The government should encourage the Church of England to wean itself off its financial support, not to become more attached to it. So we're disappointed that it
has once again put its hand in its pocket to fund a pilot scheme for church repairs, because it doesn't appear to have taken the C of E's significant wealth into
account.
In other news this week we have encouraging stories from Ireland and Australia as well as the details of the latest nonsense 'discrimination' case brought by the
Christian Legal Centre. You can also watch some of the highlights from our recent Secularist of the Year event. And perhaps you'll enjoy the article we published
to mark the rare coincidence of April fools' day falling on Easter Sunday.
The National Secular Society has criticised the government for failing to give adequate consideration to the Church of England's financial status before...
Read More »
The National Secular Society has called on the Department for Education to "follow the lead" of Irish ministers who are preparing to end a rule which
encourages... Read More »
An employment tribunal has rejected claims of
religious discrimination by a former teacher who was sacked after making homophobic remarks to students.... Read More »
The Australian state of Victoria is considering ending the status of 'advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose and rescinding religious
institutions'... Read More »
Six independent Islamic schools in England had "serious regulatory" failings during recent inspections, according to newly-published warning notices from...
Read More »
The National Secular Society has launched a chocolate egg symbolising the disestablishment of the Church of England to counter growing confectionery-based...
Read More »
Other news
The archbishop of York and four other bishops are reportedly facing a police
investigation for failing to report allegations of child sexual abuse.
The Charity Commission has stripped Ampleforth Abbey of
responsibility for safeguarding amid concerns about its management of sexual abuse allegations against monks and teachers. The abbey runs a 200-year-old
religious community on the same site as Ampleforth College in Yorkshire.
Secularist campaigners in Australia are resisting efforts to extend a school chaplaincy programme. Last month it was reported that Liberal MPs were
lobbying senior ministers to renew and increase funding for the programme, which has been criticised for promoting evangelism. This video by Secular Public Education explains more.
To get all the latest news and views on secularism from the media in your inbox every morning, you can sign up to receive your daily media
briefing.
The major speeches from our recent Secularist of the Year event are now available on YouTube. We share these with thanks to Stephen Knight for his work
producing them.
Ohio lawmakers have proposed legislation to ban all abortions without exception. Even if the bill doesn't become law, it could pave the way for other,
somewhat less extreme measures to pass.
Textbooks in Pakistan assert the view that religion defines the country's role in the world and permeates politics, policy, and society.
Quotes of the week
"There is no point in reviewing how it is taught if schools will still be allowed to ignore it." Irish politician Ruth Coppinger explains why she's promoting a bill to end a
religious opt-out from teaching objective and factual relationships and sex education
"Ladies, please take your seat… and keep it!"
An advert blocked
by the authorities in Israel this week, which was supposed to remind airline passengers it is illegal to make women move seats to accommodate ultra-orthodox
Jewish sensitivities
