http://www.alliancealert.org news from the frontlines of the culture war Thu, 24 May 2012 23:12:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/24/american-religious-right-advances-in-europe-national-secular-society/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/24/american-religious-right-advances-in-europe-national-secular-society/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:03:10 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=131913 National Secular Society: The American religious right continues its advance into Europe. Our representative at the Fundamental Rights Agency Hans Christian Cars reports that Roger Kiska, Senior Legal Counsel at the Alliance Defence Fund, is based in Europe and disturbingly has been elected to the Advisory Panel 2012-2013 of the Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP). ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/24/american-religious-right-advances-in-europe-national-secular-society/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/18/national-secular-society-publish-european-court-of-human-rights-intervention/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/18/national-secular-society-publish-european-court-of-human-rights-intervention/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:07:36 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=116126 National Secular Society: We were motivated to intervene because we were convinced that the outcome of the case was likely to have a profound effect on the future of Human Rights in theUK, and probably also in Europe. Another intervener, coming from a rather different perspective, the (American) Alliance Defense Fund goes even further. It considers it is “stand[ing] in defense of religious freedom in the United Kingdom in cases that — if they are decided the wrong way — could have a negative impact on your religious liberty here in the United States”. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/18/national-secular-society-publish-european-court-of-human-rights-intervention/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/08/19/national-secular-society-american-religious-right-group-intervenes-in-european-discrimination-court-hearing/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/08/19/national-secular-society-american-religious-right-group-intervenes-in-european-discrimination-court-hearing/#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:20:01 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=111263 National Secular Society: A conservative American religious group has been given leave to intervene in the appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in cases concerning alleged religious discrimination. The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) has obtained permission from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to intervene in four cases involving British people who claim to have suffered religious discrimination. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/08/19/national-secular-society-american-religious-right-group-intervenes-in-european-discrimination-court-hearing/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/12/28/uk-scrap-compulsory-acts-of-worship-in-schools-say-teachers-and-campaigners/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/12/28/uk-scrap-compulsory-acts-of-worship-in-schools-say-teachers-and-campaigners/#comments Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:41:42 +0000 Admin http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=88611 Guardian: "Teachers and pressure groups are urging the education secretary to scrap a law requiring pupils in England to take part in a daily act of collective religious worship. The National Secular Society (NSS) has written to Michael Gove arguing that the legislation, dating from the 1944 Education Act, infringes children's human rights and discriminates against pupils of no faith and non-Christians." ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/12/28/uk-scrap-compulsory-acts-of-worship-in-schools-say-teachers-and-campaigners/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/08/06/american-religious-right-group-invited-into-the-un/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/08/06/american-religious-right-group-invited-into-the-un/#comments Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:14:26 +0000 Admin http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=67758 National Secular Society (UK): "ADF lawyer [Roger Kiska], who is located in Croatia, said . . . 'It means that we become players with all of the draft committees on conventions and treaties, from things like the international criminal court statutes to things potentially like the Convention on the Rights of the Child, where we as legal experts can come in and provide input on the things that we feel are important.'" | ADF News Release ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/08/06/american-religious-right-group-invited-into-the-un/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/07/23/uk-bideford-council-accepts-legal-firms-offer-in-prayers-row/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/07/23/uk-bideford-council-accepts-legal-firms-offer-in-prayers-row/#comments Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:38:27 +0000 Admin http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/07/23/uk-bideford-council-accepts-legal-firms-offer-in-prayers-row/ North Devon Gazette (July 15): "Bideford Town Council has agreed to accept an offer from a Manchester-based law firm to act on its behalf free of charge if a battle over the saying of prayers at meetings goes to court. The firm of Aughton Ainsworth made the offer after the National Secular Society announced its intention to seek a Judicial Review to end the saying of prayers as part of the Bideford council meetings." More information on the case here. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/07/23/uk-bideford-council-accepts-legal-firms-offer-in-prayers-row/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/06/21/uk-council-drops-prayers-for-poetry-readings/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/06/21/uk-council-drops-prayers-for-poetry-readings/#comments Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:44:58 +0000 Admin http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=63572 The Christian Institute: "A London council is set to stop beginning its meetings with Christian prayers, and replace them with poetry readings. ... Many councils choose to start their meetings with Christian prayers, but Jayne Buckland, the Mayor of Enfield, has chosen to replace them in a bid to 'support and encourage the arts'." ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/06/21/uk-council-drops-prayers-for-poetry-readings/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/06/15/london-mayor-blasts-campaign-to-end-councils-prayers/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/06/15/london-mayor-blasts-campaign-to-end-councils-prayers/#comments Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:58:45 +0000 Admin http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=63042 The Christian Institute: "The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has slammed a secular campaign to stop a local council praying before its meetings. . . . [He] pointed out that Parliament has the same tradition, and that it is helpful for both believers and non-believers. Speaking to Premier Christian Radio, the Mayor said: 'Whatever they may think about the existence or non existence of God or whatever, it’s quite a good thing that they should focus briefly in a moment of prayer, which is a unique period of reflection'." ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/06/15/london-mayor-blasts-campaign-to-end-councils-prayers/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/06/09/uk-church-poster-showing-jesus-in-the-womb-criticised-as-seeming-pro-life/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/06/09/uk-church-poster-showing-jesus-in-the-womb-criticised-as-seeming-pro-life/#comments Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:25:10 +0000 Admin http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=62632 Guardian: "Drawn up by ecumenical charity, Churchads.net, the 'Ultrasound Jesus' campaign is backed by a number of Christian organisations including the Church of England, the Baptist Union, the United Reformed Church, the Anglican and the Methodist churches . . . The National Secular Society (NSS) has criticised the ad, saying it gives the impression that it is politically motivated." ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/06/09/uk-church-poster-showing-jesus-in-the-womb-criticised-as-seeming-pro-life/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/06/01/uk-communities-secretary-freedom-to-pray-at-council-meetings-should-continue/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/06/01/uk-communities-secretary-freedom-to-pray-at-council-meetings-should-continue/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 23:00:50 +0000 Admin http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=62072 The Christian Institute: "Councils should continue to have the freedom to hold prayers at meetings, the Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has said. His comments come as a secular group attempts to use the courts to block a council from continuing its centuries-old tradition of praying before meetings." | For more information on the National Secular Society's challenges, see: http://www.alliancealert.org/tag/group-national-secular-society/ ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/06/01/uk-communities-secretary-freedom-to-pray-at-council-meetings-should-continue/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/28/uk-high-court-challenge-to-stop-bideford-council-prayers/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/28/uk-high-court-challenge-to-stop-bideford-council-prayers/#comments Fri, 28 May 2010 17:47:20 +0000 Admin http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=61849 BBC: "The National Secular Society (NSS) believes religion should be separate from government. It is taking the action against Bideford Town Council, claiming the council is breaching human rights." | For related information on the NSS campaign against council prayers, see this ADF Alliance Alert compound tag: http://www.alliancealert.org/tag/country-united-kingdom+topic-prayer/ ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/28/uk-high-court-challenge-to-stop-bideford-council-prayers/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/14/uk-national-secular-society-launches-no-to-council-prayers-campaign/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/14/uk-national-secular-society-launches-no-to-council-prayers-campaign/#comments Fri, 14 May 2010 18:46:13 +0000 Admin http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=60816 National Secular Society: "The NSS’s campaign to remove prayers from council meetings entered a new phase last week when a lawyer’s letter ahead of action was sent to Bideford Council setting out the grounds under which we believe the practice to be illegal. We advised the Council that unless the practice was stopped, the NSS would seek a judicial review. It is hoped that this will set a precedent that will affect the many other councils that have prayers as part of their agenda." ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/14/uk-national-secular-society-launches-no-to-council-prayers-campaign/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/07/uk-lord-carey-intervenes-in-council-prayers-battle/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/07/uk-lord-carey-intervenes-in-council-prayers-battle/#comments Fri, 07 May 2010 21:03:23 +0000 Admin http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=60191 The Guardian: "The former archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, today backed the saying of prayers before council meetings as a pressure group prepared to launch a legal battle on the issue . . . The National Secular Society has intervened in a long-running controversy over the saying of prayers at Bideford and is to seek a judicial review, arguing the practice breaches the European convention on human rights. It hopes that if it wins its case, hundreds of other councils will be forced to stop prayers." ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/07/uk-lord-carey-intervenes-in-council-prayers-battle/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/04/uk-ban-councils-christian-prayers-say-secularists/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/04/uk-ban-councils-christian-prayers-say-secularists/#comments Tue, 04 May 2010 20:48:58 +0000 Admin http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=59859 Christian Institute: "A secular campaign group is trying to use the courts to ban a North Devon Council from starting its meetings with Christian prayers. Bideford Town Council has had prayers at its meetings since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, but now the National Secular Society (NSS) says the practice infringes the human rights of non-believers." ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/04/uk-ban-councils-christian-prayers-say-secularists/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/04/challenge-to-town-council-invocations-moves-to-britain/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/04/challenge-to-town-council-invocations-moves-to-britain/#comments Tue, 04 May 2010 14:58:07 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/04/challenge-to-town-council-invocations-moves-to-britain/ ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/05/04/challenge-to-town-council-invocations-moves-to-britain/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/03/26/new-code-allows-religious-pharmacists-to-opt-out-of-prescribing-contraception/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/03/26/new-code-allows-religious-pharmacists-to-opt-out-of-prescribing-contraception/#comments Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:00:57 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/wordpress/2010/03/26/new-code-allows-religious-pharmacists-to-opt-out-of-prescribing-contraception/ Telegraph: "The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the new industry regulator, has clarified guidelines in the revised code, which states that staff can opt out of handing out the pill or the morning after pill. The so-called 'conscience clause' has been criticised and The National Secular Society had been campaigning to get it scrapped." ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/03/26/new-code-allows-religious-pharmacists-to-opt-out-of-prescribing-contraception/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/02/02/pope-faces-protests-on-british-visit-over-attack-on-equality-laws/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/02/02/pope-faces-protests-on-british-visit-over-attack-on-equality-laws/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:21:12 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/wordpress/?p=50664 Telegraph: "The National Secular Society (NSS) has said it would mount a protest campaign against the Pope's visit to Britain following the Pontiff's attack on equality laws." ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/02/02/pope-faces-protests-on-british-visit-over-attack-on-equality-laws/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/01/12/uk-christian-prayers-at-helston-town-council-are-non-pc/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/01/12/uk-christian-prayers-at-helston-town-council-are-non-pc/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:46:45 +0000 Admin http://www.alliancealert.org/wordpress/?p=47944 This is Cornwall: "Town council members have been criticised for holding Christian-only prayers at the beginning of meetings. Pat Woodhouse, who has attended a number of recent Helston Town Council meetings as a member of the public – and is considering standing for a seat – asked if the practice was now politically correct." ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2010/01/12/uk-christian-prayers-at-helston-town-council-are-non-pc/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2009/11/13/uk-govt-accused-of-allowing-discrimination-in-faith-schools/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2009/11/13/uk-govt-accused-of-allowing-discrimination-in-faith-schools/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:59:19 +0000 Admin http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=42265 UKPA: "Ministers have given in to demands by religious groups to allow faith schools to appoint teachers in line with the school's beliefs, the National Secular Society (NSS) claimed." ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2009/11/13/uk-govt-accused-of-allowing-discrimination-in-faith-schools/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2009/07/24/uk-secularist-elite-will-not-tolerate-faith-in-politics/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2009/07/24/uk-secularist-elite-will-not-tolerate-faith-in-politics/#comments Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:03:44 +0000 Admin http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=30971 The Christian Institute: "Groups like the National Secular Society are gaining success in their campaign for a 'state where religion is only allowed in private' writes Daily Telegraph commentator Ed West." ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2009/07/24/uk-secularist-elite-will-not-tolerate-faith-in-politics/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2008/07/30/uk-council-ban-on-atheist-websites/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2008/07/30/uk-council-ban-on-atheist-websites/#comments Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:22:59 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=6288 http://www.alliancealert.org/2008/07/30/uk-council-ban-on-atheist-websites/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2008/02/01/uk-scouts-oath-is-religious-discrimination/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2008/02/01/uk-scouts-oath-is-religious-discrimination/#comments Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:26:58 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/adf.php/2008/02/01/uk-scouts-oath-is-religious-discrimination/ ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2008/02/01/uk-scouts-oath-is-religious-discrimination/feed/ 1