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Written Evidence from the National Secular Society (CDR 14)

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Written Evidence from the National Secular Society (CDR 14) Written evidence from The National Secular Society (CDR 14) Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee The Government’s Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission 1. Introduction 1.1. The National Secular Society (NSS) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation founded in 1866, funded by its members and by donations. We advocate for separation of religion and state and promote secularism as the best means of creating a society in which people of all religions and none can live together fairly and cohesively. We seek a diverse society where all are free to practise their faith, change it, or to have no faith at all. We uphold the universality of individual human rights, which should never be overridden on the grounds of religion, tradition or culture. 1.2. In a secular democracy all citizens are equal before the law and parliament. No religious or political affiliation gives advantages or disadvantages and religious believers are citizens with the same rights and obligations as anyone else. In the 21st century no religion should be granted a privileged position. 1.3. We welcome the opportunity to submit evidence regarding setting up a “Constitution, Democracy & Rights Commission”. We agree with many of the sentiments expressed in oral evidence given to the Committee1: that there is a lack of public trust in parliamentary institutions, and that significant work is needed to reform it for greater suitability for the 21st century. 2. The role of the House of Lords: Abolishing the ‘Bishops’ Bench’ 2.1. We understand that the Commission would like to focus on the role of the House of Lords. We believe any discussion about modernising the House of Lords must include an examination of the ‘Bishops’ Bench’ and its abolition. 2.2. Two archbishops and 24 bishops of the Church of England (‘Lords Spiritual’) sit alongside peers in the House of Lords as of right. The United Kingdom is unique among Western democracies in giving representatives of religious groups automatic seats in its legislature. Only two other countries involve religious clerics in law- making: Vatican City, and Iran. 2.3. The bishops have the right to vote and debate, and have a privileged position from which to exert inappropriate influence on our national way of life. They have acquired 1 https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/982/default/ National Secular Society List of Issues Prior to Reporting 2 this right solely by virtue of their position in the hierarchy of one particular Church which is ever-decreasing in formal membership. 2.4. 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.2 - 62% of British people think that no religious clerics should have an automatic right to seats in the House of Lords. Only 8% of people said the bishops should retain their seats.3 - Three-quarters of the public and 70% of Christians believe it is wrong for bishops to have reserved places in the House of Lords.4 - Panelbase asked an online sample of 2,016 adult Britons in 2018 whether clerics, priests, and clergy should make laws. The overwhelming majority of respondents (78%) disagreed that they should be so involved, peaking at 85% of Conservative voters and 89% of over-55s, while only 10% agreed, with 13% uncertain.5 2.5. No measures of Anglican attendance or observance give a figure of sufficient value that would present the Church of England as anything other than a small minority interest: - The number of British people who identify as Church of England has halved since 2002. In 2002, 31% of Brits said they belong to the Church of England. In 2019, just 12% of Britons were affiliated to the Church of England.6 - Just 1% of 18-24 year olds say they belong to the Church of England.7 - Less than 2% of the population regularly attend Church of England church services.8 - According to Religious Trends, a comprehensive statistical analysis of religious practice and observance in the UK published by Christian Research, the projected total church attendance in Britain by 2050 will have declined to 899,000, of which Anglicans would comprise less than 100,0006.9 2 http://cdn.yougov.com/today_uk_import/YG-Archives-pol-charter88-HouseLords-030122.pdf 3 https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/public-want-religion-kept-out-of-politics-t3rk055cx 4 http://www.brin.ac.uk/2010/religion-in-public-life-another-poll/ 5 https://www.drg.global/wp-content/uploads/W12994-Constitution-Full-Tables-for-publication-191118-1.pdf 6 http://www.bsa.natcen.ac.uk/latest-report/british-social-attitudes-35/key-findings.aspx 7 http://www.bsa.natcen.ac.uk/latest-report/british-social-attitudes-35/key-findings.aspx 8 https://www.churchofengland.org/media/18763 9 Religious Trends 7, 2007/2008 publ by Christian Research Table 12.6.2 National Secular Society List of Issues Prior to Reporting 3 - Christians now constitute a minority in England, Scotland and Wales, while in Wales and Scotland the majority have no religion.10 - Only 6% of adults in Britain are practising Christians, and very few of them decided to become Christians during adulthood.11 2.6. It is commonly argued that the bishops bring a unique 'ethical and spiritual insight' to the affairs of Parliament and so speak for all believers, not just Christians, and unbelievers too. This is not borne out by evidence and even the bishops' claims to represent the views of their own ordinary church members are highly suspect. The idea that bishops or any other religious leaders have any monopoly on issues of morality is offensive to many UK citizens. This is made more so by continuing revelations over the role of the Church's hierarchy in appearing to cover up child abuse12 and their continuing institutional homophobia. 2.7. A mechanism already exists for the Bishops’ Bench to be abolished, in the form of a private members’ bill presented by Lord Taverne QC in January, which would end the automatic right of Church of England bishops to sit in the House of Lords.13 3. Disestablishment of the Church of England 3.1. The presence of the Bishops’ Bench is a result of a more fundamental issue: the status of the Church of England as a state religion. It is inappropriate, anachronistic and undemocratic to have any 'national religion', and we believe a separation of church and state would be best for both. 3.2. The existence of a legally-enshrined, national religion and established church privileges one part of the population, one institution, and one set of beliefs. Disestablishment is right in principle and would be more representative of the changing landscape of religion and belief in the UK. 3.3. A national religion which retains archaic and unjust privileges is iniquitous to the rest of the population – the majority of which do not attend services of the Church of England, as outlined above. 10https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/adhocs/12137religionbysexand agegroupgreatbritainjanuarytodecember2019 11 http://www.comresglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Church-of-England-Church-Mapping-Survey-Data- Tables.pdf 12 https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2020/10/coe-put-its-reputation-before-child-protection-abuse-inquiry-finds 13 House of Lords (Removal of Bishops) Bill [HL] 2019-21 https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2019- 21/houseoflordsremovalofbishops.html National Secular Society List of Issues Prior to Reporting 4 3.4. Research suggests there is public support for disestablishment. Over 50% of Britons believe state and church should be separate,14 and more oppose than support the idea of the UK having an official state religion.15 3.5. Disestablishment is also supported by some C of E clergy: One in seven clerics would support full disestablishment of the Church of England and three in 10 said it should retain only “some aspects" of its current status with formal ties to the state.16 Those sympathetic to disestablishment within the church include former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who has argued that there is a “certain integrity” to a church that was free from state sanctions.17 The current Archbishop of Canterbury has said it should be “a decision for parliament and people”.18 3.6. For more information please see our 2017 report, Separating Church and State: The Case for Disestablishment.19 4. A secular head of state 4.1. The British monarch, as well as being Head of State, also holds the title ‘Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England’. Under current laws, the monarch is required to “join in communion” with the Church of England and take on the role of Supreme Governor, promoting Anglicanism in Britain.20 4.2. No head of state, be they monarch or not, should promote an official religious preference, far less be under a formal obligation to sustain one. For this reason, our vision for secular democracy includes an end to the ties between our Head of State and the Church of England. 4.3. Most of the world's countries allow citizens of any religious affiliation to be head of state. But UK law dictates that the British monarch must also be a full, confirmed member of the Church of England. And despite dwindling congregations, the monarch must also promise to maintain the Church of England in their coronation oath, and to preserve the Church of Scotland at the meeting of the Privy Council immediately following their accession. 14 https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/church-of-england-drop-religion-take-up- politics#.UqljSdJdWLg 15 https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/religious-and-social-attitudes-uk-christians-2011 16 http://cdn.yougov.com/cumulus_uploads/document/5f5s31fk47/Results-for-Anglican-Clergy-Survey- 08092014.pdf 17 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/dec/18/rowan-williams-anglican-disestablishment-muppets 18 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/18/justin-welby-separation-of-church-and-state-not-a-disaster 19 https://www.secularism.org.uk/uploads/nss-disestablishment-report-2017.pdf 20 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Will3/12-13/2/contents National Secular Society List of Issues Prior to Reporting 5 4.4.
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