Promoting the separation of Church and State, the National Secular Society campaigns both at home and in the EU against the undue influence of religion in public affairs and education. They defend scientific rationalism, freedom of speech and Human Rights, standing for equality for all regardless of religious conviction or non-belief.

Here are the latest headlines:

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

  Posted 2 days ago

  A concerted campaign by churches has led to the Chancellor agreeing to set aside £30 million per annum to compensate places of worship following the removal of the zero VAT rating concession for alterations to listed buildings announced in the budget. [more]

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

  Posted 3 days ago

  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. [more]

• Who does the multi-faith prayer room belong to?

  Posted 3 days ago

  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. [more]

• Home Secretary under pressure to reform Public Order Act

  Posted 5 days ago

  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. [more]

• Norway makes another step in the long road to separating church and state

  Posted 5 days ago

  The Norwegian Parliament is planning to amend the country's constitution on Monday to continue the long, drawn-out effort to separate the church from the state. [more]

• Why is the Government promoting one particular religion in state schools?

  Posted 5 days ago

  The Government has gone ahead with its plan to send a free copy of the King James Bible to every state-sponsored primary and secondary school in the country. [more]

• Has Michael Gove already made up his mind about Catholic political agitation in state schools?

  Posted 6 days ago

  Damian Thompson, high profile Catholic and editor of the Daily Telegraph's blog section, accidentally tweeted over the weekend that he was told it would be OK for Catholic schools to oppose same-sex marriage at a dinner party attended by Education Secretary Michael Gove. [more]

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

  Posted 6 days ago

  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. [more]

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

  Posted 6 days ago

  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 important "faith role". [more]

• Faith school transport subsidies under scrutiny

  Posted 10 days ago

  Cheshire East is the latest council to axe free or subsidised transport to faith schools. The council took the decision despite fierce opposition from Catholic families who said they were being 'discriminated' against. [more]