NSS News

BBC may bow to pressure and open up Thought for the Day

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Although the BBC Trust rejected the NSS’s complaint that Thought for the Day breaches impartiality guidelines and ruled that it was within the discretion of BBC Executives to keep it exclusively religious, Radio 4 Controller Mark Damazer has hinted that the programme might be opened up anyway.

Census question on religion may be rethought after NSS campaign

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

It is reported that the Government is considering rephrasing the census question about religion after complaints from the National Secular Society that the question in the 2001 Census led to a vast overestimate of the number of religious people in Britain.

Government goes to astonishing lengths to undermine NSS calls for end to discrimination against non-religious teachers

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The National Secular Society’s Keith Porteous Wood last week called at a high-profile education conference for the Government to end discrimination in employment against non-religious teachers in “faith schools”.

New primary school curriculum makes evolution a mandatory science topic

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A new curriculum for primary schools in maintained (publicly-funded) schools in England makes the teaching of evolution a mandatory topic in science lessons.

Does the Pope have another little toiler at the top of Euro politics?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Before we cheer too loudly at the defeat of Tony Blair’s effort to become president of the European Union, we should take another look at the man who did eventually win the title, Herman van Rompuy, presently Prime Minister of Belgium.

Support for defamation resolution drops – but a new, more sinister, attempt to introduce it looms at the UN

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Committee that seeks to outlaw “defamation of religion” was passed again this year, although with fewer votes in favour.

Politicians and the naked emperors; Terry Sanderson on the relationship between faith leaders and the State

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

You can tell an election is approaching when politicians start ladling praise on to “faith groups” presumably in the hope that they’ll reciprocate with votes. The Sunday Telegraph reported this week that Communities Secretary John Denham is setting up a panel of religious advisors to give input on policy-making.

Scotland sets up Muslim Council to challenge “Islamophobia”

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The Scottish Government has set up close links with the Muslim Council of Scotland to work towards challenging “Islamophobia” and breaking down barriers between communities. It is not clear what form this co-operation will take or how much taxpayers’ money is involved.

BBC Trust rejects NSS Thought for the Day complaint

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The BBC Trust has rejected complaints by the National Secular Society that the Thought for the Day slot is discriminatory because it fails to include non-religious voices.

Archbishop says “faith schools” don’t divide children. Hindu leader says they do

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Speaking in Lancashire this week, the Archbishop of Canterbury pleaded with local politicians in Burnley, Blackburn and Preston not to “play the race card” when searching for votes, but at the same time he denied that “faith schools” played any part in keeping communities separated from each other.