Opinion
Why is the Catholic church allowed to hinder secondary school choice?
A case in Leicestershire shows the mess faith groups make of admissions and why secular accountability is necessary,... Read More »
Religion shouldn’t frustrate assisted dying reform
Ahead of parliament's first consideration of assisted dying for six years, Stephen Evans calls on secularists to help... Read More »
Only secular law can bring justice to victims of mass clerical abuse in France
Keith Porteous Wood says France's deference to the Catholic Church has obstructed justice for hundreds of thousands... Read More »
Terry Sanderson’s memoir shows gay and secularist activism go hand in hand
Helen Nicholls reviews The Reluctant Gay Activist, the revised memoir of former NSS president Terry Sanderson.
This... Read More »
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 »
Schools should be liberated from the compulsion of worship
As a bill to reform collective worship progresses in parliament, Stephen Evans argues that the time has come for lawmakers... Read More »
Major reform is needed to ensure equality and fairness in marriage law
Marriage law in England and Wales has failed to keep up with changing social realities. Russell Sandberg, the author... Read More »
Why can’t charity regulators tackle child abuse in faith groups?
An inquiry's report has highlighted the barriers which regulators face in dealing with child abuse in religious charities.... Read More »
Indonesia mosque attack is a reminder that Ahmadi Muslims’ human rights need defending
After a mob attacked an Ahmadi Muslim mosque in Indonesia and anti-Ahmadi rallies took place in Pakistan, Kunwar Khuldune... Read More »
Fundamentalists are still being given too much of a free pass on child abuse
The IICSA inquiry's latest report on child abuse in religious organisations and settings provides welcome evidence... Read More »
Charles Bradlaugh’s legacy is well worth celebrating
Bob Forder reflects on the key achievements of the NSS's founder, ahead of the restoration of his grave.
The funeral... Read More »
The child abuse inquiry has been too deferential to the Jehovah’s Witnesses
Next week the IICSA inquiry will publish a report into the Jehovah's Witnesses. This can only be damning. But the... Read More »
Locked in and locked out: how faith schools restrict families’ choices
State funding of faith schools means many families are left without suitable schools. The narrative that faith schools... Read More »
The Taliban takeover is part of a wider threat to secular liberal democracy
Stephen Evans argues that secular liberal democracy is the antidote to the totalitarian Islamism offered up by the... Read More »
It's time to move on from religious education
RE has become a subject in search of a purpose. There are better approaches to learning about the diversity of beliefs,... Read More »
Heads of state shouldn’t have to swear religious oaths
A challenge to Ireland's religious presidential oath should be supported – and prompt questions across the Irish... Read More »
The C of E has serious questions to answer over the death of a gay priest
A coroner's report has laid bare the Church of England's cruel and scandalous handling of the case of Alan Griffin,... Read More »
Schools aren’t there to save the church
The Church of England's new evangelical missional strategy should lead us to question its entitlement to proselytise... Read More »
Will the government protect the ethos of secular schools?
The Department for Education's protections for the secular community ethos of non-faith academies are inadequate.... Read More »
Defending Muslim women’s rights requires a willingness to criticise Islam
Islamic scripture is being used to justify attacks on women's rights in many countries. Secular law is a crucial defence... Read More »
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 »
Naz Shah’s argument on blasphemy should be rejected
The Labour MP has effectively called for a blasphemy law as she highlighted the "emotional harm" caused by depictions... Read More »
Schools must be supported against religious bullies
Comments from Ofsted's chief inspector highlight the need to help schools resist efforts to shut down teaching which... Read More »
The Church of England’s offensive in FE colleges must be resisted
This piece was originally published in FE Week and is republished here with kind permission.
C of E proposals to increase... Read More »
The ugly Batley and Spen campaign showed the risks of indulging religious identity politics
Voters and politicians who value social cohesion and basic democratic principles should reject the trend of pandering... Read More »
