said the ruling would have an impact across the globe in similar cases. Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society, said: "It is hard to exaggerate the importance of this case: it will almost certainly become an international precedent opening the door to financial liability against the Church for at least tens of thousands of victims of abuse worldwide. "Evidence abounds of the shameless lengths to which the Church has stooped for decades to evade financial responsibility for widespread abuse of children in its care. To have fought to evade liability for admitted abuse is both morally repugnant and a continuing blatant breach of the Church's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child."
	Poll shows widespread European indifference to the reign of Ratzinger News \| Fri, 1st Mar 2013 Most people think that Pope Benedict XVI – who ceased to be head of the Catholic Church yesterday – and his leading Catholic bishops have not been influential in their societies. That's according to YouGov's latest EuroTrack survey, which tracks public opinion in Britain, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Asked how much notice they think leading politicians have paid to the views of Pope Benedict and Catholic bishops in their respective countries, a majority of people in every country surveyed say either "not much" or "none at all". In Britain, 71% say Pope Benedict has not been influential, while only 9% say he was and 21% are undecided. Amongst British Roman Catholics, 78% say politicians have not paid attention to the views of Pope Benedict, while 17% say they have and 4% aren't sure. In predominantly Roman Catholic France, 61% of people believe the Pope has not been influential compared to 18% who believe he has been, and 21% who are undecided. Also, a majority of people in every country except for Germany say leading politicians in their respective countries were right to not pay much notice to the Pope's views. In Germany the public is divided with 43% believing the Pope should have been listened to, 40% saying he should have been ignored and 16% undecided. In most of the countries surveyed by YouGov people tend to have a more positive than negative view of Benedict's performance during his eight years as Pope. However, questioned on specific issues, ranging from allowing women priests to homosexuality and birth control, and either a majority or plurality of people tend to agree that Pope Benedict has been "too conservative and changed things too little". Only a small proportion of people in every country surveyed say they attend church once a week or more. In Britain, 30% of people say they never attend church services. Amongst British Roman Catholics, 23% say they never go to church, 13% go less than once a year, 6% go at least once a year, 21% say they go at least twice a year, 11% attend church at least twice a month, 6% go least once every two weeks and 19% of Roman Catholics in Britain say they attend church services once a week or more. See the full poll
	Last chance to take part in Girl Guides consultation on the Promise News \| Mon, 25th Feb 2013 The Girl Guides consultation to discuss the wording of its Promise closes on Sunday 3 March. Currently, girls wishing to become fully-fledged Guides promise to do their best, love "my God", serve "the Queen and country" and keep the Guide law. But Girlguiding UK has said an increasing number of girls and volunteers do not identify with the current oath. The UK's leading charity for girls and young women says it is keen to ensure Guides can believe in the words they say. The 'essence of spirituality' section of the consultation questionnaire sets out a number of possible alternatives to "love my God. These include "Be true to my beliefs" and "Search for the meaning in my life", amongst others. The questionnaire also considers whether the reference to the Queen should be replaced with a commitment to a Guide's community or country. The consultation is open to everyone and Girlguiding UK says it is particularly keen to hear from parents, potential members, volunteers and supporters. More than 30,000 people have so far responded. Unlike the Scouts, which recently consulted on the introduction of an alternative atheist oath, the Guides are considering replacing their existing oath with a secular version that can be used by all girls wishing to take the Promise. Stephen Evans, campaigns manager at the National Secular Society, said: "The introduction of one secular Promise for all would be a hugely positive and welcome development. "Not only are young people more likely to be non-religious, they also appear to be more likely to adopt a secular outlook on life. Girlguiding UK's own research into the attitudes and opinions of girls aged 7 to 21 across the UK has found a massive 70% of them agree that religious belief should be personal, and should not affect public issues such as education or politics. "This clearly shows that a secular Promise, without reference to religion and belief, and relevant to all young girls and potential leaders, is the most appropriate way forward. We hope as many secularists as possible take part in this consultation to send a very clear signal that girlguiding should be fully inclusive and equally welcoming to all girls." Get involved! The short questionnaire takes just a few minutes to complete. Please take part and encourage Girlguiding UK to adopt one secular Promise for all. Girlguiding members aged 14 or over can access the survey here. Non-members wanting to take part in the consultation can do so here. Surveys for the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides sections can be found on their websites. A draft version of the NSS response can be found here
	Vicar calls for disestablishment Opinion \| Tue, 26th Feb 2013 A Church of England vicar is advocating disestablishment. In a letter in the latest issue of the Church of England Newspaper, the Rev Paul Carr of Billericay writes: Having reflected on the momentous decision of Parliament to pass the Bill to redefine marriage, with some despondency I might add, I have come to the conclusion that there is a much deeper, much more fundamental issue at stake: and that is the rejection, by Parliament, of a Christian lifestyle – which is symptomatic of the post-Christian society in which we live, where people give little credence to the teaching of the Bible and can't be expected to follow its teaching. If people choose to live a life that is outside of God's best for them, then we must allow them to make that choice and, following the example of the early Church, show them an alternative and vibrant way to live. One thing that strikes me very strongly, in the midst of the intense debate and discussion, is that we can no longer, as the state Church, impose Christian morals and ethics on a Parliament who vote so favourably for something which we, as an institution, opposed. Furthermore, I want to suggest that serious consideration should be given, once again, to the disestablishment of the Church of England so that we can be released to focus our energies on spreading the Gospel of the Good News of Jesus without the hindrances of political activism which, undoubtedly, weakens our position. I have to admit that, for many years, I opposed disestablishment on the grounds that 'being' Anglican provided many opportunities for mission through the occasional offices and the acceptability which we enjoyed in the eyes of many in our communities. However, and unfortunately, I'm not convinced that is true today. Like many others, I am acutely aware that the Church of England is not currently looked upon favourably by many members of our society. The dilemma, frustration, and reality, is that our mission fields are being taken away from us because we are increasingly seen to be inconsistent and hypocritical and are known for being anti-women and anti-gay, and not known to be pro-Jesus and believe in a God of love and compassion and forgiveness and healing and wholeness, who can transform our lives through faith and trust in him in Jesus.
	Hospitals in dire cash crisis, but the chaplains sail merrily on Opinion \| Tue, 26th Feb 2013 By Terry Sanderson Not a week goes by now without more depressing headlines about the gradual demolition of the NHS. Recent ones include: Closure-threatened hospital units performing well Brent Council holding talks over threatened A&E closure 800 take to the streets over the future of Blaenau Ffestiniog hospital Closure move for Malton hospital Health chiefs confirm Charing Cross and Hammersmith A&E closure Stars join fight to save Whittington hospital Patient safety put at risk as Bolton hospital as debts rise But however many nurses are put on the scrap heap, however many doctors are given their marching orders, there always seems to be money for chaplains. For example, take a look at this job advert from the latest Church Times: Bradford teaching Hospital – Chaplain, Christian, £25,528–£34,189 for 37.5 hours a week. The Trust says it "recognises that chaplaincy is an essential component of patient care and is committed to maintaining its provision of chaplaincy services". The Southwest Yorkshire Foundation NHS Trust is also looking for a chaplain on the same salary scale. As is the Weston-Super Mare hospital. Meanwhile, people are dying because of lack of medical resources at hospitals
	Shortlist announced for Secularist of the Year News \| Mon, 25th Feb 2013 The shortlist has been announced for this year's Irwin Prize for Secularist of the Year. The award is presented annually in recognition of an individual or an organisation considered to have made an outstanding contribution to the secular cause. This year's prize will be presented by Michael Cashman MEP, CBE on Saturday 23 March at a lunchtime event in central London. Nominations for Secularist of the Year are made by members and supporters of the National Secular Society; the winner is chosen by the NSS along with Michael Irwin, the sponsor of the award. Previous prize winners have included former MP Evan Harris, Lord Avebury, Maryam Namazie, Southall Black Sisters, Sophie in 't Veld MEP and Peter Tatchell. This year's shortlist is: Jacque Berlinerblau – for his book How to be secular: A call to arms for religious freedom and for broadening the appeal of secularism by dispelling the misconception that it synonymous with atheism. British Muslims for a Secular Democracy – for raising awareness within British Muslims and the wider public, of democracy – particularly 'secular democracy', helping to contribute to a shared vision of citizenship. Carlos Celdran – Performance artist and political/cultural activist in the Philippines, for his tireless challenges to the privileged Catholic Church there, particularly in his advocacy for gay health and freedom, and for the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 which guarantees universal access to methods of contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care – long opposed by the Catholic church. The Dalai Lama – for his promotion of secular ethics beyond religion and respect for nonbelievers globally. Oliver Kamm – Leader writer and columnist for The Times, for his regular and excellent defence of the separation of Church and State. Malala Yousafzai – for campaigning for girls' education in the face of violent and brutal Islamist opposition. Tickets for this year's event are still available, price £45. This includes a three course lunch with coffee or tea and a welcome drink on arrival. Buy your tickets here.
	NSS welcomes Professor Lawrence Krauss as an honorary associate News \| Thu, 28th Feb 2013 The National Secular Society expressed its delight that Professor Lawrence Krauss has agreed to become an honorary associate. Professor Krauss is one of the world's leading theoretical physicists and has been honoured by all America's physical societies. He is also one of the USA's leading — and most effective — opponents of creationism and "intelligent design". You can read more about his many achievements, his books and articles here. In the Wall Street Journal he wrote: "Perhaps the most important contribution an honest assessment of the incompatibility between science and religious doctrine can provide is to make it starkly clear that in human affairs — as well as in the rest of the physical world — reason is the better guide."
	French challenge to exception of Alsace Moselle from separation law fails Opinion \| Thu, 28th Feb 2013 By Catherine Le Fur A challenge to the exception of Alsace-Moselle from the 1905 French law that separates church and state has failed. A previously unknown secularist group appealed to the Constitutional Council (a body dedicated to validating the constitutionality of laws), claiming that the current status in Alsace-Moselle contradicts the secular nature of the Republic, as stated in Article I of the 1958 constitution of the 5th Republic. The Constitutional Council delivered its verdict on February 21st, upholding the current status quo. In its reasoning it said Article I of the constitution contains wording that permits exceptional provisions (as in Alsace-Moselle). Secondly, the State upholds secularism by recognising the four religions already recognised in the concordat of 1801 (Catholic, Lutheran. Reformed Protestant and Jewish). Lastly, the Council said, both the writer of the constitution of the 4th Republic (1946) and that of the 5th (1958) didn't deem it necessary to end the Concordat regime in those departments. The Concordat signed in France in 1801 between the Emperor Napoléon and the Pope gave the Emperor the right to appoint bishops. This Concordat was repealed in 1905 by the enactment of the Separation Law but it is still in effect in Alsace-Moselle because at that time it was part of Germany. In Alsace-Moselle the leaders of four religions already recognised in 1801 are appointed by the state. The French Federation of Freethought (Libre Pensee) said it was unsurprised by the decision. How could a secular conception suddenly appear from an anti-democratic Constitution, which allowed, on an unprecedented scale, the adoption of all the anti-secular laws, since the Debré law on December 31st 1959? This was the mother of all the anti-secular laws in France– it allowed for state-subsidy and state-running of religious schools, overwhelmingly Catholic. But one would have to be a little naïve to think that the Concordat problem, and more generally the clerical status in Alsace-Moselle, could be settled by a legal appeal. If it seems strange that nobody has tried an appeal before — and particularly the French Federation of Freethought — it's because changing it is no longer a constitutional issue, but a political one. Repeatedly, the French Federation of Freethought opposed those who wanted to introduce a "magical" priority question of constitutionality because for us, as for the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, the 1905 Separation Law is part of the body of Constitutional law. The juridical and political short cuts lead to an impasse. Now the 46th proposition of François Hollande is definitively dead. (He wanted to incorporate the main principles of the 1905 law into the constitution, with the addition of the second clause in the first article of the constitution: "The Republic ensures freedom of conscience, guarantees the free practise of religions and respect the separation of Churches and State, in accordance with the first title of the 1905 law, subject to the specific rules set out in Alsace-Moselle." The decision of the Constitutional Council absolutely conforms to the provisions in force in the institutions of the European Community. There are 14 Concordats in Europe and the Lisbon Treaty protects the antidemocratic advantages of the Churches inside the European Union. In France, with the Third Act of Decentralization, which will be debated later this year, and which proposes to allow local authorities much more leeway to "experiment", there is a serious risk that the influence of the Concordat will begin to spread. The French Federation of Freethought has chosen another approach. It is calling all the authentic secularists to join the demonstration on May 4th 2013 in the place Kleber in Strasbourg, for the repeal of the Concordat.
	Crackdown on secular intellectuals in Turkey continues News \| Thu, 28th Feb 2013 A senior astrophysics professor in Turkey appears to be the latest target of what academics and scientists in that country say is an ongoing campaign by its conservative government to intimidate secular intellectuals. Rennan Pekünlü (right), who teaches at Ege University in Izmir, was tried by a local criminal court last year on charges of preventing female students from entering his class wearing headscarves. A ruling handed down on 13 September 2012, found Pekünlü guilty of violating the freedoms and rights of women at the university. The court sentenced him to 25 months of imprisonment. Pekünlü appealed to the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals, which is expected to issue a final ruling next month. Pekünlü has argued that he was simply upholding the Turkish constitution, which prohibits the display of religious symbols or affiliation in government offices and institutions supported by government funding. A coalition of eight academic and scientific nonprofit organizations in Turkey has issued a joint declaration of support for Pekünlü that accuses the Turkish government of giving the astrophysicist an unjust trial. A coalition spokesperson, Ferhan Sağin—a professor of medical biochemistry at Ege University—says she and many of her colleagues fear that Pekünlü will suffer the same fate as numerous other critics who oppose the Turkish government's efforts to promote Islamist ideology in public life, particularly at educational institutions. In June last year, authorities arrested Kemal Gürüz — the former head of Turkey's Council of Higher Education — who has been a prominent advocate of keeping religion out of public education. Gürüz remains in prison. The case against Pekünlü was initiated after a female student filed a complaint alleging that he had unfairly prevented her and other women from entering his classroom wearing headscarves. A television crew filmed Pekünlü taking pictures of headscarved students at the entrance of his department building. In a statement of defence, Pekünlü claims that he took those pictures with the students' permission in order to document violations of the university's declared ban on allowing headscarves on campus. According to Pekünlü, university authorities did not act on his reports of these violations. In this YouTube clip a group of women in headscarves arrive at the University — accompanied by TV cameras and reporter — in an obvious attempt to force the university to breach its rules. Mr Pekünlü tries to keep them out, with the consequence that he now faces a substantial prison sentence.
	Trial of Bradlaugh and Besant to be examined in new play News \| Fri, 22nd Feb 2013 PLEASE NOTE: THIS PLAY IS NOW FULLY BOOKED. A new play by Derek Lennard, The Fruits of Philosophy (Such a scandal!) which examines secularism and free thought in Victorian Britain will be presented at Conway Hall on Friday 15 March at 7.30pm. It is based on the true story of the trial of Annie Besant and Charles Bradlaugh (founder of the National Secular Society) who were accused in 1877 of publishing "Obscene Libel" – a sixpenny pamphlet advocating family planning and describing contraception. The play will give a dramatised account of the trial, the scandal that surrounded it, the way it affected the lives and careers of the accused, and the impact on wider society. The present president of the National Secular Society, Terry Sanderson, will be making a cameo appearance as the Solicitor General Hardinge Stanley Giffard.
	Win £250 – just write an uplifting Secular Thought for the Day News \| Thu, 21st Feb 2013 The ongoing irritation at the BBC's exclusion of secular voices from The Thought for the Day slot has spurred one the NSS's previous presidents, David Tribe, to sponsor a prize of £250 for the best secular Thought for the Day. To win the prize, we are looking for a short essay in a similar format to the BBC's religious slot. Thought for the Day is supposed to be an 'uplifting' reflection on a topical issue from a religious point of view. To be in with a chance, your secular Thought should be between 450 - 650 words and be positive in approach and ideally related to a topical matter. We are not looking for a humanist Thought or an atheist Thought, but specifically for a secular Thought. We suggest you look at the NSS's Secular Charter for some ideas. So, let's have some great (secular) Thoughts for the Day and good luck! Send your Secular Thought for the Day to admin@secularism.org.uk or by post to NSS, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. Entries that require a great deal of correction or editing are unlikely to win the prize, so please let us have copy that is clean and finalised to your satisfaction. Please submit entries by Monday 18 March.

Read this week's Newsline in full (PDF)

NSS Speaks Out

Terry Sanderson commented on the Cardinal Keith O'Brien scandal on Voice of Russia Radio (scroll to bottom of page) and Keith Porteous Wood talked about the Vatican's travails on Russian Television.

Campaigns manager Stephen Evans was on BBC WM talking about single-faith schools.

Scottish spokesperson Alistair McBay had this letter and another one in the Scotsman.

Have your say

We very much welcome your thoughts on issues covered in Newsline and on NSS campaigning more generally. Please send your letters for publication to letters@secularism.org.uk. We want to publish as many letters as possible, so please keep them brief – no more than 250 words.

Quotes of the Week

"As far as MPs are concerned the C of E is becoming less relevant and so they pay less attention nowadays to what its leaders say. Bishops speak every day in the House of Lords but how often do you hear what they have said repeated in the House of Commons? And they are rarely quoted in the newspapers."
(Nigel Nelson, Church of England Newspaper)

"The great irony is that the surest guarantor of religious freedom is the promotion of secularism. Theocracy and religious freedom are mutually exclusive. It is in the countries where there is light between church and state that believers enjoy the most freedom."
(John Moore, National Post, Canada)

"Governments must display courage and conviction and draw an authentic and effective partition between the state and the church. Canon law is designed to protect the church and the holy men. Secular law, inter alia, is designed to protect the victims and children."
(Judy Courtin, The Age)

"In the future, when as a gay Catholic I hear a senior cleric describing my orientation in hostile and uncompromising language, I might just want to ask a poignant question: is this really about me, or is it more about you?"
(Mark Dowd, Guardian)

"As the late Christopher Hitchens used to say of the most vociferous, gay-obsessed clergy: 'I have a rule of thumb for such clerics and have never known it to fail: Set your watch and sit back, and pretty soon they will be found sprawling lustily on the floor of the men's room.'"
(Douglas Murray, Spectator)

Essays of the Week

Church and State in France and the United States
(Jean Baubérot, Washington Post)

Morbid Symptoms: The Catholic Right's false nostalgia
(Eugene McCarreher, Commonweal)

	NSS objects to new workplace guidelines on religious discrimination News \| Thu, 28th Feb 2013 The National Secular Society has objected to new workplace guidelines issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to reflect the outcome of the recent European Court cases relating to the four Christians who claimed they had been discriminated against at work. We were given the opportunity to comment on draft guidelines, which included a fictional example about a Hindu nurse offering prayers to a patient, and concluded that this was not inappropriate. We objected to the example on the basis that it was practically identical to the actual case of Caroline Petrie, the Somerset nurse who offered prayers to a patient at home, where prayers were considered not to be appropriate. A Christian, sensitive to the likely inappropriateness of this to those who would not want prayers, complained to the Health Authority. It transpired that nurse Petrie had already being disciplined for such behaviour and instructed not to repeat it. She lost her case at the employment tribunal. Our objection, backed up by 2009 Department of Health guidance warning about proselytising (pdf), was taken on board and the Hindu nurse example was removed. It seems that the Commission were determined to produce an example where praying was acceptable. So they replaced the Hindu nurse case with a Christian, but needed to introduce a ridiculously unlikely scenario in an attempt to do so: "A Christian hospital nurse offers to say prayers for a patient, making it clear that there is no pressure or obligation on the patient to agree and he will not be offended if the patient declines. The patient decides that she would like the prayers to be said for her as she will gain some comfort from them. The hospital nurse's colleagues who witness this raise concerns with their manager who, after investigation, decides nothing inappropriate occurred in these circumstances. This was because the nurse had discussed and agreed in advance with his employer that he could offer prayers, when the hospital chaplain was unavailable, to patients who had identified spiritual needs and who accepted the offer without any pressure or abuse of power. We have written to the EHRC Chair to complain about the inappropriateness of the example, but also about what appears to us to be the lack of even-handedness in the way the guidelines have been drawn together.
	Surveys reveal attitudes to religious symbols at work News \| Tue, 26th Feb 2013 YouGov has been conducting surveys on public attitudes to the wearing of religious clothing and symbols in the workplace. The polls were taken in the light of the four cases recently heard in the European Court of Human Rights. In the study, opinion was sought about the entitlement to wear three religious items (a chain necklace with a Christian cross, a Jewish kippah/skullcap, and an Islamic burka) in four professional situations: flight attendant, nurse, teacher, and accountant. The survey found people are more receptive to accountants being entitled to wear religious symbols than the more public facing professions such as nurses, teachers and flight attendants. Across all four professions settings it found that people were more comfortable with crosses and kippahs being worn that the burka. People were generally happier with a flight attendant wearing a cross (80% approval) than a nurse (70%) which reflects to some extent the results of the court cases, when Nadia Eweida of British Airways won her case and nurse Shirley Chaplin lost hers. Overall only 27% of people thought it was okay for people to wear a burka at work, with a nurse in a burka likely to gain least approval (18%) with a teacher not far behind at 22%. See the Yougov poll here
	Is the Catholic Church at last getting the come-uppance it has so long deserved? Opinion \| Mon, 25th Feb 2013 By Terry Sanderson Freedom of religion is a vital freedom and one that must be protected. As a secularist I know I should not be concerned about the inner workings of churches and, so long as they remain within the law, they should be able to organise themselves as they wish. They should be able to create doctrines by which their followers are obligated to live and, at least in the West, nobody is obliged to follow a religion they find uncongenial. But all the same, it is taking much discipline to resist the feelings of schadenfreude at the accumulating catastrophes that are assailing the Catholic Church. And trying not to wallow in the hope that more will follow. If ever an institution has been in need of humbling, it is this one. If it were prepared to keep its unreasonable, inhumane teachings to its own members, we would not protest. But increasingly it tries to impose those teachings on the world outside by the ruthless pursuit of secular political power. Not content to forbid abortion and contraception to its own faithful, it tries to deny them to us all. It instructs its bishops to agitate in the political arena, it threatens Catholic politicians who do not vote in the way they "should" and it operates covertly behind the scenes using its diplomatic power to gain access to the decision makers. And yet despite its manipulation of the democratic processes, it does not operate democratically itself. It answers no questions, covers its secrets and hides its corruption behind impenetrable walls. Now we have the case of Cardinal Keith O'Brien, a classic example of church hypocrisy coming back to give him a well-earned bite on the bottom. Like many holy men before him (such as the US televangelists Jim Bakker and Ted Haggard) it appears that his virulent attacks on homosexuality may eventually be shown to be little more than a cover for his own tendencies in that direction. As is usual with the Catholic Church, everything possible is being done to stop this scandal unravelling any further. O'Brien has been rapidly dispensed with in the hope that no further details will emerge. Faint hope of that. And still the questions swirl around the head of Ratzinger. Why precisely has he decided to resign? Old age and infirmity? Perhaps, but the agitation of the Vatican's officials who are berating the media for daring to speculate suggests that there is more to come. But still the Church thinks it can simply dismiss its scandals in the hope — as in so many times in the past — they will soon be forgotten. That is certainly the way that Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor is behaving. He had the gall to sit in front of TV camera yesterday and say that the church must be "transparent" about child abuse. This from the man who, when he was Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, covered up the activities of one of the worst clerical child abusers this country has seen. It is one of the mysteries of the age as to why the BBC investigation into his wrong-doings was dropped and why the secular authorities did not take action. It seems there is now developing a dual perception of the Catholic Church. On the one had there is the corrupt, scandal-ridden hierarchy and on the other the ordinary Catholics in the pew who are struggling to hold on to their loyalty to the church. Whatever good individual Catholics do in the world (and it is substantial good), it is undermined by the rottenness in Rome.
	Catholic Church’s attempt to evade responsibility for child abuse liability is stymied by Supreme Court News \| Thu, 28th Feb 2013 The Supreme Court has this week refused to hear a case from the Catholic Church that it could not be held responsible for abuse committed by one of its priests because he was not an 'employee'. This means the Catholic Church can now be financially liable for child abuse by priests working under its control. The case arose when a Portsmouth woman brought a civil action against the Church after claiming she was abused by a priest at a children's home run by the Church. The woman, identified in court as Miss E, was seven years old when she was admitted to the Firs Children' Home in 1970. She alleges she was sexually abused by Father Wilfred Baldwin, a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth, who died in 2006. In November 2011, High Court judge Mr Justice Alistair MacDuffs ruled that the church is legally responsible for sexual abuse committed by its priests. This week's ruling by the Supreme Court has now confirmed that decision. Peter Furlough, who represents the lawyers of the Waterlooville victim, said it was a landmark case that could not be challenged in Europe– and one that would have international ramifications for the Catholic Church. He told The Portsmouth News: "The Supreme Court has refused the Catholic Church permission to make further appeals to it. Therefore the Catholic Churches' case is lost. That's to say they are responsible for the misbehaviour of their priests. "The Catholic Church were looking to use a loophole. They were arguing that because priests are technically self-employed the church could not be held responsible for their misbehaviour. The Supreme Court was having none of it." Because the point of the law has now been settled, it means that other cases of alleged abuse by Father Baldwin can be heard. Mr Furlough said there were known to be several 'local' victims. Mr Furlough said: "It's known there are a number of other cases involving the late Father Baldwin. We should expect a number of other cases to come forward. There's a list of half a dozen or so that are known." He added: "It's not possible for the church to go toEurope. The Supreme court has refused even to hear it. Therefore the case stops there and can't go any further." He said the ruling would have an impact across the globe in similar cases. Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society, said: "It is hard to exaggerate the importance of this case: it will almost certainly become an international precedent opening the door to financial liability against the Church for at least tens of thousands of victims of abuse worldwide. "Evidence abounds of the shameless lengths to which the Church has stooped for decades to evade financial responsibility for widespread abuse of children in its care. To have fought to evade liability for admitted abuse is both morally repugnant and a continuing blatant breach of the Church's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child."
	Poll shows widespread European indifference to the reign of Ratzinger News \| Fri, 1st Mar 2013 Most people think that Pope Benedict XVI – who ceased to be head of the Catholic Church yesterday – and his leading Catholic bishops have not been influential in their societies. That's according to YouGov's latest EuroTrack survey, which tracks public opinion in Britain, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Asked how much notice they think leading politicians have paid to the views of Pope Benedict and Catholic bishops in their respective countries, a majority of people in every country surveyed say either "not much" or "none at all". In Britain, 71% say Pope Benedict has not been influential, while only 9% say he was and 21% are undecided. Amongst British Roman Catholics, 78% say politicians have not paid attention to the views of Pope Benedict, while 17% say they have and 4% aren't sure. In predominantly Roman Catholic France, 61% of people believe the Pope has not been influential compared to 18% who believe he has been, and 21% who are undecided. Also, a majority of people in every country except for Germany say leading politicians in their respective countries were right to not pay much notice to the Pope's views. In Germany the public is divided with 43% believing the Pope should have been listened to, 40% saying he should have been ignored and 16% undecided. In most of the countries surveyed by YouGov people tend to have a more positive than negative view of Benedict's performance during his eight years as Pope. However, questioned on specific issues, ranging from allowing women priests to homosexuality and birth control, and either a majority or plurality of people tend to agree that Pope Benedict has been "too conservative and changed things too little". Only a small proportion of people in every country surveyed say they attend church once a week or more. In Britain, 30% of people say they never attend church services. Amongst British Roman Catholics, 23% say they never go to church, 13% go less than once a year, 6% go at least once a year, 21% say they go at least twice a year, 11% attend church at least twice a month, 6% go least once every two weeks and 19% of Roman Catholics in Britain say they attend church services once a week or more. See the full poll
	Last chance to take part in Girl Guides consultation on the Promise News \| Mon, 25th Feb 2013 The Girl Guides consultation to discuss the wording of its Promise closes on Sunday 3 March. Currently, girls wishing to become fully-fledged Guides promise to do their best, love "my God", serve "the Queen and country" and keep the Guide law. But Girlguiding UK has said an increasing number of girls and volunteers do not identify with the current oath. The UK's leading charity for girls and young women says it is keen to ensure Guides can believe in the words they say. The 'essence of spirituality' section of the consultation questionnaire sets out a number of possible alternatives to "love my God. These include "Be true to my beliefs" and "Search for the meaning in my life", amongst others. The questionnaire also considers whether the reference to the Queen should be replaced with a commitment to a Guide's community or country. The consultation is open to everyone and Girlguiding UK says it is particularly keen to hear from parents, potential members, volunteers and supporters. More than 30,000 people have so far responded. Unlike the Scouts, which recently consulted on the introduction of an alternative atheist oath, the Guides are considering replacing their existing oath with a secular version that can be used by all girls wishing to take the Promise. Stephen Evans, campaigns manager at the National Secular Society, said: "The introduction of one secular Promise for all would be a hugely positive and welcome development. "Not only are young people more likely to be non-religious, they also appear to be more likely to adopt a secular outlook on life. Girlguiding UK's own research into the attitudes and opinions of girls aged 7 to 21 across the UK has found a massive 70% of them agree that religious belief should be personal, and should not affect public issues such as education or politics. "This clearly shows that a secular Promise, without reference to religion and belief, and relevant to all young girls and potential leaders, is the most appropriate way forward. We hope as many secularists as possible take part in this consultation to send a very clear signal that girlguiding should be fully inclusive and equally welcoming to all girls." Get involved! The short questionnaire takes just a few minutes to complete. Please take part and encourage Girlguiding UK to adopt one secular Promise for all. Girlguiding members aged 14 or over can access the survey here. Non-members wanting to take part in the consultation can do so here. Surveys for the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides sections can be found on their websites. A draft version of the NSS response can be found here
	Vicar calls for disestablishment Opinion \| Tue, 26th Feb 2013 A Church of England vicar is advocating disestablishment. In a letter in the latest issue of the Church of England Newspaper, the Rev Paul Carr of Billericay writes: Having reflected on the momentous decision of Parliament to pass the Bill to redefine marriage, with some despondency I might add, I have come to the conclusion that there is a much deeper, much more fundamental issue at stake: and that is the rejection, by Parliament, of a Christian lifestyle – which is symptomatic of the post-Christian society in which we live, where people give little credence to the teaching of the Bible and can't be expected to follow its teaching. If people choose to live a life that is outside of God's best for them, then we must allow them to make that choice and, following the example of the early Church, show them an alternative and vibrant way to live. One thing that strikes me very strongly, in the midst of the intense debate and discussion, is that we can no longer, as the state Church, impose Christian morals and ethics on a Parliament who vote so favourably for something which we, as an institution, opposed. Furthermore, I want to suggest that serious consideration should be given, once again, to the disestablishment of the Church of England so that we can be released to focus our energies on spreading the Gospel of the Good News of Jesus without the hindrances of political activism which, undoubtedly, weakens our position. I have to admit that, for many years, I opposed disestablishment on the grounds that 'being' Anglican provided many opportunities for mission through the occasional offices and the acceptability which we enjoyed in the eyes of many in our communities. However, and unfortunately, I'm not convinced that is true today. Like many others, I am acutely aware that the Church of England is not currently looked upon favourably by many members of our society. The dilemma, frustration, and reality, is that our mission fields are being taken away from us because we are increasingly seen to be inconsistent and hypocritical and are known for being anti-women and anti-gay, and not known to be pro-Jesus and believe in a God of love and compassion and forgiveness and healing and wholeness, who can transform our lives through faith and trust in him in Jesus.
	Hospitals in dire cash crisis, but the chaplains sail merrily on Opinion \| Tue, 26th Feb 2013 By Terry Sanderson Not a week goes by now without more depressing headlines about the gradual demolition of the NHS. Recent ones include: Closure-threatened hospital units performing well Brent Council holding talks over threatened A&E closure 800 take to the streets over the future of Blaenau Ffestiniog hospital Closure move for Malton hospital Health chiefs confirm Charing Cross and Hammersmith A&E closure Stars join fight to save Whittington hospital Patient safety put at risk as Bolton hospital as debts rise But however many nurses are put on the scrap heap, however many doctors are given their marching orders, there always seems to be money for chaplains. For example, take a look at this job advert from the latest Church Times: Bradford teaching Hospital – Chaplain, Christian, £25,528–£34,189 for 37.5 hours a week. The Trust says it "recognises that chaplaincy is an essential component of patient care and is committed to maintaining its provision of chaplaincy services". The Southwest Yorkshire Foundation NHS Trust is also looking for a chaplain on the same salary scale. As is the Weston-Super Mare hospital. Meanwhile, people are dying because of lack of medical resources at hospitals
	Shortlist announced for Secularist of the Year News \| Mon, 25th Feb 2013 The shortlist has been announced for this year's Irwin Prize for Secularist of the Year. The award is presented annually in recognition of an individual or an organisation considered to have made an outstanding contribution to the secular cause. This year's prize will be presented by Michael Cashman MEP, CBE on Saturday 23 March at a lunchtime event in central London. Nominations for Secularist of the Year are made by members and supporters of the National Secular Society; the winner is chosen by the NSS along with Michael Irwin, the sponsor of the award. Previous prize winners have included former MP Evan Harris, Lord Avebury, Maryam Namazie, Southall Black Sisters, Sophie in 't Veld MEP and Peter Tatchell. This year's shortlist is: Jacque Berlinerblau – for his book How to be secular: A call to arms for religious freedom and for broadening the appeal of secularism by dispelling the misconception that it synonymous with atheism. British Muslims for a Secular Democracy – for raising awareness within British Muslims and the wider public, of democracy – particularly 'secular democracy', helping to contribute to a shared vision of citizenship. Carlos Celdran – Performance artist and political/cultural activist in the Philippines, for his tireless challenges to the privileged Catholic Church there, particularly in his advocacy for gay health and freedom, and for the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 which guarantees universal access to methods of contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care – long opposed by the Catholic church. The Dalai Lama – for his promotion of secular ethics beyond religion and respect for nonbelievers globally. Oliver Kamm – Leader writer and columnist for The Times, for his regular and excellent defence of the separation of Church and State. Malala Yousafzai – for campaigning for girls' education in the face of violent and brutal Islamist opposition. Tickets for this year's event are still available, price £45. This includes a three course lunch with coffee or tea and a welcome drink on arrival. Buy your tickets here.
	NSS welcomes Professor Lawrence Krauss as an honorary associate News \| Thu, 28th Feb 2013 The National Secular Society expressed its delight that Professor Lawrence Krauss has agreed to become an honorary associate. Professor Krauss is one of the world's leading theoretical physicists and has been honoured by all America's physical societies. He is also one of the USA's leading — and most effective — opponents of creationism and "intelligent design". You can read more about his many achievements, his books and articles here. In the Wall Street Journal he wrote: "Perhaps the most important contribution an honest assessment of the incompatibility between science and religious doctrine can provide is to make it starkly clear that in human affairs — as well as in the rest of the physical world — reason is the better guide."
	French challenge to exception of Alsace Moselle from separation law fails Opinion \| Thu, 28th Feb 2013 By Catherine Le Fur A challenge to the exception of Alsace-Moselle from the 1905 French law that separates church and state has failed. A previously unknown secularist group appealed to the Constitutional Council (a body dedicated to validating the constitutionality of laws), claiming that the current status in Alsace-Moselle contradicts the secular nature of the Republic, as stated in Article I of the 1958 constitution of the 5th Republic. The Constitutional Council delivered its verdict on February 21st, upholding the current status quo. In its reasoning it said Article I of the constitution contains wording that permits exceptional provisions (as in Alsace-Moselle). Secondly, the State upholds secularism by recognising the four religions already recognised in the concordat of 1801 (Catholic, Lutheran. Reformed Protestant and Jewish). Lastly, the Council said, both the writer of the constitution of the 4th Republic (1946) and that of the 5th (1958) didn't deem it necessary to end the Concordat regime in those departments. The Concordat signed in France in 1801 between the Emperor Napoléon and the Pope gave the Emperor the right to appoint bishops. This Concordat was repealed in 1905 by the enactment of the Separation Law but it is still in effect in Alsace-Moselle because at that time it was part of Germany. In Alsace-Moselle the leaders of four religions already recognised in 1801 are appointed by the state. The French Federation of Freethought (Libre Pensee) said it was unsurprised by the decision. How could a secular conception suddenly appear from an anti-democratic Constitution, which allowed, on an unprecedented scale, the adoption of all the anti-secular laws, since the Debré law on December 31st 1959? This was the mother of all the anti-secular laws in France– it allowed for state-subsidy and state-running of religious schools, overwhelmingly Catholic. But one would have to be a little naïve to think that the Concordat problem, and more generally the clerical status in Alsace-Moselle, could be settled by a legal appeal. If it seems strange that nobody has tried an appeal before — and particularly the French Federation of Freethought — it's because changing it is no longer a constitutional issue, but a political one. Repeatedly, the French Federation of Freethought opposed those who wanted to introduce a "magical" priority question of constitutionality because for us, as for the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, the 1905 Separation Law is part of the body of Constitutional law. The juridical and political short cuts lead to an impasse. Now the 46th proposition of François Hollande is definitively dead. (He wanted to incorporate the main principles of the 1905 law into the constitution, with the addition of the second clause in the first article of the constitution: "The Republic ensures freedom of conscience, guarantees the free practise of religions and respect the separation of Churches and State, in accordance with the first title of the 1905 law, subject to the specific rules set out in Alsace-Moselle." The decision of the Constitutional Council absolutely conforms to the provisions in force in the institutions of the European Community. There are 14 Concordats in Europe and the Lisbon Treaty protects the antidemocratic advantages of the Churches inside the European Union. In France, with the Third Act of Decentralization, which will be debated later this year, and which proposes to allow local authorities much more leeway to "experiment", there is a serious risk that the influence of the Concordat will begin to spread. The French Federation of Freethought has chosen another approach. It is calling all the authentic secularists to join the demonstration on May 4th 2013 in the place Kleber in Strasbourg, for the repeal of the Concordat.
	Crackdown on secular intellectuals in Turkey continues News \| Thu, 28th Feb 2013 A senior astrophysics professor in Turkey appears to be the latest target of what academics and scientists in that country say is an ongoing campaign by its conservative government to intimidate secular intellectuals. Rennan Pekünlü (right), who teaches at Ege University in Izmir, was tried by a local criminal court last year on charges of preventing female students from entering his class wearing headscarves. A ruling handed down on 13 September 2012, found Pekünlü guilty of violating the freedoms and rights of women at the university. The court sentenced him to 25 months of imprisonment. Pekünlü appealed to the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals, which is expected to issue a final ruling next month. Pekünlü has argued that he was simply upholding the Turkish constitution, which prohibits the display of religious symbols or affiliation in government offices and institutions supported by government funding. A coalition of eight academic and scientific nonprofit organizations in Turkey has issued a joint declaration of support for Pekünlü that accuses the Turkish government of giving the astrophysicist an unjust trial. A coalition spokesperson, Ferhan Sağin—a professor of medical biochemistry at Ege University—says she and many of her colleagues fear that Pekünlü will suffer the same fate as numerous other critics who oppose the Turkish government's efforts to promote Islamist ideology in public life, particularly at educational institutions. In June last year, authorities arrested Kemal Gürüz — the former head of Turkey's Council of Higher Education — who has been a prominent advocate of keeping religion out of public education. Gürüz remains in prison. The case against Pekünlü was initiated after a female student filed a complaint alleging that he had unfairly prevented her and other women from entering his classroom wearing headscarves. A television crew filmed Pekünlü taking pictures of headscarved students at the entrance of his department building. In a statement of defence, Pekünlü claims that he took those pictures with the students' permission in order to document violations of the university's declared ban on allowing headscarves on campus. According to Pekünlü, university authorities did not act on his reports of these violations. In this YouTube clip a group of women in headscarves arrive at the University — accompanied by TV cameras and reporter — in an obvious attempt to force the university to breach its rules. Mr Pekünlü tries to keep them out, with the consequence that he now faces a substantial prison sentence.
	Trial of Bradlaugh and Besant to be examined in new play News \| Fri, 22nd Feb 2013 PLEASE NOTE: THIS PLAY IS NOW FULLY BOOKED. A new play by Derek Lennard, The Fruits of Philosophy (Such a scandal!) which examines secularism and free thought in Victorian Britain will be presented at Conway Hall on Friday 15 March at 7.30pm. It is based on the true story of the trial of Annie Besant and Charles Bradlaugh (founder of the National Secular Society) who were accused in 1877 of publishing "Obscene Libel" – a sixpenny pamphlet advocating family planning and describing contraception. The play will give a dramatised account of the trial, the scandal that surrounded it, the way it affected the lives and careers of the accused, and the impact on wider society. The present president of the National Secular Society, Terry Sanderson, will be making a cameo appearance as the Solicitor General Hardinge Stanley Giffard.
	Win £250 – just write an uplifting Secular Thought for the Day News \| Thu, 21st Feb 2013 The ongoing irritation at the BBC's exclusion of secular voices from The Thought for the Day slot has spurred one the NSS's previous presidents, David Tribe, to sponsor a prize of £250 for the best secular Thought for the Day. To win the prize, we are looking for a short essay in a similar format to the BBC's religious slot. Thought for the Day is supposed to be an 'uplifting' reflection on a topical issue from a religious point of view. To be in with a chance, your secular Thought should be between 450 - 650 words and be positive in approach and ideally related to a topical matter. We are not looking for a humanist Thought or an atheist Thought, but specifically for a secular Thought. We suggest you look at the NSS's Secular Charter for some ideas. So, let's have some great (secular) Thoughts for the Day and good luck! Send your Secular Thought for the Day to admin@secularism.org.uk or by post to NSS, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. Entries that require a great deal of correction or editing are unlikely to win the prize, so please let us have copy that is clean and finalised to your satisfaction. Please submit entries by Monday 18 March.

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Newsline 1 March 2013

News, Blogs & Opinion

NSS objects to new workplace guidelines on religious discrimination

Surveys reveal attitudes to religious symbols at work

Is the Catholic Church at last getting the come-uppance it has so long deserved?

Catholic Church’s attempt to evade responsibility for child abuse liability is stymied by Supreme Court

Poll shows widespread European indifference to the reign of Ratzinger

Last chance to take part in Girl Guides consultation on the Promise

Vicar calls for disestablishment

Hospitals in dire cash crisis, but the chaplains sail merrily on

Shortlist announced for Secularist of the Year

NSS welcomes Professor Lawrence Krauss as an honorary associate

French challenge to exception of Alsace Moselle from separation law fails

Crackdown on secular intellectuals in Turkey continues

Trial of Bradlaugh and Besant to be examined in new play

Win £250 – just write an uplifting Secular Thought for the Day

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Secularist of the Year 2013

Newsline 1 March 2013

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