BHA: House of Lords debates the humanist "Case for Secularism."

Thursday, 18 March 2010 12:00 AM

The House of Lords is holding a debate on two key British Humanist Association (BHA) publications: The Case for Secularism: A Neutral State in an Open Society and Quality and Equality: Human Rights, Public Services and Religious Organisations. The debate, called by Lord Harrison, BHA Distinguished Supporter and a firm advocate of a separation of church and state, has attracted a number of high profile speakers, including former government minister the Rt Hon Lord Macdonald of Tradeston, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, and the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds.

The Case for Secularism argues for the secular approach, in ways intended to appeal both to humanists and to religious believers, and Quality and Equality is a major report into the contracting out of public services to religious organisations. The launch of the Quality and Equality report was supported by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and its conclusions endorsed by public figures including Lord Warner, former minister at the Department of Health, and many of the issues raised by the report have been subsequently taken up in the House of Commons and the House of Lords in the context of the Equality Bill.

Naomi Phillips, BHA Head of Public Affairs, said 'The separation of religion and politics, of church and state, is an issue that is ever-more pressing. Segregation in our education system through divisive and discriminatory "faith schools" is increasing at a frightening rate and more and more of our public services, including health, social care and welfare services, are set to be handed over to religious organisations - organisations which are exempt from important parts of equality and human rights laws.

'We are also seeing threats to basic freedoms and rights through our lack of church-state separation, such as recent moves influenced by the religious lobby to restrict employment rights for gay people, and to teaching young people attending "faith schools" Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) in ways that are not balanced, accurate or that promote equality and diversity.

'This timely debate offers opportunity for Peers to set the context for fresh discussions about these issues that affect us all, in the next Parliament and beyond.'

Notes

The debate is being held in the House of Lords Chamber, Thursday March 18th 2010.

For further comment or information, contact Naomi Phillips on naomi@humanism.org.uk, 020 7079 3585 or 07540 257101.

Read the BHA's briefing on the debate, with links to the reports.

Read more about the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, which now has 120 members from both Houses of Parliament and across all main Parties.

The British Humanist Association (BHA) is the national charity representing the interests of the large and growing population of ethically concerned, non-religious people living in the UK. It is the largest organisation in the UK working for a secular state.

The BHA is deeply committed to human rights and advocates an open and inclusive society in which individual freedom of belief and speech are supported by a policy of disinterested impartiality on the part of the government and official bodies towards the many groups within society so long as they conform to the minimum conventions of the society.

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