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
Australian state considers making religious charities justify status
Posted: Wed, 4 Apr 2018 14:42
The Australian state of Victoria is considering ending the status of 'advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose and rescinding religious institutions' automatic tax exemptions.
Fiona Patten, an MP with the Reason Party, has tabled a private member's bill in the state legislature's upper house to amend its Charities Act. The bill is expected to be debated in Victoria's parliament over the next few weeks.
The bill would mean religious organisations would need to justify their charitable benefits according to secular criteria if they wanted to keep them.
In December Reason said the bill would "ensure that tax exemptions for charities in Victoria only apply to those organisations engaging in objectively charitable works". It added that "genuine charitable work, including the charitable work performed by religious institutions" would continue to be tax exempt.
On her website Patten has written that "religious organisations should be treated equally and be subject to the same laws as other organisations".
"Religious institutions receive automatic tax exempt status. I believe that the 'advancement of religion' should be removed from the statutory definition of charity, so that religious organisations do not enjoy automatic tax exempt status.
"Most people understand charity to be the voluntary giving of help to those in need – it is that compassionate activity that should be tax exempt. I do not in any way oppose tax deductions for genuine charitable works by religious institutions which benefit the wider community, but I believe that only genuine charitable work should be tax exempt."
Patten has also criticised the fact that many faith-based institutions remain unincorporated associations in Victoria. "I believe that faith based institutions should have a corporate identity, so they may then sue and be sued, just like anyone else," she has written. "This is particularly relevant to victims of institutional child abuse."
She has also said commercial enterprises owned by religious institutions should be subject to the same legal and financial laws as other commercial entities.
The Victorian government has previously said it does not plan to change the current system. But the bill could have implications across Australia. Reason says it is "effectively the first step toward parliamentary debate around the country to allow religious institutions in Australia to be taxed". Since its introduction there have been calls for the category of basic religious charity to be removed from Australian legislation.
And former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard has said removing tax concessions for churches could push recalcitrant ones to take firmer action over child sexual abuse.
The measure has met a fierce backlash from some faith groups. In the legislative chamber last month Francis Moore, executive director of the Catholic archdiocese of Melbourne, claimed ending 'advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose would represent "an attempt to overthrow a major underpinning of society as we know it".
Moore also referred to the UK as an example of a country where 'advancement of religion' is officially a charitable purpose.
Islamic charity run by Cherie Blair’s sister mislaid over £90,000
Posted: Tue, 30 Jan 2018 17:34
An Islamic charity has failed to account for almost 50% of its total expenditure, according to the Charity Commission.
