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We will pick up your VAT bill, Chancellor tells the Church

A concerted campaign by churches has led to the Chancellor agreeing to set aside £30 million per annum to compensate places of worship for the extra VAT resulting from the withdrawal of the concession. The government’s offer is on top of £12m already provided to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS). No equivalent money is to be made available to listed secular buildings.

May 21, 2012 / No Comment / Read More

Cardinal who covered up child abuse and got away with it says secularists are immoral

May 21, 2012 1 Comment

In an address at Leicester’s Anglican Cathedral, the former leader of Catholics in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, said that “secular values” were behind the violence carried out in totalitarian states and some of the 20th century conflicts that have killed millions.

Who does the multi-faith prayer room belong to?

May 20, 2012 No Comment

A religious conflict has arisen at a Dorset hospital over plans to convert its Christian chapel into a “multi-faith centre”. The changes are part of a £30million refurbishment of St Ann’s psychiatric hospital in Poole.

ESRC release new research findings on Humanist funerals

May 20, 2012 1 Comment

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has released new research findings on Humanist funerals. The research was carried out by Dr Matthew Engelke from the Department of Anthropology at the London School of Economics.

BHA supports International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

May 17, 2012 No Comment

The annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) has been marked today by the British Humanist Association (BHA) with a call to remain vigilant against homophobic and transphobic hate crime.

Creationist Free School bids rejected as other ‘faith’ schools advance to interviews

May 17, 2012 No Comment

Bids to set up creationist Free Schools have been rejected by the Department for Education (DfE). In particular, the DfE have turned down a high-profile bid from Sheffield Christian Free School, which would have been affiliated to the Christian Schools’ Trust (CST) network of largely creationist private schools.

Bill giving Humanist marriage ceremonies legal status in England and Wales is introduced into Parliament

May 16, 2012 No Comment

A Private Members Bill with the intention of giving humanist marriage ceremonies legal status will have its First Reading in the House of Lords today (16 May 2012), marking the first stage in the legislative process. The Bill is sponsored by Lord Harrison, member of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group and British Humanist Association (BHA) Distinguished supporter.

Home Secretary under pressure to reform Public Order Act

May 16, 2012 No Comment

The National Secular Society has joined together with human rights campaigners and religious groups to launch a major new campaign to reform the 1986 Public Order Act, after mounting evidence suggests it is strangling free speech.

Monarch’s role as head of Church of England “unsustainable”

May 16, 2012 No Comment

The National Secular Society says that the Queen’s or any future Monarch’s role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England is unsustainable – despite the results of a new poll showing that 79% of British adults think that the Queen still has an…

Catholic Church promises to be a thorn in the side of new French President

May 16, 2012 No Comment

The Catholic Church and other right-wing groups in France have given notice that they intend to resist the newly-elected President’s progressive social agenda.