National Secular Society

Government slaps secularists: “England has an established Church”

Amidst all the equality clamour and the siren voices of secularism, you can perhaps be forgiven for occasionally forgetting that England still has an Established Church, that its status is protected in law, and that Christianity remains the predominant religion…

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Parliamentary prayers give strength and instil humility: they impose nothing and exclude no one

January 21, 2019
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"If MPs don’t want to attend prayers, they wait outside for five minutes until they are over", tweeted Nadine Dorries MP, in response to those who are agitating anew for…

Michael Gove delivers Theos Annual Lecture: “I speak as a Christian”

November 23, 2018
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Michael Gove delivered this year's Theos annual lecture last night, and his subject was environmental justice, stewardship and the moral purpose of government. The whole lecture is well worth reading,…

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National Secular Society equates Anglicans with Islamists baying for blood

November 12, 2018
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While the Church of England was preparing to lead the nation in a corporate commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day 1918, the National Secular Society issued a tweet.…

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Catholic Herald calls for disestablishment of the Church of England

October 4, 2018
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The Catholic Herald has long held a certain antipathy toward the term 'Protestant', with occasional blurts of 'bigot' aimed at anyone so obtuse as to be duped by its theology…

If Philip North can’t be Bishop of Sheffield, the Church of England ceases to be catholic

February 25, 2017
620 Comments

The Dean of Christ Church, Professor Martyn Percy, has issued an ultimatum circumspectly entitled 'Questions of Ambiguity and Integrity'. It's quite long, but essentially it boils down to a choice:…

EU withdrawal Bill clears the Commons: will the Bishops vote for Brexit?

February 9, 2017
280 Comments

It is the stuff of which our Island history is made. The House of Commons has voted overwhelmingly to give the Prime Minister leave to invoke Article 50 of the…

The establishment of the Church of England and the Christian Monarchy flourish together or fall together

December 28, 2016
387 Comments

This is a guest post by the Rev’d Dr Gavin Ashenden, Chaplain to the Queen. __________________________ One of the many reasons I like twitter is for the jokes. “Why should…

Will Theresa May restore religious liberty by adopting reasonable accommodation?

December 6, 2016
284 Comments

Theresa May is an Anglican, and her faith appears to be sound and secure (ie, it doesn't fade in and out like Magic FM in the Chilterns). A few articles…

Church of England continues its decline – but is revival stirring?

January 12, 2016
155 Comments

The Church of England has published its attendance stats ('Statistics for Mission') for 2014. Don't yawn. Yes, the interesting Anglican stuff is leavening this week in a Canterbury crypt,…

The National Secular Society's vacuous and arrogant stance against the Lord's Prayer

November 23, 2015
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For decades the Church of England has gained a not entirely undeserved reputation for being a bit wet behind the ears and having all of the subversiveness of a…

Anti-terror legislation will be used against teachers who oppose same-sex marriage

August 4, 2015
340 Comments

The Extremism Bill seeks to extend the powers of government and law enforcement agencies to confront and neuter what they perceive to constitute 'extremism'. One of its provisions is…

Cameron can no more "destroy the Caliphate" than he can abolish the New Jerusalem

July 21, 2015
190 Comments

David Cameron's long-awaited speech on Islamic extremism (aka Islamism) was sort of worth waiting for. As he expounded his 'One Nation' vision to defeat the "poison" of extremism, he…

LibDems 'do God' by opposing faith schools

April 27, 2015
212 Comments

It’s now coming up to three-and-a-half years since I put fingers to keyboard and began blogging on the relationship between Christianity and politics. Along the way it’s brought me into…

The £3.5 billion gift from the churches to our communities

March 10, 2015
163 Comments

This Friday will see Jake Berry MP's private member's Local Government (Religious etc. Observances) Bill go to Committee stage in the House of Lords. Assuming this goes through (and the…

Jake Berry reminds politicians of accountability to the Prince of Peace

December 21, 2014
106 Comments

"I am delighted to be able to take the Bill through Parliament and to protect people’s freedom to pray, because it is an important issue. As we approach Christmas, the…

Jake Berry MP seeks to extend the freedom of public bodies to pray

November 21, 2014
201 Comments

When Councillor Clive Bone of Bideford Town Council attempted to put a stop to the despicable discriminatory practice of formally beginning their meetings with prayers, the council dismissed his…