Public services that are intended for the whole community, especially those funded by public money, should be provided in a secular context. We campaign on a wide range of topics where religious privilege impacts public life. For over years we have campaigned for disestablishment, the separation of the C of E and state. Anglican bishops in the House of Lords have united to oppose a bill to allow the choice of assisted dying for terminally ill people.
The practice of reserving seats for 26 C of E bishops in the House of Lords is an "absurd constitutional anomaly", a peer has argued. A majority of Britons think being a Christian is "not at all important" for national identity, a survey has found.
A challenge to Ireland's religious presidential oath should be supported — and prompt questions across the Irish Sea, says Chris Sloggett. A coroner's report has laid bare the Church of England's cruel and scandalous handling of the case of Alan Griffin, who killed himself following unfounded accusations of child exploitation, says Keith The furore over John Sentamu not being handed a life peerage reveals an ugly culture of entitlement that has not served church or state well, argues Richard Scorer.
As figures show most people in Britain never pray, Megan Manson says institutionalised prayer has no place in our parliament, councils, schools or public ceremonies. A new bill proposes to end Church of England bishops' automatic right to sit in parliament. This religious privilege is part of an unjust status quo and should be addressed, says Stephen Evans. You can support the NSS by buying from our Shop.
All rights reserved. National Secular Society. Donate Join us. What is the Bishops' Bench? Opinion polls consistently reveal the Bishops' Bench to be distinctly unpopular: The public's least favoured candidates for appointment to the House of Lords are religious representatives. Panelbase Our Campaigns. Education and Schools Join our campaign for an inclusive and secular education system.
Need advice? Related News Posted: Thu, 04 Nov Posted: Tue, 26 Oct Write to your MP to demand the removal of bishops from the legislature. You can also support Humanists UK by becoming a member. That helps in itself, and you can help even more by supporting our campaigns in the ways suggested above. But campaigns also cost money — quite a lot of money — and we also need financial support. You can make a donation to Humanists UK. Sign up as a supporter and we'll keep you up to date by email about all of our work for a fair and equal society.
Click here to see our Privacy Policy. Remember me. In depth The automatic presence of the bishops in the House of Lords is not just a harmless legacy of a medieval constitution but a present example of discrimination, religious privilege, and undemocratic politics. Ministers working on Lords reform received more correspondence about this issue than any other. In December , peers in the House of Lords, including from the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, spoke in a debate in favour of removing the bishops.
We have also spoken up against proposals that would retain the bishops in a smaller House of Lords, or otherwise. We have also conducted extensive research and produced detailed briefings on this matter. Get involved Write to your MP to demand the removal of bishops from the legislature You can also support Humanists UK by becoming a member. More in this section. Our campaigns ». Faith schools. But do its leaders deserve a special place in Parliament? Lord Taverne and the Bishop of Durham have opposing views.
As bishops, our faith compels us to raise questions with those in power about people on the margins, children, the voiceless, the many attacks on human rights abroad, and solutions to the climate emergency.
We are not there to simply defend the interests of the established church, or speak only for people of faith, but to play our own part in holding our elected powers to account on behalf of those who need us most, and help the process of making better law. We have been at the forefront of recent campaigns in Parliament on justice for leaseholders facing fire safety costs, on prison reform, welfare of migrants and refugees, and on harms caused by gambling.
To those who argue that religion should keep out of politics, as Christians we look to the example of Jesus Christ, who did not fail to challenge those in authority when the needs of those on the margins were ignored.
Our work as Lords Spiritual is an extension of our service to the nation in parishes, schools, chaplaincy and charitable work, as the established Church of England. There will be few MPs unaware of the impact of churches and other faiths in their communities, acting as social glue. We are summoned by the Queen to attend the Lords; a tradition dating back to the very first Parliaments. But as our constitution has evolved, so has the role of bishop and the relationship between church and state.
First, we are spiritual leaders. At the start of each sitting we lead the House of Lords in prayer; we bring insights to debates based on our spiritual and constitutional roles, and the needs of the regions our dioceses cover. For me this is the north-east of England, a part of the country not well represented in the Lords. Unlike other members, our numbers are capped at 26 and we retire from the House when we leave office as a bishop. Because of its establishment, the Church of England remains accountable to Parliament, which must approve its laws.
Service and accountability are then as much a feature of this modern relationship with the state, as are historic and constitutional precedent. We live in a multi-faith society, which has a famously unwritten constitution. Our national character and culture is still informed and enriched by the existence of an established Church of England and an anointed head of state who serves as our supreme governor. But it often feels as though those who would do away with the Lords Spiritual have a view of church and state that is stuck in the disestablishment politics of the 19th century.
If we started over, would we start from here?
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