• One of the most harmful sects, Christian Scientists, (you may have seen their Reading Rooms in cities around the world) is in serious decline. Why is it harmful? Because they deny medicine in favor of prayer as the cure for all ills. Many children have been needlessly allowed to die. At the beginning of the 1980s, there were almost 2000 Christian Science churches in the USA, but now the number is about 1000. This is progress in the right direction.
• In London, a non-believer who applied to join Greenwich Council’s Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) and was initially refused on the grounds of being non-religious, has had her application approved after the Council was threatened with court action for violation of Human Rights.
• And, in Oxford, some parents have launched a High Court bid against Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust (ODST) to challenge their decision to hold a daily act of Christian worship without an inclusive alternative of “equal educational worth”. Yes, unbelievably, the UK, a country that recently polled 52% non-believers, still has an un-revoked ancient law requiring schools to hold a Christian assembly every morning! Most schools ignore it but the creeping tide of faith schools use it as justification to indoctrinate our children. We support all attempts to make the UK a properly secular country.

Nothing’s ever easy, especially when it involves lawyers! As our vice president, Bill Flavell, tells in the article below and in the linked articles on our website, the case against Governor Emmanuel’s unconstitutional actions rumbles on… Unfortunately, ‘rumbling on’ means costing more. As the video interview between our Publications Director, John Richards, and Nigerian Facebook group owner Amaka Rea (linked below) reveals, Nigeria needs some heavy lifting to rescue it from the grip of religion. If we could make an example of Emmanuel’s behavior, maybe better attention will be applied to the constitution in future and, who knows, perhaps the real meaning of secularism will become understood. Please consider donating towards this worthy cause.

In housekeeping news, we have some exciting new applicants for Directorships. I will be able to report on any appointments next month but we still have no-one for the Fundraising position. If you know of anyone suitable for this post, please get in touch.

President Gail Miller
president@atheistalliance.org

Suing Nigerian State Governor — The Verdict