NSS Opinion
The Church can’t be allowed to carry on marking its own homework
Posted: Sun, 25 Jun 2017 by Richard Scorer
The Church concealed evidence of criminality and colluded to protect an abusive bishop. Only external oversight will guarantee that church safeguarding practices comply with secular standards, argues Richard Scorer.
With the publication of the Gibb report the... Read More »
Anti-Muslim hate must be challenged. Silencing criticism of Islam won’t help
Posted: Fri, 23 Jun 2017 by Stephen Evans
Both the Government and civil-society have a role to play in challenging anti-Muslim hate, but efforts to silence criticisms of Islam will only be counterproductive, argues Stephen Evans.
In the wake of yet more manifestations of violent Islamism and anti-Muslim... Read More »
Abortion ruling is a missed opportunity to recognise the disparity in women’s reproductive health rights across the UK
Posted: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 by Dr Antony Lempert
Ensuring that NHS abortion services are made available, free of charge, to UK citizens travelling from Northern Ireland would be a way of mitigating the harm caused by a disparity in women's reproductive health rights across the UK, argues Dr Antony Lempert.... Read More »
Was Tim Farron a secularist?
Posted: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 by Terry Sanderson
Tim Farron was a classic secularist, but found himself unable to reconcile his personal faith and his party's socially liberal positions and made his own choice, argues Terry Sanderson.
So, does the former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron now join the ranks of the... Read More »
Scottish care provider’s decision to drop faith test should prompt a rethink over equality exceptions
Posted: Tue, 13 Jun 2017 by Stephen Evans
When religious organisations are delivering state-funded public services they should neither discriminate nor proselytize – argues Stephen Evans, looking at the case of CrossReach and its implications.
The decision of The Church of Scotland this week... Read More »
“Glastonbury of Freethinkers”: conference on freedom of conscience and expression
Posted: Mon, 12 Jun 2017 by Maryam Namazie
Saturday 22 – Monday 24 July will see activists from around the world gather for a weekend of discussions and debates on freedom of conscience and expression in the 21st century. Maryam Namazie tells us why it is such an important event.
Atheists and... Read More »
What happens next? Some thoughts on the election and the challenges to come
Posted: Fri, 09 Jun 2017 by National Secular Society
The dust is beginning to settle. Whether you're delighted, dismayed or just surprised by last night's results there are challenges and opportunities to come.
Whatever your party political views, there are principles that we can all support: the triumph of secular... Read More »
We need to defend both our lives and our way of life
Posted: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 by Stephen Evans
Terrorist atrocities have a way of bringing the nation together, albeit temporarily. We need a glue to keep us together, to protect our lives and our way of life, writes Stephen Evans.
There's a lot to be said for Britain's calm, defiant response to the threat... Read More »
Irish National Maternity Hospital: “Keep your rosaries off my ovaries!”
Posted: Mon, 05 Jun 2017 by Keith Porteous Wood
The determination to give a hospital to a disgraced religious order, in spite of public outrage, is the very antithesis of secularism. But the episode has prompted calls for fundamental changes in the relationship between church and state, writes Keith Porteous... Read More »
What do the main parties have to say on secular issues?
Posted: Thu, 18 May 2017 by National Secular Society
The Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties have all released their manifestos for the General Election. Read our analysis of what they say on issues from equality to human rights, Islamist extremism and education.
We'll continue to update this article... Read More »
Why we need a 21st century RE for all
Posted: Wed, 17 May 2017 by Stephen Evans
2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the Education Reform Act 1988 which saw the introduction of a national curricular entitlement for all pupils. One subject alone remains set apart from this - religious education.
What gets taught in religious education is... Read More »
The Catholic Church’s abuse scandal shows no sign of abating
Posted: Mon, 15 May 2017 by Richard Scorer
After forty years the Catholic Church is still more interested in protecting itself and its clerical culture than in truly eradicating child abuse, writes Richard Scorer.
"Organisational culture is a powerful force that guides decisions and actions. Leaders... Read More »
Anglican stance on women and gays could trigger disestablishment
Posted: Sun, 14 May 2017 by Keith Porteous Wood
Keith Porteous Wood argues that, with the CofE's hierarchy so at odds with the values on equality held by the country at large, an Anglican vicar is right to question its status as the 'national church'.
Andrew Foreshew-Cain, the first Anglican vicar to have... Read More »
Murdered for the ‘crime’ of blasphemy
Posted: Fri, 12 May 2017 by Anonymous
There has been an onslaught against secularists, atheists, ex-Muslims and countless religious minorities for 'blasphemy'. It's important to remember the individuals, and honour their lives and heroism.
In light of the recent press coverage around the trial... Read More »
Casework focus: community schools and religious takeovers
Posted: Thu, 11 May 2017 by Alastair Lichten
Parents and staff regularly contact the NSS over concerns related to religious influence in their schools. Campaigns officer Alastair Lichten looks at a typical example of the casework we receive and what lessons can be learned.
A small rural primary school... Read More »
CofE talks to the electorate, but is anyone listening?
Posted: Mon, 08 May 2017 by Terry Sanderson
Religious leaders are free to speak out on politics, but they shouldn't expect their views to be given any special weight, and politicians shouldn't assume that clerics speak for anyone but themselves, argues Terry Sanderson.
The Church of England has published... Read More »
As a nation we’re thinking about our future, here’s our secular manifesto for change
Posted: Thu, 27 Apr 2017 by National Secular Society
Ahead of the General Election we're calling on political parties to embrace a series of secular reforms, drawn from our recently published secular manifesto, that make society, our education system, and the law fairer for all.
As electioneering gets into full... Read More »
This is not a ‘Christian country’
Posted: Tue, 18 Apr 2017 by Harry Small
Despite many remaining anachronisms in our constitution, the UK is not a Christian country in any meaningful legal sense: but politicians continue to repeat this myth.
Theresa May's father was an Anglican priest, as she likes to remind us frequently. And on... Read More »
The Catholic Church in Scotland is still playing the victim card to stifle criticism
Posted: Thu, 06 Apr 2017 by Alistair McBay
There is some lingering anti-Catholic bigotry in Scotland, writes NSS vice president Alistair McBay, but the Church is playing victim while supporting a segregated education system which can only worsen prejudice.
"As one brought up a Catholic, I know only... Read More »
Religious programming isn’t popular, and no amount of hounding from the Church will change that
Posted: Tue, 04 Apr 2017 by Terry Sanderson
The BBC still produces a considerable amount of religious programmes – but the numbers who watch it are so small they barely register in viewing figures. More religion on TV isn't what the public want, and it won't be good for the BBC, writes Terry Sanderson.... Read More »
Prime Minister and CofE promote fake ‘war on Easter’
Posted: Tue, 04 Apr 2017 by Terry Sanderson
After several media outlets falsely claimed that the National Trust and Cadbury were 'airbrushing' Easter out of their Easter egg hunt, Terry Sanderson argues that the Prime Minister's involvement in this trumped-up propaganda exercise was the real disgrace.... Read More »
Caste discrimination: Fear of upsetting religious groups must not impede social justice
Posted: Fri, 31 Mar 2017 by Stephen Evans
Caste discrimination is the latest area where misplaced sensitivity could allow deference to religion to trump social justice, argues Stephen Evans.
The Government's recently launched consultation on caste discrimination reveals something very alarming. Despite... Read More »
Who is running Ireland – the Government or the Church?
Posted: Mon, 27 Mar 2017 by Keith Porteous Wood
The reach and power of the Catholic Church has waned considerably in recent years in Ireland. But there are troubling signs that its undue influence over the country is returning, writes Keith Porteous Wood.
It is difficult to envisage now, but when the UK... Read More »
Why are we still allowing religion to retard young people’s education and health rights?
Posted: Thu, 09 Mar 2017 by Stephen Evans
The Government's proposals on Relationships and Sex Education are a welcome step in the right direction – but religious opt outs mean many children will continue to be left behind, writes Stephen Evans.
The Government's move to make Relationships and... Read More »
The human rights of women and secularism go hand in hand
Posted: Wed, 08 Mar 2017 by Alastair Lichten
On International Women's Day 2017 NSS campaigns officer Alastair Lichten reflects on the intersection of gender and religious privilege, and what the secularist movement can learn from IWD.
The theocratic mindset has always had a particular obsession with policing... Read More »
