Opinion
Time for Church and state to part ways
Separating church and state would signal a forward-looking Britain committed to equality, inclusivity and freedom of religion or belief. National Secular Society CEO Stephen Evans explains why the NSS is backing a bill to disestablish the Church of England. Read More »
We must stop charities promoting antisemitism
The horrific attack on Israel by Islamist terrorists Hamas, and Israel's subsequent response, have unleashed unprecedented... Read More »
Bishops, know your place: it’s not in parliament
It was with great lamentation and gnashing of teeth that members of the Church of England reacted to news this week... Read More »
Freedom of religion or belief must include the freedom to ‘blaspheme’
The freedom to question and criticise religious ideas in the same manner as any other kind is foundational to a democratic... Read More »
A monument to hijab is no way to celebrate women
A 16ft steel statue of a grim-faced women clad in an Islamic veil looms over a largely Muslim community. Weighing... Read More »
Don't extend religious privilege in parliament - end it
If you're vexed by Anglican clerics sitting as of right in our legislature deciding on the laws that affect us all,... Read More »
Denmark stood up against fundamentalists in the past. It must not give in now
It is now almost two decades since an organised campaign of lies, threats and violence attempted to force Danish society... Read More »
The Church of England is legitimising spiritual abuse
The Exorcist director William Friedkin died at the age of 87 this week. His seminal film immortalised the concept... Read More »
Sexist state church should be disestablished
Imagine if a colleague of yours, due to his deeply held religious beliefs, refused to follow his manager's instructions... Read More »
From Barbie to blasphemy: how religion muzzles free speech
This week, religious groups have found ways to be offended by both of the summer's biggest blockbusters. In Pakistan... Read More »
Taxpayers shouldn't be burdened with propping up the Church
Faced with dwindling congregations, the Church of England is looking for ways to fund the growing repair bill of its... Read More »
Don’t let the Church dictate how we marry
In justifying its uniquely privileged position as the established religion, the Church of England likes to portray... Read More »
Faith schools foster unfairness and discrimination
Fairness and freedom should be central to state education. Recommendations from the UN child rights committee lay... Read More »
It’s religion’s critics, not believers, who are being pushed out of politics
Christian politicians have recently claimed they cannot talk openly about their faith. Megan Manson says recent events... Read More »
Why are councillors doing Islamists’ work for them?
After a councillor was denied mayoralty for criticising Islam, Jack Rivington warns politicians are playing into the... Read More »
Thanks, but no thanks: the US can keep its culture war
American efforts to export regressive religious views under the guise of the 'culture war' are to be resisted, argues... Read More »
Hold the Church to account for abuse – separate it from the state
The Church of England's increasingly dire record on safeguarding should have consequences for its established status,... Read More »
House of Lords makes politicians out of prelates
Religious leaders should be free to speak out on matters that concern them, but they should do so on the basis of... Read More »
The coronation isn’t for us. It’s for the Church.
As King Charles' coronation approaches, Megan Manson says we must stop letting the Church using our affairs of state to promote itself. Read More »
A coronation fit for a king, not a modern democracy
An exclusively Anglican religious ritual is no way to inaugurate a head of state in diverse Britain, argues Stephen... Read More »
Hospital chaplains: unfair, unevidenced, unnecessary?
NSS research shows the NHS significantly cut real-terms chaplaincy spending between 2009 and 2021. This is a step... Read More »
Why are safeguarding experts fleeing the Catholic Church?
Experts appointed to tackle abuse in the Catholic Church are quitting their roles. Keith Porteous Wood says this demonstrates... Read More »
Homophobic churches and liberal states make for unhappy bedfellows
Parliament should begin the process of disestablishment rather than try to fix the Church of England, argues Stephen... Read More »
Parliament’s rift with the Church shows the need to separate religion and state
MPs dismayed over the Church of England's position on homosexuality are pushing for legislation to permit the Church... Read More »
The state must stop faith schools behaving like cults
New research by the NSS has found some state funded faith schools' admissions policies are so extreme they appear... Read More »
