NSS welcomes Scottish government proposal to abolish blasphemy law
Posted: Fri, 24 Apr 2020
The NSS has welcomed a proposal from the Scottish government which would abolish the country's blasphemy law. Read More »
NSS launches lecture series on history of secularism
Posted: Thu, 23 Apr 2020
An NSS series of lectures on the history of secularism will air during the current period of lockdown and social distancing. Read More »
Council defends plans to extend selection in Catholic schools
Posted: Wed, 22 Apr 2020
Renfrewshire Council looks set to extend the priority it gives to children who are baptised Catholic for admission to Catholic schools. Read More »
Just 22% of marriages in England & Wales were religious in 2017
Posted: Tue, 14 Apr 2020
The proportion of marriages which are conducted as religious ceremonies has hit a historic low in England and Wales. Read More »
NSS calls for review of religious exemptions in Equality Act
Posted: Wed, 08 Apr 2020
The NSS has called for a review of religious exemptions contained within the Equality Act of 2010 in response to a public consultation. Read More »
Former NSS president Barbara Smoker dies at 96
Posted: Wed, 08 Apr 2020
The NSS is deeply saddened to report the death of one of its longest-serving presidents, Barbara Smoker, at the age of 96. Read More »
Charity regulator to look into sale of coronavirus ‘protection kits’
Posted: Thu, 02 Apr 2020
The charity regulator is to scrutinise a church over its bishop's sale of "plague protection kits" during the coronavirus outbreak. Read More »
Don’t extend selection in Catholic schools, NSS urges council
Posted: Mon, 30 Mar 2020
The NSS has urged Renfrewshire Council not to extend the priority given to baptised Catholic children for admission to Catholic schools. Read More »
NSS welcomes ECHR’s rejection of anti-abortion nurses’ appeal
Posted: Tue, 17 Mar 2020
A European court has rejected an appeal by two nurses who were not hired as midwives in Sweden because they refused to perform abortions. Read More »
Protect all children from ritual genital cutting, NSS tells UN
Posted: Tue, 17 Mar 2020
The NSS has called on the UN Human Rights Council to ensure protections from forced genital cutting encompass all children equally. Read More »
End religious groups’ self-regulation on safeguarding, inquiry told
Posted: Tue, 17 Mar 2020
A lawyer representing child abuse victims has called for an end to religious groups' self-regulation on safeguarding at the Independent Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse.
Richard Scorer of Slater & Gordon – who is also a National Secular Society vice-president... Read More »
NSS raises Italy’s response to child abuse in Catholic Church at UN
Posted: Thu, 12 Mar 2020
The NSS has urged the UN Human Rights Council to strengthen recommendations designed to tackle child abuse in Italy's Catholic Church. Read More »
NSS urges UN to push government to pass law on caste discrimination
Posted: Wed, 11 Mar 2020
The NSS has urged the UN Human Rights Council to push the UK government to legislate to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of caste. Read More »
Ofsted: Jewish school teaching creationism and censoring resources
Posted: Mon, 09 Mar 2020
An independent Jewish school is teaching creationism as science and refusing to enter pupils for GCSEs, according to an Ofsted report. Read More »
Independent Jewish school fails fifth Ofsted inspection in a row
Posted: Fri, 06 Mar 2020
A Jewish school has been found in breach of standards for the fifth time in a row amid criticisms of its curriculum and safety checks. Read More »
Don’t extend exemptions on same-sex marriage in NI, NSS warns
Posted: Thu, 05 Mar 2020
The NSS has warned that allowing providers of wedding services to opt out of serving same-sex couples would undermine equality law. Read More »
NSS urges council not to replace community school with faith school
Posted: Wed, 26 Feb 2020
The NSS has warned Surrey County Council against a plan to turn a community school into a faith school. Read More »
End C of E bishops’ entitlement to sit in Lords, says report
Posted: Tue, 25 Feb 2020
The automatic right granted to 26 C of E bishops to sit in the House of Lords should be repealed, according to a new report. Read More »
Islamic marriage invalid under English law, court rules
Posted: Thu, 20 Feb 2020
A ruling that a Muslim 'marriage' was void rather than a non-marriage has been overturned at the Court of Appeal. Read More »
NSS: council wrong over baptism certificates in school admissions
Posted: Mon, 17 Feb 2020
Renfrewshire Council plans to extend the priority given to children who are baptised Catholic for admission to Catholic schools. Read More »
