Newsline 14 February 2020
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This week, despite spirited opposition, a council has approved deeply regressive plans for the first state-funded Catholic school to be built in England for more
than a decade.
Peterborough City Council's decision was upheld in the face of a challenge from local councillors and residents – backed by the NSS – who instead wanted an
inclusive, secular school to serve their community.
We've been making the case for an inclusive alternative throughout this process and we'll continue to argue against divisive faith schools, both locally and
nationally, through our No More Faith Schools campaign. Where new schools are needed they should be inclusive, rather than organised around an exclusive religious
ethos. And wherever an expansion of faith provision is planned, we'll be there to lead the resistance.
But we need your help. If you'd like to support our work, please consider getting involved in the campaign or joining the
NSS. Thank you.
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News & Opinion
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A challenge to a decision to open a new selective Catholic school in Peterborough has been rejected, despite strong backing from local residents and a...
Read More »
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After he was refused permission for a judicial review against Vale of Glamorgan Council, James Brunt says its decision to expand a faith school was
based... Read More »
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Secularism and tolerance of minorities and individual rights have made societies more prosperous, educated and democratic, according to a major scientific...
Read More
»
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The National Secular Society has urged the local council in Telford and Wrekin to end discretionary funding for transport to faith schools in response...
Read More
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Watch: NSS lobbies against new Catholic school
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Our campaigns officer Megan Manson delivers a statement at a meeting of Peterborough City Council's scrutiny committee, urging it not to approve plans for a
discriminatory new Catholic school.
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Other education news
A legal expert has said making all pupils take part in religious education classes
could see the Welsh government taken to court for breaching human rights. The NSS has also questioned whether the plans will be compatible with human
rights if religion is not taught objectively in all schools, including faith schools.
The government has announced new measures to confront
illegal schools. Religious groups often use these 'schools' to avoid oversight, and the NSS has long lobbied to ensure ministers take the threat they pose to
children's rights seriously.
The NSS's No More Faith Schools campaign has described a new Church
of England resource for educational leaders as further evidence that the church is pushing religion on children in the schools it runs.
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Other news
Northern Ireland's first same-sex marriage has taken
place.
A former Catholic school monk has been jailed for child abuse – highlighting another damaging cover-up of abuse in the Catholic Church.
A leading provider of abortion care has criticised the Home Office for
refusing to introduce exclusion zones after a group of anti-abortion activists protested outside a north London clinic.
Keep up with all the latest news and views on secularism by subscribing to our
daily media briefing.
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NSS campaign for marriage law reform
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Did you know it's significantly harder and more expensive to have a non-religious or same-sex wedding than a religious one in England and Wales?
On Valentine's Day, read about our campaign to reform the marriage laws.
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Exploring Secularism training day & other events
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On Saturday 9 May we're hosting the first training
day on our Exploring Secularism resources for educators. The day is free - but you must book in advance to attend.
You can also read about our other upcoming events on our website.
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Quotes of the week
"One day we may look back and wonder how we ever hoped to encourage unity when we allowed them to divide our youngest and most impressionable
members."
Councillor Terri Haynes on the decision to
open a new Catholic school in Peterborough
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"In this debate we have lost sight of the fact that Mila is an adolescent. We owe her protection at school, in her daily life, in her movements… The law is
clear: we have the right to blaspheme, to criticise, to caricature religions."
Emmanuel Macron, French president, on the case of 'Mila', the 16-year-old girl who received threats and was driven into hiding after
criticising Islam. Mila moved to a new school this week
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Read elsewhere
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By Claire Provost & Nandini Archer, for openDemocracy
A global network of 'crisis pregnancy centres', backed by US anti-abortion groups linked to the Trump White House, is targeting vulnerable women with
"disinformation, emotional manipulation and outright deceit".
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NSS speaks out
Our campaigns officer Megan Manson discussed the decision to approve a new Catholic school in Peterborough on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. Our No More Faith Schools
campaign was also mentioned in an opinion piece from Councillor Nicola Day (above) on the same subject in the Peterborough Telegraph.
Our CEO Stephen Evans discussed a plan to close a non-faith school and open a Church of England school on the same site on radio station BBC Surrey.
Our definition of secularism was mentioned in the Mail
Online.
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In your own words: end compulsory worship in schools
"Faith is a personal issue, and religious compulsion has no place in government policy. A child being forced to practise a religion they don't believe in is
wrong - and caused a great deal of upset to my own children throughout their time at school." Helen, Yorkshire
If you want to let us know why you support a secularist cause, why not sign one of our
petitions? We aim to feature the best comments in Newsline.
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Thanks to all who braved the weather to attend Dr Keith Sharpe's lecture on the 1944 Education Act on Monday. We plan to have a video of the event available as
soon as possible.
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Support our work
Please support our work so we can make the case for a fairer secular democracy for all.
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