Opinion
Scotland's faith schools are a divisive anachronism
Having worked in education for nearly 40 years I am convinced that the continuing existence of faith schools divides... Read More »
Discrimination, inconvenience, unfairness: The harm caused by faith school admissions
When parents in England have an unresolved complaint about their local council, they can approach the local government... Read More »
Scotland says it wants to clamp down on hate. But its charity law helps to promote it
The Scottish government has published a bill that threatens to outlaw the expression of hateful ideas. But meanwhile... Read More »
How charity law props up ‘gay conversion therapy’
As the NSS challenges the status of a Christian charity which pushes "change oriented therapy" for gay people, Megan... Read More »
Scotland’s new hate speech law will be too censorious
A new offence of 'stirring up hatred' on religious grounds is too restrictive of free speech, says Chris Sloggett.... Read More »
Is Northern Ireland set to move away from religious segregation in schools?
Northern Ireland has long been a byword for the problems with segregated, faith-based education. There are good reasons... Read More »
Why respect religious demands to keep pupils in the dark?
After a select committee chair urged more leeway for a faith school which has long censored textbooks, Stephen Evans... Read More »
Charity and homophobia shouldn’t mix
The proliferation of religious charities openly expressing anti-LGBT views should prompt us to rethink religion's... Read More »
Cardinal Pell’s conviction has been overturned – but there are uncomfortable moments to come
Australia's top court has overturned the conviction of the Vatican's former treasurer for sexually assaulting two... Read More »
Charities can’t sell snake oil. Or can they?
If we want to protect vulnerable people from being duped into buying 'miracle cures' from religious charities we should... Read More »
Secular attitudes and laws are assets against coronavirus
Religious fanaticism is hindering the fight against coronavirus across much of the world. But in Britain claims to... Read More »
Stuck at home? Here’s how you can learn about and support secularism
Most NSS supporters will now be confined to their homes over the coming weeks. But there's still plenty you can do... Read More »
Northern Ireland’s new abortion guidelines are welcome but should have gone further
As the government publishes a framework for the extension of abortion rights in NI, Dr Antony Lempert welcomes politicians'... Read More »
Let’s not replace a community school with a faith school in Surrey
Not far from Surrey County Council's chamber is a portrait of James Chuter Ede, a distinguished former member of the... Read More »
Trevor Phillips’s suspension is another blow to robust public debate
You don't need to agree with everything Trevor Phillips has said about Muslims or Islam to be concerned at the attempt... Read More »
Don’t let religious interests make divorce any harder than it needs to be
The Church of England and its supporters are opposing plans to make it easier for couples to divorce without assigning... Read More »
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?
A report highlighting the institutional bias towards Christianity in NHS chaplaincy services should prompt us to ask... Read More »
Faith schools can never be truly inclusive
By their very nature, faith schools are discriminatory, exclusionary and divisive. It therefore makes me frustrated... Read More »
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 »
Don’t let religious advocates define the boundaries of acceptable thought
A BBC debate on defining 'Islamophobia' was a reminder of the risks of giving too much ground to religious identity... Read More »
Denying a judicial review over a faith school’s expansion was a lamentable decision
After he was refused permission for a judicial review against Vale of Glamorgan Council, James Brunt says its decision... Read More »
The Cardinal Barbarin case highlights the need for well-drafted mandatory reporting laws
The conviction of France's most senior Catholic cleric for failing to report child abuse has been overturned. Keith... Read More »
The bishops’ bench is an affront to democracy. Let’s scrap it
A new bill proposes to end Church of England bishops' automatic right to sit in parliament. This religious privilege... Read More »
Our MPs now subscribe to many religious beliefs and none – it’s time to scrap parliamentary prayers
A religiously diverse new intake of MPs should prompt the removal of parliamentary prayers and the Church of England's... Read More »
