NSS Opinion
Beware the government’s “new normal” of faith-based public services
Posted: Thu, 23 Sep 2021 by Megan Manson
A new government fund exclusively for faith groups threatens to embed religious privilege into public services, warns Megan Manson. Read More »
Schools should be liberated from the compulsion of worship
Posted: Thu, 16 Sep 2021 by Stephen Evans
As a bill to reform collective worship progresses in parliament, Stephen Evans argues that the time has come for lawmakers to recognise that laws mandating worship have no place in modern Britain. Read More »
Major reform is needed to ensure equality and fairness in marriage law
Posted: Mon, 13 Sep 2021 by Russell Sandberg
Marriage law in England and Wales has failed to keep up with changing social realities. Russell Sandberg, the author of a new book on the topic, calls for change to put couples – not religious institutions – in control. Read More »
Why can’t charity regulators tackle child abuse in faith groups?
Posted: Mon, 13 Sep 2021 by Megan Manson
An inquiry's report has highlighted the barriers which regulators face in dealing with child abuse in religious charities. Megan Manson says this should prompt reforms – including in how charity law deals with religion. Read More »
Indonesia mosque attack is a reminder that Ahmadi Muslims’ human rights need defending
Posted: Thu, 09 Sep 2021 by Kunwar Khuldune Shahid
After a mob attacked an Ahmadi Muslim mosque in Indonesia and anti-Ahmadi rallies took place in Pakistan, Kunwar Khuldune Shahid says the failure to defend this marginalised group has far-reaching implications. Read More »
Fundamentalists are still being given too much of a free pass on child abuse
Posted: Wed, 08 Sep 2021 by Richard Scorer
The IICSA inquiry's latest report on child abuse in religious organisations and settings provides welcome evidence of significant problems – but is still too light on much-needed solutions, says Richard Scorer. Read More »
Charles Bradlaugh’s legacy is well worth celebrating
Posted: Wed, 01 Sep 2021 by Bob Forder
Bob Forder reflects on the key achievements of the NSS's founder, ahead of the restoration of his grave. Read More »
The child abuse inquiry has been too deferential to the Jehovah’s Witnesses
Posted: Wed, 25 Aug 2021 by Lloyd Evans
Next week the IICSA inquiry will publish a report into the Jehovah's Witnesses. This can only be damning. But the inquiry hasn't gathered the evidence needed to root out abuse within the organisation, writes Lloyd Evans. Read More »
Locked in and locked out: how faith schools restrict families’ choices
Posted: Wed, 25 Aug 2021 by Alastair Lichten
State funding of faith schools means many families are left without suitable schools. The narrative that faith schools are justified on the grounds of choice should be confronted, says Alastair Lichten. Read More »
The Taliban takeover is part of a wider threat to secular liberal democracy
Posted: Thu, 19 Aug 2021 by Stephen Evans
Stephen Evans argues that secular liberal democracy is the antidote to the totalitarian Islamism offered up by the Taliban – so we need to do a better job of defending it. Read More »
It's time to move on from religious education
Posted: Tue, 17 Aug 2021 by Keith Sharpe
RE has become a subject in search of a purpose. There are better approaches to learning about the diversity of beliefs, and better uses of time than using outdated legislation to perpetuate it, says Keith Sharpe. Read More »
Heads of state shouldn’t have to swear religious oaths
Posted: Fri, 13 Aug 2021 by Chris Sloggett
A challenge to Ireland's religious presidential oath should be supported – and prompt questions across the Irish Sea, says Chris Sloggett. Read More »
The C of E has serious questions to answer over the death of a gay priest
Posted: Wed, 28 Jul 2021 by Keith Porteous Wood
A coroner's report has laid bare the Church of England's cruel and scandalous handling of the case of Alan Griffin, who killed himself following unfounded accusations of child exploitation, says Keith Porteous Wood. Read More »
Schools aren’t there to save the church
Posted: Thu, 22 Jul 2021 by Stephen Evans
The Church of England's new evangelical missional strategy should lead us to question its entitlement to proselytise in schools, argues Stephen Evans. Read More »
Will the government protect the ethos of secular schools?
Posted: Tue, 13 Jul 2021 by Alastair Lichten
The Department for Education's protections for the secular community ethos of non-faith academies are inadequate. This enables a consolidation of religious control and undermines accountability, argues Alastair Lichten. Read More »
Defending Muslim women’s rights requires a willingness to criticise Islam
Posted: Tue, 13 Jul 2021 by Kunwar Khuldune Shahid
Islamic scripture is being used to justify attacks on women's rights in many countries. Secular law is a crucial defence – and shielding Islam from criticism undermines efforts to assert it, says Kunwar Khuldune Shahid. Read More »
Helping the public shouldn’t mean pushing religion on people
Posted: Mon, 12 Jul 2021 by Megan Manson
A parliamentary group has removed provisions in its 'faith covenant' that prevent faith groups from proselytising when delivering public services. This leaves vulnerable people open to exploitation, says Megan Manson. Read More »
Naz Shah’s argument on blasphemy should be rejected
Posted: Fri, 09 Jul 2021 by Chris Sloggett
The Labour MP has effectively called for a blasphemy law as she highlighted the "emotional harm" caused by depictions of Muhammad. Freedom of expression on religion mustn't be up for negotiation, says Chris Sloggett. Read More »
Schools must be supported against religious bullies
Posted: Wed, 07 Jul 2021 by Alastair Lichten
Comments from Ofsted's chief inspector highlight the need to help schools resist efforts to shut down teaching which reactionary religious groups deem controversial, says Alastair Lichten. Read More »
The Church of England’s offensive in FE colleges must be resisted
Posted: Mon, 05 Jul 2021 by Keith Sharpe and Chris Higgins
C of E proposals to increase its influence in FE colleges have little to do with education and more to do with reversing its declining numbers among young people, say Chris Higgins and Keith Sharpe. Read More »
The ugly Batley and Spen campaign showed the risks of indulging religious identity politics
Posted: Fri, 02 Jul 2021 by Chris Sloggett
Voters and politicians who value social cohesion and basic democratic principles should reject the trend of pandering to religious tribalism, says Chris Sloggett. Read More »
All children should have the right to refuse circumcision
Posted: Fri, 25 Jun 2021 by Megan Manson
A judge has ruled that a boy who was taken into care shouldn't be subjected to non-consensual, non-therapeutic genital cutting. This is welcome, says Megan Manson - but every child should have similar rights. Read More »
Evidence and compassion should trump dogma in assisted dying debate
Posted: Thu, 24 Jun 2021 by Stephen Evans
As politicians again grapple with assisted dying, we should beware attempts to impose a religious worldview on those who want the option of alleviating their suffering, argues Stephen Evans. Read More »
The expansion of Catholic influence at St Mary’s University threatens academic freedom
Posted: Fri, 18 Jun 2021 by Keith Sharpe
A pro-vice chancellor's remarks suggest the governance of St Mary's University, Twickenham is heading in an inappropriate direction. This shows the need to oppose religious control of universities, says Keith Sharpe. Read More »
Charity law shouldn’t enable misogyny
Posted: Thu, 17 Jun 2021 by Megan Manson
A Christian organisation which pushes misogynistic messages, including by blaming women for rape, has registered as a charity. This highlights a widespread problem which needs legal reform to address, says Megan Manson. Read More »
