Opinion

Poland women's strike abortion protests

The Catholic Church’s control over abortion policy has sparked a furious backlash in Poland

A ruling which effectively outlawed abortion in Poland has again highlighted the government's damagingly close relationship... Read More »

School sign

Why was the Church of England allowed to influence the direction of our local secular schools?

The church was given a key role on the board of our local multi-academy trust – even though there were no faith... Read More »

France flag burning

The onus should be on theocrats, not liberal democracies, to change

Liberal equivocation on whether to stand up to jihadist murder and Islamist intimidation is morally wrong, misguided... Read More »

Church and state should be separate

Church and state should be separate

Ahead of the NSS's 2020 Bradlaugh Lecture on the subject, Stephen Evans says the disestablishment of the Church of... Read More »

Pope Francis

Human rights should not be at the mercy of the pope’s pontifications

Amid widespread interest in the pope's views on same-sex civil unions, Megan Manson says states shouldn't allow themselves... Read More »

Assisted dying

The BMA’s opportunity to rethink its position on assisted dying

The British Medical Association's opposition to assisted dying is at odds with its members' views. There's now a chance... Read More »

Bishops' bench

The Church of England’s culture of entitlement has to end

The furore over John Sentamu not being handed a life peerage reveals an ugly culture of entitlement that has not served... Read More »

Samuel Paty

Brutally murdered for doing his job

The beheading of Samuel Paty, a teacher in France targeted for showing Charlie Hebdo cartoons to his students, was... Read More »

Society

Those providing public services – including religious groups – should respect reasonable boundaries

Following a call for a greater role for religion in public services, Stephen Evans argues that any expansion of faith-based... Read More »

Lynne Featherstone

It’s time to tackle loopholes in equality law which privilege religion

On the 10th anniversary of the Equality Act coming into force, Lynne Featherstone says reforms proposed by the NSS... Read More »

Religious fundamentalists can’t be trusted with child protection

Religious fundamentalists can’t be trusted with child protection

The extraordinary antics of Jehovah's Witnesses at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse demonstrate why... Read More »

Jehovah's Witnesses Hall

NHS trusts’ cosy relationships with Jehovah’s Witness leaders could have tragic consequences

Committees of Jehovah's Witnesses who encourage patients to refuse treatments involving blood are seeking influence... Read More »

Public debate

The Scottish hate crime bill is a threat to free and open debate

As ministers reportedly consider changing Scotland's hate crime bill to address free expression concerns, Stephen... Read More »

Charlie Hebdo front page 2020

The continued effort to silence Charlie Hebdo is shameful

It is outrageous to try to force this small magazine to give the 2015 killers what they wanted, says Chris Sloggett.... Read More »

Apostasy Day

The world has abandoned freethinkers of Muslim heritage

The first Apostasy Day has highlighted the human rights abuses facing many who leave Islam. To stand up for them we... Read More »

Islamic marriage

Problems around Islamic marriage require a secular solution

A new report says compulsory registration for Islamic marriages is needed to tackle discrimination and abuse. Megan... Read More »

Lord Lester

Anthony Lester’s legacy for human rights and secularism

Keith Porteous Wood reflects on the achievements of Lord Lester, who died earlier this month, and the enduring relevance... Read More »

Children at school

Our schools should promote social cohesion – so educate children together

As research shows social integration is key to fostering positive attitudes toward people of different religions and... Read More »

Censored

We all need the freedom to offend – including the most marginalised

Scotland's new hate crime bill could easily be weaponised to silence any speech deemed offensive. This will disempower,... Read More »

George Holyoake

It's not too late to fulfil George Holyoake's secularist vision

With secularist principles under siege across much of the world, it's worth reconsidering the vision of the man who... Read More »

rivaldo13 from Pixabay

Let’s scrap discriminatory faith-based school admissions for good

In the UK, whatever happens to religious institutions is likely to have a knock-on effect on the state somewhere.... Read More »

Hand on Bible

Why make a spectacle out of religion in the courtroom?

Stephen Evans argues that the current system of religious oaths and affirmations should be replaced by a universal... Read More »

It’s time for one marriage law for all

It’s time for one marriage law for all

A new High Court challenge to get humanist marriages legally recognised in England and Wales gives us an opportunity... Read More »

How faith schools are spreading without scrutiny or consultation

How faith schools are spreading without scrutiny or consultation

The National Secular Society campaign works to promote inclusive community ethos alternatives to faith schools. An... Read More »

Classroom

We must protect pupils’ educational rights where schools consistently fail

Religious schools that censor textbooks, teach creationism and limit pupils' chances aren't respecting the right to... Read More »

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