NSS Opinion
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 »
The PM's Catholic wedding shows the need for a church-state divorce
Posted: Wed, 09 Jun 2021 by Megan Manson
In light of his Catholic wedding, Boris Johnson has handed over the duty of advising on the appointment of bishops. Megan Manson asks why the prime minister should have any business in church affairs in the first place. Read More »
Requires improvement: Ofsted review shows need for a major rethink on RE
Posted: Wed, 02 Jun 2021 by Alastair Lichten
A review has highlighted significant problems with the way RE is taught. Alastair Lichten argues that it shows the need to ask fundamental questions about the purpose of education about religion. Read More »
Is the C of E ashamed of discrimination in school admissions?
Posted: Fri, 28 May 2021 by Alastair Lichten
Research suggests the Church of England downplays the extent of religious discrimination in admissions to the schools it runs. Its embarrassment shows the need to end this practice, says Alastair Lichten. Read More »
The outcome of the Batley investigation is a surrender of liberal principles
Posted: Thu, 27 May 2021 by Stephen Evans
As an investigation into the Batley Grammar affair concludes, Stephen Evans says we should recognise the censorious precedent it has set. Read More »
Parents’ religious wishes must not trump children’s safety and education
Posted: Thu, 20 May 2021 by Megan Manson
Every child has been withdrawn from sex education classes at an independent faith school. Megan Manson says the parental right of withdrawal is incompatible with children's right to an education that keeps them safe. Read More »
The religious threat to global human rights must be taken seriously
Posted: Thu, 20 May 2021 by Keith Porteous Wood
UN efforts to challenge violations of human rights should consider both oppressive laws which theocrats uphold in former colonies and efforts to impose similar agendas further afield, says Keith Porteous Wood. Read More »
Mandated worship can never be inclusive
Posted: Wed, 19 May 2021 by Alastair Lichten
Church of England guidance which aims to promote an 'inclusive' form of collective worship in schools misses the point and highlights the need to stop imposing religion on children, says Alastair Lichten. Read More »
Faith universities are an anachronism
Posted: Fri, 14 May 2021 by Keith Sharpe
Churches continue to manage and govern several universities in the UK, enabling discrimination and creating tension between universities' academic purpose and the interests of those who control them, says Keith Sharpe. Read More »
The drive for ‘religious literacy’ in the media would undermine press freedom
Posted: Wed, 12 May 2021 by Chris Sloggett
A parliamentary report has called for measures to promote 'religious literacy' in the media - including tighter regulation. Chris Sloggett says we should beware the risks of requiring journalists to tread on eggshells. Read More »
The DfE must show leadership when religious hardliners turn on schools
Posted: Thu, 06 May 2021 by Stephen Evans
The start of an investigation into the Batley Grammar affair raises questions over the government's willingness to ensure assertive religious voices don't dictate what happens in classrooms, says Stephen Evans. Read More »
Faith groups have no business inspecting schools
Posted: Fri, 30 Apr 2021 by Stephen Evans
Publicly funded school inspections which enable clerics to exert undue influence should have no place in a modern education system, argues Stephen Evans. Read More »
Regressive religious demands shouldn't hold sway over political decisions
Posted: Thu, 15 Apr 2021 by Stephen Evans
Much of a pre-election letter from Scotland's Catholic bishops highlights the risks of allowing religious dogma to dictate public policy, says Stephen Evans. Read More »
