Jack Rivington

[National Secular Society @NatSecSoc]

The Conservatives have said they will stop the use of protected characteristics in admissions. They should be true to their word, and remove Equality Act exemptions which allow faith schools to discriminate on the basis of religion.
https://t.co/GMBuqnTqZg

[National Secular Society @NatSecSoc]

BREAKING: The High Court has rejected the CPS’s appeal to reinstate Hamit Coskun’s conviction for burning a Quran in an act of protest.
It's not the state’s job to police religious sensibilities. We welcome this rejection of blasphemy law by the back door. https://t.co/nUn8TaBU2J

[Jack Rivington @RivingtonJack]

‘Deliverance ministry’, including child exorcism, is part of the doctrine of the CofE.
So why does this CofE school feel it necessary to ban the harmless fun of pupils in order to protect its ‘ethos’?
Protect children from harmful religious belief instead.
https://t.co/F9a30ne11Y

[Jack Rivington @RivingtonJack]

Uncritical and deferential attitudes towards religion in education are leaving pupils potentially exposed to harm.
Inviting religious groups into schools isn't 'inclusive' or 'pro-cohesion' if those groups demonstrably seek to stoke division. A new approach is much needed.

[National Secular Society @NatSecSoc]

It's obviously inappropriate for representatives of a mosque which hosted antisemitic preaching to be invited to speak to primary pupils, and to host others on a school trip.
To protect children we need to scrutinise religious groups, not defer to them.
https://t.co/uKKWjBcWlM

[National Secular Society @NatSecSoc]

SUCCESS! Hamit Coskun's conviction has been overturned.

Today's judgment is an important victory, reaffirming the vital principle that free speech protects the right to offend, shock, or disturb – even when it challenges deeply held religious beliefs.
https://t.co/LjglPWo5N0

[Jack Rivington @RivingtonJack]

Not content with taxpayers funding the promotion of homophobia, the Government are now openly endorsing it.
It is obviously incoherent to insist on inclusion whilst accommodating religious prejudice, as the new RSE guidance does.
Children's best interests undermined once again.

[National Secular Society @NatSecSoc]

New government guidance on Relationships and Sex Education endorses a model curriculum developed by the Catholic Church that promotes homophobia.

We've written to the Government asking to know why.

https://t.co/N2nC24FL0z

[National Secular Society @NatSecSoc]

The Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell has said the Modernisation Committee is “not looking” at abolishing parliamentary prayers because Parliament is “attached to the Church of England, and that’s sort of important”.
https://t.co/YG29oWbeFl

[National Secular Society @NatSecSoc]

The prosecution of Hamit Coskun is legally flawed and amounts to a dangerous reintroduction of blasphemy laws through the backdoor.

KC @akuareindorf described the charges as "plainly defective". We've urged the CPS to drop them.

Story in @thetimes.

https://t.co/7YC7PTKTrh

[National Secular Society @NatSecSoc]

Norwood school’s decision to create an inclusive environment for all pupils by not holding a church service for Easter is commendable.

Organised religious worship or celebrations shouldn’t be part of the calendar at any state-funded school.

https://t.co/3tY3sxdvV9

[National Secular Society @NatSecSoc]

Encouraging to see @MoJGovUK acknowledge the “harm or trauma” caused by ritual #circumcision.

Surgery, including circumcision, is inherently dangerous. It should only be performed on children by a doctor and with medical necessity.

[National Secular Society @NatSecSoc]

Wonderful news that Mubarak Bala has been freed. But he should never have been subjected to this horrific treatment in the first place. Criticising religion should not be a crime anywhere.
https://t.co/Is21yPcKrf

[Jack Rivington @RivingtonJack]

The question's focus on religious texts is rather revealing. The intentional damaging of Qurans is a negligible issue in the UK - why then are legal protections for holy books necessary to safeguard British Muslims?

[Tahir Ali MP @TahirAliMP]

During PMQs today, I asked the Prime Minister to introduce measures to prohibit desecration of religious texts and targeted vilification of all the prophets of the Abrahamic faiths.

As November marks Islamophobia Awareness Month, it is vital the Government takes clear and measurable steps to prevent acts that fuel hatred in society.

[National Secular Society @NatSecSoc]

Deeply alarming that an MP is calling for the introduction of new blasphemy laws. Concerningly, the Prime Minister offers no defense of free expression.
MPs should uphold values which are foundational to our society - not seek to dismantle them.

[National Secular Society @NatSecSoc]

We've reported this charity to the regulator after its imam said women have an "obligation" to make themselves sexually available to their husbands.
Charities should not promote ideology which leaves women vulnerable to abusive coercive control.
https://t.co/7qaJlMVnNc

[National Secular Society @NatSecSoc]

Watch: Charity's imam says women have an "obligation" to make themselves available to their husbands for sex. We've alerted the charity regulator. Read more: https://t.co/pgsOVlYIkk

[National Secular Society @NatSecSoc]

Just two years ago, Justin Welby affirmed the validity of a 1998 Lambeth Conference declaration that gay sex is a sin, and that “homosexual practice” is incompatible with scripture. If he has changed his mind, does this remain the Church’s position? @RestIsPolitics

[Jack Rivington @RivingtonJack]

Automatic seats for clerics in Parliament are no more justifiable than those which are inherited. The Government should embrace this amendment to scrap the bishops' bench along with hereditary peers. #HereditaryPeers #HouseOfLords

[National Secular Society @NatSecSoc]

We need your help to scrap the bishops’ bench!

Ask your MP to support an amendment which would remove automatic seats in the House of Lords for C of E bishops.

Use our letter below - write today and help scrap the bishops' bench.

https://t.co/xy8PYoxoGX

[Richard Scorer @Richard_Scorer]

Catholic Herald says we should “fight to protect the church’s interests” from mandatory reporting covering the confessional. This says it all- they want to protect the church, not abused children. There should be no religious exemption. https://t.co/oRU72i0Mca

[Jack Rivington @RivingtonJack]

A disturbing view into the minds of those who put the "interests" of the Catholic church ahead of the protection of children. Deeply revealing and utterly shameful. https://t.co/p2fE25lU9T

[Jack Rivington @RivingtonJack]

If the Government wants to “keep children safe” from “inappropriate content” in RSE, they should stop permitting faith schools to teach it within their “distinctive faith perspective”, which @NatSecSoc has shown to facilitate the promotion of homophobia. https://t.co/XL5qOImYx4