Tags: Public Services

Malcolm Lightbody, Unsplash

Time to bring policies on religion in line with public opinion

As yet another study confirms Brits aren't keen on religion, Megan Manson says politicians should reflect public opinion by reeling in religious privilege. Read More »

Taxpayers shouldn't be burdened with propping up the Church

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 »

Hospital chaplains: unfair, unevidenced, unnecessary?

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 »

Encouraging evangelism in public services will promote division, not divinity

Encouraging evangelism in public services will promote division, not divinity

A survey reveals members of the public generally get along well with Christians – but feel less enthusiastic... Read More »

‘Inclusive language’ in the army is meaningless without inclusive culture

‘Inclusive language’ in the army is meaningless without inclusive culture

The Armed Forces must dismantle their institutional Christian privilege if they are truly committed to inclusivity,... Read More »

Beware the government’s “new normal” of faith-based public services

Beware the government’s “new normal” of faith-based public services

A new government fund exclusively for faith groups threatens to embed religious privilege into public services, warns... Read More »

Holding hands over Bible

Helping the public shouldn’t mean pushing religion on people

A parliamentary group has removed provisions in its 'faith covenant' that prevent faith groups from proselytising... Read More »

Society

Those providing public services – including religious groups – should respect reasonable boundaries

Following a call for a greater role for religion in public services, Stephen Evans argues that any expansion of faith-based... Read More »

Prayer

Most Brits don’t pray. It’s time for our institutions to stop imposing worship

As figures show most people in Britain never pray, Megan Manson says institutionalised prayer has no place in our... Read More »

Can chaplaincy ever be fit for the 21st century?

Can chaplaincy ever be fit for the 21st century?

A report highlighting the institutional bias towards Christianity in NHS chaplaincy services should prompt us to ask... Read More »

Clasped hands

Faith groups should practice without preaching when helping the vulnerable

As a report shows some religious groups are helping survivors of modern slavery without proselytising, Megan Manson... Read More »

Party logos

Election 2019: Where do the major parties stand on secularist issues?

Megan Manson studies the election manifestos for the main UK-wide parties – and says religion will continue... Read More »

Ballot box

Election 2019: pledges that should be in the parties’ manifestos

As the UK's political parties consider their manifestos for the upcoming election, NSS chief executive Stephen Evans... Read More »

Hospital A&E

The NHS’s pastoral support shouldn’t be based on religiosity

Moves to introduce humanist chaplaincy services in some NHS hospitals paper over the cracks in a discriminatory service,... Read More »

The questionable ethics of evangelical debt advice

The questionable ethics of evangelical debt advice

The good deeds of faith-based organisations shouldn't lead us to turn a blind eye to their more ethically dubious... Read More »

Stop reflexively saying yes to religious groups

Stop reflexively saying yes to religious groups

As councils in north London, police in West Yorkshire and politicians in Westminster pander to religious groups' demands,... Read More »

Universities must commit to free expression – and they should stop hiring religious chaplains

Universities must commit to free expression – and they should stop hiring religious chaplains

A chaplain should not have been sacked for criticising Pride off campus, says Chris Sloggett. But universities can... Read More »

We’ll all suffer if we let religion dictate how public servants do their jobs

We’ll all suffer if we let religion dictate how public servants do their jobs

Politicians have hung a coroner who stood up to religious groups out to dry, says Chris Sloggett. And they've revealed... Read More »

The folly of the civil service’s ‘faith and belief champion’

A new civil service appointment may be intended to promote 'inclusion'. But insistently bringing religion into the... Read More »

Scottish care provider’s decision to drop faith test should prompt a rethink over equality exceptions

When religious organisations are delivering state-funded public services they should neither discriminate nor proselytize... Read More »

Faith in public services?

An increased role for religious organisations in the provision of public services would be disastrous for both the... Read More »

National occasions need not be dominated by religion – as France’s commemoration ceremony so poignantly demonstrated

France's recent ceremony for those killed in the Paris attacks was a moving demonstration that religiously neutral... Read More »

Publicly funded services shouldn't be a platform to proselytise

Any attempt to give faith-based organisations more room to discuss religion when running public services risks making... Read More »

NHS pastoral care should be a non-discriminatory service for all

If NHS Trusts want to provide pastoral care for all, then there is no rationale for restricting the role of chaplain... Read More »

Remembrance Sunday should not be dominated by religion

Historian, broadcaster and NSS honorary associate Dan Snow on the need for an inclusive and secular remembrance ceremony... Read More »