Tags: Church & state
Prime Minister should ignore former archbishop's theocratic blundering, says NSS
Posted: Sat, 30 Mar 2013
The National Secular Society has urged David Cameron to ignore Lord Carey's "theocratic and anti-democratic blustering" after he accused the Prime Minister of making Christians feel marginalised. Read More »
Prime Minister still desperately trying to placate religious bodies
Posted: Thu, 21 Mar 2013
Prime Minister David Cameron held yet another reception at Downing Street for religious leaders this week, telling them that the Government wants them to stand up and oppose "aggressive secularisation". Read More »
Labour MP calls for state intervention in Church affairs over women bishops
Posted: Thu, 14 Mar 2013
Labour MP Diana Johnson has attempted to over-rule the Church of England by introducing legislation allowing for women to be consecrated as bishops. Read More »
Romanian secularists want an end to state sponsorship of churches
Posted: Thu, 14 Feb 2013
Twenty-three civic organisations in Romania have asked parliament to end the public financing of religious denominations, saying the money would be better spent on health or education. Read More »
I’m keeping Canberra secular, says Chief Minister
Posted: Tue, 22 Jan 2013
A spat about the separation of religion from governance has broken out between politicians in the Australian capital of Canberra. Read More »
Religious opt-outs make Australia’s anti-discrimination law a “bigot’s charter”
Posted: Thu, 17 Jan 2013
In a move that has enraged human rights advocates, the Australian government has given religious groups wide-scale opt-outs in proposed new anti-discrimination laws. Read More »
Secularism defended during Lords debate on religion
Posted: Fri, 23 Nov 2012
The Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Falkner has given a spirited defence of secularism during an otherwise largely deferential debate about the role of religion in public life. Read More »
Young Irish want an inclusive, secular state
Posted: Mon, 19 Nov 2012
A consultation among young people in Ireland initiated by the President, Michael D. Higgins, shows strong support for making the country a secular state. Read More »
Fiji to separate church and state
Posted: Wed, 17 Oct 2012
The separation of church and state proposed in Fiji's new constitution will not be challenged by the Diocese of Polynesia. Read More »
UK Government accused of not upholding freedom of belief
Posted: Fri, 07 Sep 2012
The European Court of Human Rights hearing on 4 September 2012 has heard accusations from applicants that the UK Government is not upholding freedom of belief. Read More »
Russians want church to stay out of politics
Posted: Fri, 17 Aug 2012
A poll taken in Russia shows that 75% of the population wants the Russian Orthodox Church to stay out of politics. Read More »
Bishops come under fire but Lords Reform now looks a distant prospect
Posted: Wed, 11 Jul 2012
An attempt by the Government to reform the House of Lords looks doomed after 91 Conservative MPs defied their party whip this week and voted against plans for a mainly elected second chamber. During the two day debate there was much criticism of the plans to retain the bench of Church of England bishops. Read More »
Lords Reform Bill fails to remove religious privilege
Posted: Wed, 27 Jun 2012
Church of England Bishops will retain reserved seats in the House of Lords according to proposals published today by the Deputy Prime Minister. Read More »
NSS debates the role of bishops in Government at Durham Union Society
Posted: Fri, 08 Jun 2012
NSS President Terry Sanderson, and Executive Director Keith Porteous Wood, both argued the case that 'This House believes bishops have no place in Government' in a formal debate at Durham Union Society. Read More »
Norway makes another step in the long road to separating church and state
Posted: Tue, 15 May 2012
The Norwegian Parliament is planning to amend the country's constitution on Monday to continue the long, drawn-out effort to separate the church from the state. Read More »
Monarch’s role as head of Church of England “unsustainable”
Posted: Tue, 15 May 2012
The National Secular Society says that the Queen's or any future Monarch's role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England is unsustainable – despite the results of a new poll showing that 79% of British adults think that the Queen still has an important "faith role". Read More »
Norway continues the long process of disestablishing the Lutheran Church
Posted: Fri, 23 Mar 2012
Major steps toward the disestablishment of Norway's state church, the (Lutheran) Church of Norway, were passed by the government on March 16 in its weekly session with King Harald V. Read More »
Establishment means the Queen does not belong equally to us all
Posted: Wed, 15 Feb 2012
In a speech at Lambeth palace today, the Queen told the Archbishop of Canterbury how inclusive the Church of England is and how important its establishment is to the nation. Read More »
Why is the Government consulting the Vatican on national policy?
Posted: Wed, 08 Feb 2012
A large delegation of Government Ministers is to visit the Vatican next week to consult about British Government policy with the Pope. Read More »
Sarkozy’s smoke and mirrors promises to religious leaders
Posted: Fri, 03 Feb 2012
As the French election draws near, President Nicolas Sarkozy is suddenly very enthusiastic for religion to play an important role in "public life". Read More »
