News
The Brownie Promise – a case study
A North Somerset girl who doesn't believe in god, but wants to be in the Brownies, faces a familiar quandary: what... Read More »
NSS raises major question about validity of legal argument used in Christian hotel case
Two Christian hotel owners who were found guilty of discrimination when they refused a gay couple a shared room have taken their case to the Court of Appeal this week. But the arguments that their barrister used to disprove discrimination against homosexuals have been challenged by the NSS. Read More »
Peers attack Christian Institute for lies about sex education proposals
Two peers have condemned a "cruel" and "vicious" campaign against them by the Christian Institute which claimed they... Read More »
Catholic School with appalling abuse record determined to retain reporting loopholes
Lord Carlile QC released his report on Wednesday into decades of abuse at St Benedict's independent RC School run... Read More »
French newspaper offices destroyed by bomb
The offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris have been destroyed in a petrol bomb attack the day after it announced the Prophet Muhammad as its “editor-in-chief” for its next issue. Read More »
Gay civil partnerships to be allowed in churches
Following a Government consultation under the Equality Act 2010, (same sex) civil partnership ceremonies will be permitted... Read More »
More complacency and cover-ups in the Catholic Church
Just days after the front page revelations about clerical child abuse at west London’s Ealing Abbey came more unwelcome front page news for the Catholic Church: “Sex abuse fears grow – Catholic Church orders new inquiry in England.” Read More »
Conflict over council prayers in Axbridge
Axbridge Town Council raised the idea of abolishing prayers at its meetings last August when some councillors said... Read More »
Spirituality and exorcism on the NHS
An amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill, tabled by psychiatrist and crossbench peer Baroness Hollins, called for the words ‘spiritual health’ to be inserted into a clause about the duty of the secretary of state, the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups to improve the quality of services. Read More »
Education Bill: Teacher discrimination challenged in House of Lords
Peers in the House of Lords this week challenged the level of discrimination permitted in 'faith' schools against... Read More »
UN urged to protect against religious intolerance without restricting free expression
An American civil rights group is urging United Nations member states to combat violence and discrimination fuelled... Read More »
Survey shows that US Catholics have their own ideas on what it takes to be a good Catholic
In a recent survey, 88% of American Catholics said that “how a person lives is more important than whether he or she is Catholic," according to Catholics in America: Persistence and change in the Catholic landscape. Read More »
Pope orders inquiry into child sex abuse at West London school
The Vatican has ordered an inquiry into claims of decades of sexual abuse at a London abbey and school.
Community school saved from closure by gaining academy status
The only non-faith school in the west of the Isle of Wight from has been saved from closure by opting out of local authority control and gaining academy status. Read More »
Education Bill: Peers oppose proposals to make worship optional in schools
Peers in the House of Lords this week rejected moves to make collective worship in schools optional, rather than compulsory.... Read More »
Proposals to make worship optional in schools rejected by Peers
Peers in the House of Lords have rejected moves to make collective worship in schools optional, rather than compulsory.... Read More »
Religion and HIV/AIDS – how lives are being lost and saved
The BBC has reported that at least three people in London with HIV/AIDS have died after they stopped taking life-saving drugs because their Evangelical Christian pastors told them that God would heal them. Read More »
Physiotherapist struck off for religious rant at patient
A physiotherapist who attacked a patient’s religion when she refused to have acupuncture at a Sheffield clinic has been struck off. Read More »
NSS challenge to free parking for churchgoers forces Council to act
Woking Borough Council has agreed to carry out an Equality Impact Assessment after a warning from the NSS that it is breaking the law by allowing churchgoers to park free while charging everyone else. Read More »
Self-regulation of madrassas would be a disaster for children
On Tuesday, 18 October 2011, Radio 4's File on 4 broadcast an investigation into the physical and sexual abuse of... Read More »
Government consults on removing ‘insulting’ speech from Public Order Act
The Home Office has launched a public consultation asking whether 'insulting' words or behaviour should continue to... Read More »
MoD spends £22 million a year on Christian chaplains
A Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) by the NSS has revealed the Armed Forces spend £22... Read More »
Creationist church remains resolute in pursuit of free school
An evangelical church with creationist beliefs in Newark (Notts) which had its free school application turned down has pledged to continue making every effort possible to see a new school set up. Read More »
Meeting with Education Minister on Collective Worship and Employment
Education Minister Lord Hill received a delegation on 12 October from NSS Honorary Associates Lord Avebury and Baroness... Read More »
NSS queries MoD spending on religious chaplaincy
A Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) by the National Secular Society has revealed the Armed Forces spend £22 million annually on Christian chaplains. 280 chaplains are employed by the MoD across all three services. Read More »
