We've long campaigned for an end to the law requiring schools to hold acts
of worship, so the state funds – and children attend – inclusive schools in which religious freedom is respected equally for all. And the news this week that two
parents are to seek a judicial review against a primary school over its Christian assemblies means there's a significant chance to make the case for change.
We have more details about the case and how we're responding below. You can also read a letter from our CEO in The Guardian and a blog which one of the
parents involved in the case, Lee Harris, wrote for us in December.
We say it's past time for the government to address the anachronism of mandated worship and the mess it creates. If you agree, we urge you to write to your MPs to
get this issue on the political agenda. Our template
letter makes this process straightforward.
A couple have launched a legal challenge against a primary school over its assemblies where children take part in Christian prayers and watch
re-enactments... Read More »
The National Secular Society has asked why a public health body is encouraging parents to seek advice from religious leaders over whether to get their...
Read More »
After the minister for faith's resignation, Stephen Evans says this unnecessary role enables the government to promote a positive view of religion and...
Read More »
The current wave of religious protests outside schools began with objections to the No Outsiders scheme of work. As its author prepares to give the
NSS's... Read More
»
Dr Joyce D'Silva ofCompassion in World Farmingsays the
organisation campaigns for an end to religious exemptions that allow non-stun slaughter so farm... Read More »
Joanne Bartley, a campaigner with the group Comprehensive Future, argues that a comprehensive education system should also be free of religious
selection.... Read More »
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans responds to an attempt to defend collective worship in schools from the Church of England in a letter to The
Guardian.
Lee Harris didn't choose a faith school for his children. But when he challenged evangelism at his local school, he learnt that community school status
doesn't necessarily prevent religion from being imposed on children.
Petition comment of the week: end collective worship
"It should not be up to the state to impose religion on children through their schooling. Children should have the right to choose and be given impartial
information to support their decisions." Emily, Surrey
Sign the petition and explain why you think the law
compelling schools to hold acts of worship should be repealed.
Alternatively write to your MP to urge
an end to compulsory worship in schools.
Religious representatives’ education voting rights in Scotland: latest
The archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh has
urged churches in his Catholic diocese to resist moves to strip the church of its right to vote on education policy in Edinburgh. In response some
local councillors have accused
him of "spectacular misrepresentation" of their goals.
Meanwhile representatives of Glasgow City Council have said they have no plans to strip
religious representatives of their voting rights.
The NSS recently wrote to all councils in
Scotland to urge them to repeal religious representatives' voting rights on council education committees. The NSS has also urged education secretary John Swinney
to review the representatives' positions.
Other news
The leader of Parkfield Community School in Birmingham has said the
government put "extreme pressure" on the school to give in to demands to stop teaching about LGBT relationships. In response the NSS has said religious bigotry must be opposed, not appeased.
One hundred and eight religious charities were registered in July – and
65 of them (60%) were registered solely under 'religious activities'. The NSS's recent report For The
Public Benefit? argued that religious charities should be required to demonstrate a secular public benefit.
Nearly half of young LGBT people who are left homeless after coming out are from religious backgrounds, research has shown. The NSS argues that challenging undue deference to religion is a critical part of any serious
effort to defend the rights of LGBT people.
Bradlaugh Lecture 2019: tickets on sale
There are just five weeks to go until our 2019 Bradlaugh Lecture
in Manchester. Andrew Moffat will address the subject 'No Outsiders: reclaiming radical ideas in schools' on Saturday 7 September. Tickets are on sale now.
Watch: final talks from Secularism 2019 available on YouTube
Rachel Laser, CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, addresses religious freedom and the erosion of church-state separation in President
Trump's America.
Geoffrey Robertson QC presented our Secularist of the Year award to Saif ul-Malook, a lawyer who defended a woman accused of blasphemy in Pakistan.
RE: tell us your views
How best can we ensure education about religion and belief is secular? We're consulting on potential approaches to reform of RE. We're keen to hear from
supporters, RE professionals & the public. You can find out more and
respond on our website.
Two MPs aim to initiate a short inquiry into the incarceration of Muslims in China after parliament returns from recess.
Quote of the week
"It is nothing less than disgraceful the level of bigotry that evangelicals impose on the non-religious. Until and unless the religious stop lying about the
nature of secularism, falsely depicting it as the ultimate evil, I fear such bigotry will continue to increase." Tyler Broker, legal writer, says the US evangelical
movement is falsely demonising those who believe in the separation of church and state
Produced, filmed & edited by Shane Fennelly & Tom Beal, for the BBC
A man who feels constant pain after being circumcised speaks to the BBC about his experience and calls for more education on the procedure's implications.
BBC Newsnight reports on the latest developments in the backlash against inclusive teaching, including the spread of misinformation, parental withdrawals and
teachers receiving threats.
NSS speaks out
Our attempts to repeal religious representatives' voting rights on councils in Scotland were mentioned in The Times.
A blog we published last week on circumcision and charity law from our campaigns officer, Megan Manson, was cited extensively on The
Freethinker on Patheos.
Support our work
Please support our work so we can make the case for a fairer secular democracy for all.
