It's a familiar story – a new poll has (again) shown a steep rise in the non-religious in recent years, and a decline in those who identify as Christian.
Why then, do successive governments persist in behaving as though the UK is a 'Christian country'?
At the Conservative Party Conference this week Theresa May repeated her promise for "more good faith schools for parents and pupils who want them". What about those who don't want them, but find their choice of schools limited because of the prevalence of 'faith' schools in their local area? What about those, like us, who think the taxpayer shouldn't be funding religion but that every citizen, including young people, should have the freedom to choose their beliefs for themselves?
Society has changed. The NSS is working tirelessly to make the Government see that. More faith schools will be needlessly divisive – at a time when we should strain every sinew to build a more integrated society.
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News, Blogs & Opinion
Faith school pupils punished for not attending massNews | Thu, 6th Oct 2016 A group of non-Catholic students in a Scottish school have been punished with a week's worth of detentions after they refused to attend a religious service. Pupils at Taylor High School in New Stevenston were instructed by the school to attend Patron Day Mass with Bishop Joseph Toal. The local paper reported that the mass was also to serve as a memorial service for former members of staff who had died. But several non-Catholic students said they didn't want to attend because they were not practising Catholics. One sixth form pupil was quoted by the Motherwell Times saying: "Although pupils are usually forced to go, there [are] not usually consequences for not being there and I believe it is unfair to have forced religious observance towards many pupils who may not be religious, me included. "When I was 11 I did not have the choice of which school I would go to. To now move would be pointless, I should just be able to have an enjoyable last year, without being forced into detention for a whole week and banned from the social area." The school said that not attending a compulsory religious event was truancy. Acting head teacher Nicola Daley said: "Regrettably, a small number of pupils, who had attended school in the morning, opted to truant in the afternoon and miss the service. "The pupils have been subject to school discipline as a consequence of their actions." After the event the school tweeted: "Many thanks to @ToalJoseph for leading us in prayer today. It was a wonderful day for our school." Stephen Evans, campaigns director of the National Secular Society, said: "It is really outrageous that students, particularly sixth form pupils, should be punished for not sharing the faith ethos of a school. "Religious freedom includes the freedom to not have a religion and it's scandalous that faith schools can get away with showing such scant regard for young people's rights and freedoms. Schools are not homogeneous worshipping communities and it's time they stopped acting as if they were. "Where schools do include acts of worship within the school day, pupils should always be able to opt themselves out." In June this year the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child urged the UK to repeal laws requiring the provision of 'broadly Christian' worship in schools and called for pupils to be given the independent right of withdrawal from any religious worship that is held in schools. The Humanist Society Scotland recently launched a judicial review against the Scottish Government over its refusal to allow sixth form student to opt out of Religious Observance at school. | |
Channel 4’s Dispatches reveals intimidating tactics of US-inspired anti-abortion campaignersOpinion | Thu, 6th Oct 2016 Dr Antony Lempert of the Secular Medical Forum reacts to Channel 4 Dispatches' programme that showed the shock tactics UK anti-abortion campaigners are importing from America. This week's Channel 4's Dispatches, presented by Cathy Newman, went undercover among the anti-abortion activists in the UK who are taking inspiration from the American anti-abortion movement, and the documentary exposed the shocking intimidation that women are subjected to outside abortion clinics in Britain. Sadly there are many threats to women's rights – across Europe. Just this week Poland was forced to backtrack after mass demonstrations against a punitive new law that would have punished women with prison terms for having an abortion, even in the case of rape. The proposed legislation was a particularly extreme example of the state, with backing from elements of the Catholic Church, attacking women's rights. But there are many other threats to women's right to access healthcare and make their own choices – as Dispatches showed, and in the UK these campaigns are being infused with well-practised tactics from the United States. It was recently reported that an NHS Trust produced a leaflet directing distressed patients to such a vehemently anti-abortion organisation as GCN (Good Counsel Network). Currently those without professed religious belief and links to organised religion have been disbarred from applying for some NHS employment, namely chaplaincy. And it was the spiritual pastoral care team of the South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust who produced material directing women to GCN. If all NHS staff were appointed on merit rather than by virtue of their religious beliefs, there would be less risk of disreputable religious pressure groups being given such a platform; a platform used exclusively to try to bully and frighten women into making the choice that suits them and not necessarily the women and their families. The Secular Medical Forum fully supports the rights of GCN members to make the right personal choice for themselves about abortion. However, we condemn the deplorable tactics used by GCN and similar organisations, shown by Dispatches, which try to frighten, misdirect, obstruct and even threaten women who might want to make a different choice. We urge all NHS trusts to take steps to ensure that all leaflets and NHS information is carefully scrutinised to ensure that only reputable organisations which don't contradict NHS values are included in signposting advice. NHS trusts should be vigilant that the leaflets they produce and distribute to patients are safe and are not signposting patients to disreputable or single-interest organisations which misrepresent the medical and psychological evidence for their ends. There is enough misinformation about abortion without an NHS Trust directing women to a group like the GCN. One oft-repeated claim made by religious anti-abortionists, and heard in the programme, about the risks of breast cancer after abortion is simply not true and has no evidence to support it. That many fervently religious people believe that the ends justify the means explains but does not excuse such outright scaremongering. As Dispatches showed these lies continue even after the lack of evidence for their assertions is well known. Women consider abortion for a variety of reasons. When they seek professional help to make the right decision for them and their family, it is vital that women are not placed under duress from or misinformed by religious pressure groups with one agenda- their own. Neutral professional counselling and support allows women to explore all the options in a non-judgmental climate. These options include the option to terminate or to continue with a pregnancy. Dr Antony Lempert is the chair of the Secular Medical Forum. The views expressed in our blogs are those of the author and may not represent the views of the NSS. | |
Strike over Polish abortion ban forces U-turnNews | Mon, 3rd Oct 2016 Massive demonstrations in Poland have resulted in a government U-turn over a law which would have criminalised abortion on all grounds except to save the life of the mother. Thousands of women protested against the proposed law, which was backed by hard-line Catholic groups in the country and the ruling Law and Justice Party. In the wake of the protests, a parliamentary committee recommended that the Polish parliament reject the legislation and the science minister said the demonstrations had taught the Government to have "humility". In the days leading up to the protests, the European Women's Lobby and the International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network released an open letter to show solidarity with Polish women. Addressed to "the women of Poland", the letter said: "Across Europe, we are watching in horror as your parliament tries to take away your fundamental human rights. We condemn this attack on your freedom to make choices. We support your efforts to stop this terrible ban on abortion and we stand with you in solidarity across borders. "The Polish parliament is trying to ban abortion - terminating a pregnancy will become a criminal act. Survivors of rape will be forced to give birth. Doctors could face jail time for performing prenatal tests. Miscarriages will be met not with medical care, but questions from a prosecutor. "The law on abortion in Poland is already one of the most restrictive in Europe. The new proposed law would make abortion illegal and punishable in all cases, except when there is an immediate and undeniable threat to a woman's life. "There is already a huge amount of momentum in Poland to stop this oppressive law. Together, we can help strengthen it. Please add your name to the open letter, and help us raise funds to support the local activists where they most need it!" The proposed law, sparked after a Catholic group collected a petition with 450,000 signatures, would have been even more restrictive than the current Polish legislation. As the law currently stands abortion is only permitted in the case of severe foetal abnormality, when the mother's life is in danger, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. The Catholic Church in Poland has long opposed the current law, and Ordo Iuris, a Catholic legal group, was behind the petition which prompted the draconian new legislation, which would have even banned abortion in the case of rape. Politico reported that just 14% of Poles said they wanted "more restrictions on abortion", compared to 42% who support the current 'compromise' legislation and 25% who want to see the law liberalised. An opposing bill that would have allowed abortion on request up to a limit of 12 weeks was previously rejected by the Polish parliament. This story was updated on 6 October 2016 at 3:30pm. | |
New survey reveals Scots’ attitudes to religious symbols at workNews | Tue, 4th Oct 2016 The 2015 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey has found Scots to be increasingly accepting of ethnic and religious diversity, though many still have particular concerns about Islam. Pollsters asked Scottish people about their attitudes to wearing religious garments at work and whether an employer had the right to ask an employee to take off a cross, Sikh turban, hijab or face-veil. Since 2010 respondents have become more likely to say employees should be able to wear many different types of religious symbol at work, from crucifixes to hijabs. The most contentious religious symbol, unsurprisingly, was the full Islamic face veil. When asked "Whether a bank should, or should not, be able to insist an employee removes religious dress or symbol at work" a majority were in favour of allowing an employer to ask for an employee to remove a full Islamic face veil. 34% said they should definitely have the right to insist on this, and a further 31% said an employer should "probably" have the right to ask an employee to remove a face veil. 35% of Scots however said that an employer should "probably" or "definitely" not be able to insist a face veil is removed. In 2010 41% agreed that an employer should be able to ask for a face veil to be removed. Just one-in-five thought that it was right for an employer to ask for a Sikh man to remove his turban, slightly more than the 18% who think it is acceptable to ask a Muslim woman to remove her headscarf. Only 15% said the same for a Christian woman wearing a crucifix. The report from the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey on their findings said that "Older people were more likely than younger people to say that an employer should be able to insist that a Muslim woman removes her veil, a Sikh man removes his turban and that a Christian woman removes her crucifix at work. For example, over 4 in 5 people aged 65 or over (82%) said an employer should be able to insist a Muslim woman removes her veil compared with only around 2 in 5 of those aged 18-29 years old (43%)." Despite concerns of increasing anti-Muslim bigotry in Scotland, the survey found that the "predominant trend was one of discriminatory attitudes declining". The number of people strongly agreeing or agreeing with the statement "Scotland would begin to lose its identity if more Muslims came to live in Scotland" peaked in 2006 at 14% (strongly agree) and 35% (agree), but declined in 2015 to 13% and 28% strongly agreeing or agreeing respectively. Though an overall number of people still agree with the statement (41% agree and 39% disagree), the trend since 2006 appears to be towards more tolerance of Muslim minorities, though significant concerns remain. There has also been a slight decline in the number of people who would be "unhappy" or "very unhappy" if a close relative "formed a long-term relationship" with a Muslim. 24% said they would be unhappy with this in 2006, compared to 20% in 2015. 49% said they were would be "very happy". The survey also measured attitudes to same-sex relationships, and found a huge rise in the number of Scots who said that same-sex relationships were "not wrong at all", up from just 29% in 2000 to 59% in 2015. 26% said they were always, mostly or sometimes wrong. Though Scots are more tolerant of certain religious symbols in the workplace, Scottish society as a whole is markedly less religious. The recently released results of the Scottish Household Survey found a marked increase in those who had no religious affiliation. Between 2009 and 2015 the 'nones' increased by 10%, from 40% of the population in 2009 to 50% last year. The Survey said there was "a corresponding decrease in the proportion reporting 'Church of Scotland', from 34 per cent to 25 per cent" over the same time period. The full Scottish Social Attitudes Survey report can be read here. The results of the Scottish Household Survey can be read here. | |
The biter bit: Church of England suffers from Chancel Repair LiabilityOpinion | Wed, 5th Oct 2016 The legal requirement to repair church chancels has surprisingly started to impact the Church Commissioners. Here's what they did about it. The National Secular Society has long campaigned to remove Chancel Repair Liability (CRL), which dates back to the time of Henry VIII and gives some churches the right to demand from some local property owners financial contributions towards repairs, whether or not the landowners are Anglicans or even Christians. A parochial church council (PCC) is able to demand payment, in some cases, for the full cost of repairs, which for ancient churches sometimes runs into hundreds of thousands of pounds. This liability continues even after a property is sold and consequently reduces the value of properties significantly. Up until 2002 the ability to claim chancel repairs against a landowner was not widely documented but in an effort to tidy up the situation the Land Registration Act 2002 gave PCCs until 12th October 2013 to register a Notice of Chancel Repair against liable properties or potentially lose the ability to demand payment. This deadline has passed but it is still possible to register notice against a property at any time until it has been sold. So why if PCCs can pass the cost of repairs for church property on to landowners is the Church of England suffering? Because, in their own words; Ah yes! The Church of England is a big landowner itself and this land is held by the Church Commissioners, a national charity separate from the PCCs. So via CRL a church can charge the national church body for repairs. Local parishioners usually pay for the national church bodies but that aside what is the really painful part of this? Because the Church Commissioners make money by selling off land, again in their own words; "… prospective purchasers of our land have been very reluctant to complete their purchases even where we offer to retain any CRL on sale. In essence, people are being 'scared off' by the spectre of CRL." So CRL, which is blighting the property values of tens of thousands of people is also lowering the property values of the church itself. The biter bit. What has the Church of England done? Up until 2015 the Church of England had been actively encouraging PCCs to register CRL but privately in a letter from Alan Guthrie-Jones of the Pastoral and Closed Churches department to Diocesan Registrars in February they signalled a change of tack. "… I wanted you all to know that we are changing our policy with immediate effect whereby we are no longer going to seek to register CRL against land in our ownership. Instead, and if and when we are planning to sell some of our land, we will for the most part be prepared to offer binding Deeds of Indemnity to PCCs so that our acceptance of CRL will remain unchanged in their cases." So from now on PCCs should not register any land owned by the church for CRL but should agree a private legal deal instead. These deals don't come without conditions; "1. In our Deeds we will have to reserve the right to vary our percentage acceptance to cater for the cases where we have yet to conclude our forensic reviews (some of which can take months to conclude, especially where hundreds of tithe fields are involved). 2. A condition of the Deed will be that PCCs need to apply to the Land Registry to remove registrations (or cautions against first registration) in respect of our current and former land (even where we ourselves registered the liability) as it is the PCC, and not the Commissioners, who have the benefit of the CRL. We are asking PCCs to put this in hand within 28 days of completing the Deed of Indemnity." So the PCC may not know what support they will receive in the future but must absolutely remove any existing records at the Land Registry straight away. It's interesting to know the Church Commissioners have worked out a plan to avoid CRL problems for their own land holdings. It's also nice to know they acknowledge that CRL is a broader problem for PCCs; "We are also aware of the adverse publicity and the related pastoral consequences of PCCs registering CRL against properties of all descriptions." But it is clear they are only resolving their own issues, not everyone's. Would not a better solution be to remove this holdover from the mediaeval age once and for all? |
Should there be more Muslim faith schools?
 | NSS quoted on why there should be no more Muslim faith schoolsWe're quoted by the BBC on why opening up more Muslim faith schools will be divisive - risking further harm to integration by fuelling religious and ethnic segregation. Our campaigns director Stephen Evans told the BBC, "Schools paid for out of public money should be inclusive schools where all children are educated together, irrespective of their faith backgrounds." |
Quotes of the Week
"Many young people living in Britain have left Islam and are facing huge ostracisation and isolation from their communities as a result. They're very often silenced or they're living closeted lives." Maryam Namazie, Independent.
"The influence of the Russian Orthodox church on public life is growing fast, thanks to Kremlin patronage. The church's preferred instrument of control is a draconian law criminalising 'offending the feeling of religious believers'".
Owen Matthews, Spectator.
Essay of the Week
The government's changes to faith schools side with hardline religion
Linda Woodhead, LSE blogs.
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