Many religious charities do fantastic work.
But many others fail to provide a public benefit and some cause harm.
It's time to end religious privilege in charity law.
Charity work carried out by people of all faiths and none should be recognised and celebrated. Much of the work of religious charities, such as helping the poor, is secular in nature and beneficial to society.
But there are religious organisations which exploit the privileged status of religion in charity law to conduct activities that do not fulfil a genuine public benefit, and only serve to further religious ideology.
In the worst cases, religious charities may harm society and individuals.
Registered charities must serve a purpose recognised as "charitable". Charity laws specify a list of "charitable purposes," one of which is "the advancement of religion".
Charities must also demonstrate that they provide a genuine public benefit. But guidelines are vague on what constitutes a public benefit, particular in relation to religious activities. There is still an assumption in the charity system that religion is inherently beneficial. This view is not supported by evidence and implies those without a religion are somehow less moral or charitable.
The inclusion of the advancement of religion within charitable purposes gives religion a privileged position in the charity sector. It enables religious organisations to acquire all the benefits of charitable status, including tax relief, gift aid and public respectability, simply by "advancing religion".
It also includes religious organisations that cause harm to society. This includes charities which facilitate religious genital cutting, support the non-stun slaughter industry, and promote extremism, hatred and intolerance of other people.
The NSS believes all charities, religious or not, should be held to equally high standards. That's why we campaign for "the advancement of religion" to be removed from the list of charitable purposes, and for religious charities to be held to the same equality laws as all other charities.
Take action!
1. Write to your MP
Tell your MP it's time for "the advancement of religion" to be removed as a charitable purpose. Enter your postcode below to find your MP and send a letter to them.
2. Share your story
Tell us why you support this campaign, and how you are personally affected by the issue. You can also let us know if you would like assistance with a particular issue.
3. Join us
Become a member of the National Secular Society today! Together, we can separate religion and state for greater freedom and fairness.
Latest updates
NSS urges Scotland to ensure food banks are inclusive
Posted: Tue, 11 Jan 2022 14:09
The National Secular Society has advised the Scottish government to address discrimination in religious charities tackling poverty.
The NSS urged the government to ensure it only supports organisations that are "genuinely inclusive of all, regardless of religion or belief, in tackling poverty", in response to a consultation on ending the need for food banks.
The NSS welcomed the government's aim to "strengthen the protection of human rights" in its policies on tackling food insecurity.
But it warned food banks, debt advice and other services "may not pay full regard to human rights" when delivered by organisations with a religious agenda.
The NSS raised the issue of religious discrimination against prospective employees of food banks affiliated with the Trussell Trust, whose network accounts for approximately two-thirds of all emergency food bank provision in the UK.
The Trussell Trust is "based on, shaped, and guided by Christian principles" according to its website.
In September Dundee Foodbank, which is a member of the network but is independently run, was accused of breaching the Equality Act 2010 after publishing a job vacancy for a stock coordinator stating successful candidates must have "Christian values" and "evidence a live connection with the church".
The NSS urged the government to raise the issue of discriminatory recruitment practices in its food bank network with the Trussell Trust during its engagement with them.
The NSS also raised concerns about plans to distribute over £7 million to providers of free debt advice.
It noted that in the past, the Scottish Government had funded Christians Against Poverty (CAP), an evangelical Christian charity which invites clients to pray while providing debt advice.
Advice UK, the national charity which supports independent advice services, terminated CAP's membership in 2011 when it judged the 'emotional fee' of asking clients to pray whilst offering debt advice to be incompatible with membership.
CAP also has a policy of only recruiting Christians, which appears to be applied to all roles regardless of the duties involved.
The NSS urged the government to "place greater requirements on recipients of public funds to ensure they do not proselytise and do not apply religion-based discrimination in their recruitment policies."
NSS Comments
NSS head of policy and research Megan Manson said: "Social action by faith-based organisations clearly contributes enormously to the welfare of Scottish society.
"However, where religious organisations join others in delivering publicly funded services, it is reasonable to require them to respect boundaries and refrain from proselytising or discriminating against service users or their employees.
"We therefore sincerely hope the Scottish Government will proactively address the issues raised here when working with foodbanks, debt advice providers and any other community service provider to eliminate poverty, to ensure all members of the public are treated with fairness and dignity regardless of religion or belief."
Islamic charity advises on when and how to beat women
Posted: Mon, 10 Jan 2022 12:12
The National Secular Society has reported an Islamic charity whose website condones violence against women to the regulator.
The NSS reported Utrujj Foundation to the Charity Commission after finding an article on its website that says that a man "has the permission to 'strike'" his wife as part of "a process to salvage a marriage".
The article, entitled "Can a man beat his wife in Islam?", is written by Haytham Tamim, the "founder and main teacher" of Utrujj and one of the charity's trustees. It says it is guidance for "the person in charge of the relationship [on] how to resolve issues when the relationship is going wrong".
In a section entitled "When is it permissible", the article says the "right to beat" wives is "part of a process" if a wife is "undermining her husband's authority".
In another section entitled "What constitutes a strike", the article says daraba (striking) is connected to nushuz (arrogance). It says an example of nushuz is when "the wife is troublesome, causing issues" and the husband suspects she is "talking to someone behind his back or receiving someone in his home without his permission".
It says the strike "must not leave a mark" and "must not be on the face".
Elsewhere, it implies hitting one's wife is "an act of loyalty and love".
The article quotes Islamic texts that say "men are in charge of women", "righteous women are devoutly obedient" and that women are "like your captives".
The article also quotes texts saying parents should smack their children if they do not pray.
Other articles on the website say it is a "major sin" for Muslim women to marry non-Muslim men, that divorce is "a man's prerogative", that women "have to wear hijab" and that Muslim women cannot "travel the distance of 3 days and 3 nights unaccompanied".
Utrujj registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in December. Its charitable objects include "to advance the Islamic faith for the benefit of the public".
NSS response
The NSS has reported a number of charities registered under the charitable purpose of "the advancement of religion" to the commission for condoning violence against women in recent years.
NSS head of policy and research Megan Manson said: "All forms of abuse and violence against women should be wholeheartedly condemned, with no exceptions."
"An organisation that condones any form of abuse has no business being a charity.
"The charitable purpose of 'the advancement of religion' has a lot to answer for. It enables organisations to dress up and justify their misogyny through religious language.
"The suitability of 'the advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose in 21st century UK must be put under urgent review."
The NSS wrote to the Charity Commission last week warning them that the 'advancement of religion' charitable purpose may prevent the commission from achieving all its objectives and priorities in their business plan.
