Author: Megan Manson
Encouraging evangelism in public services will promote division, not divinity
Posted: Tue, 31 May 2022 by Megan Manson
A survey reveals members of the public generally get along well with Christians – but feel less enthusiastic about proselytism. Megan Manson says this should be a warning to politicians who want faith groups to be free to preach when delivering public services. Read More »
Playing whack-a-mole with religious charities isn’t working. Time to reform charity law.
Posted: Wed, 26 Jan 2022 by Megan Manson
Regulating charities effectively will not be possible until religious privilege is removed from charity law, says Megan Manson. Read More »
Don’t sacrifice the principle of universal human rights to religious leaders
Posted: Mon, 22 Nov 2021 by Megan Manson
A recent report on state-sanctioned killings of 'blasphemers' and 'apostates' suggests re-interpreting Islam as a solution rather than promoting universal human rights. Megan Manson argues this is the wrong approach. Read More »
‘Inclusive language’ in the army is meaningless without inclusive culture
Posted: Mon, 08 Nov 2021 by Megan Manson
The Armed Forces must dismantle their institutional Christian privilege if they are truly committed to inclusivity, says Megan Manson. Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
If Scotland wants to uphold children’s rights, its schools need to change
Posted: Thu, 08 Apr 2021 by Megan Manson
After the Scottish parliament's decision to sign a charter for children's rights into law, Megan Manson says parties in the upcoming election should challenge religious groups' privileged influence over education policy. Read More »
Any serious counter-extremism strategy should consider religious charities
Posted: Mon, 15 Mar 2021 by Megan Manson
As a commission calls for action to tackle hateful extremism, Megan Manson says changes in the charity sector – including legal reform – would be both helpful and compatible with fundamental liberal principles. Read More »
Faith-based school admissions pave the way for sexist and unreasonable demands. It’s time to end them
Posted: Fri, 05 Mar 2021 by Megan Manson
An adjudicator's ruling has exposed the outrageous requirements a state-funded faith school places on pupils and their families. This shows the need to end faith-based discrimination in admissions, says Megan Manson. Read More »
Religious censorship is about ownership
Posted: Tue, 02 Feb 2021 by Megan Manson
Theocratic demands for censorship in India and Pakistan reflect attempts to grab power which undermine everyone's religious freedom, says Megan Manson. Read More »
Religious conversion isn’t a charitable endeavour
Posted: Thu, 14 Jan 2021 by Megan Manson
Some registered charities exist primarily to convert members of one religion to another. Megan Manson says such activity is harmful to community cohesion – and shouldn't be treated as a valid charitable purpose. Read More »
Allowing religious discrimination in school admissions opens the door to other forms of discrimination
Posted: Thu, 03 Dec 2020 by Megan Manson
A state-funded faith school recently rejected a child because her mother isn't Jewish. This shows the absurdity of religious discrimination in admissions, says Megan Manson. Read More »
Human rights should not be at the mercy of the pope’s pontifications
Posted: Wed, 28 Oct 2020 by Megan Manson
Amid widespread interest in the pope's views on same-sex civil unions, Megan Manson says states shouldn't allow themselves to be used to further the Catholic Church's agendas. Read More »
Problems around Islamic marriage require a secular solution
Posted: Fri, 28 Aug 2020 by Megan Manson
A new report says compulsory registration for Islamic marriages is needed to tackle discrimination and abuse. Megan Manson argues broad reform to marriage laws is a better way to ensure fairness and equality for all. Read More »
Our schools should promote social cohesion – so educate children together
Posted: Tue, 11 Aug 2020 by Megan Manson
As research shows social integration is key to fostering positive attitudes toward people of different religions and beliefs, Megan Manson says we should challenge the segregation and division inherent to faith schools. Read More »
We all need the freedom to offend – including the most marginalised
Posted: Thu, 06 Aug 2020 by Megan Manson
Scotland's new hate crime bill could easily be weaponised to silence any speech deemed offensive. This will disempower, rather than protect, society's most vulnerable, says Megan Manson. Read More »
It’s time for one marriage law for all
Posted: Tue, 07 Jul 2020 by Megan Manson
A new High Court challenge to get humanist marriages legally recognised in England and Wales gives us an opportunity to consider how to reform our marriage laws for greater simplicity, equality and freedom, says Megan Manson. Read More »
Why can't Ofsted stop state schools preaching that same-sex relationships are wrong?
Posted: Thu, 25 Jun 2020 by Megan Manson
As the government considers ways to end 'gay conversion therapy' it should give Ofsted the power to stop faith schools fostering anti-LGBT attitudes in the first place, says Megan Manson. Read More »
Outdoor marriage shouldn't be restricted on religious grounds
Posted: Thu, 11 Jun 2020 by Megan Manson
The government is reportedly planning to allow couples to marry outdoors as we emerge from lockdown. This is a chance to make marriage more equal and free for all permanently, says Megan Manson. Read More »
Scotland says it wants to clamp down on hate. But its charity law helps to promote it
Posted: Thu, 21 May 2020 by Megan Manson
The Scottish government has published a bill that threatens to outlaw the expression of hateful ideas. But meanwhile religious groups who promote harmful ideology enjoy charitable status, says Megan Manson. Read More »
