UK Government signals an increased role for religious groups in running public services

[Judi Lynn]

Source: British Humanist Association

UK Government signals an increased role for religious groups in running public services
June 22, 2011

In a speech heavily dominated by the praising of ‘faith’ and of religious groups, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles MP has suggested new legislation will ‘open the door for faith groups’ to take on public services on behalf of the state.

Mr Pickles addressed an event for the Chief Executives of Christian organisations, and set out details of new ‘rights’ that government is creating which will ‘Make it easier for local faith groups to take over buildings’ and will ‘open the door for faith groups to get further involved in local life.’ He added, ‘And it’s right that they do so.’

Mr Pickles was referring to two new ‘rights’ created in the Localism Bill currently before Parliament, the ‘Community Right to Bid’ and the ‘Community Right to Challenge’.

BHA Head of Public Affairs Naomi Phillips said, ‘Aside from reinforcing the pro-religious bias which dominates the government’s “Big Society” and localism agenda, this speech makes it crystal clear that the government is keen to hand over local services and facilities to religious groups and is making it as easy as possible to do so. Not only are truly inclusive, secular spaces put at risk by such a policy but people’s rights and equalities are seriously compromised. Religious groups may well wish to be paid by the state to take on the provision of public services but questions are raised about their ability to do so in a way which does not discriminate or use the service as a vehicle for evangelising. When successive governments have refused to make the legal changes necessary to prevent religious groups discriminating before they contract out public services to them, we are seeing a real threat to the shared nature of public services.’



Read more: http://www.secularnewsdaily.com/2011/06/22/uk-government-signals-an-increased-role-for-religious-groups-in-running-public-services/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+paliban%2FRDkF+%28Secular+News+Daily%29

[LeftishBrit]

1. Even the churches don't like this. It's an excuse for more and more government spending cuts

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/17/catholic-archbishop-big-society-teeth

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8148642/Bishops-warn-David-Camerons-Big-Society-will-be-undermined-by-welfare-cuts.html

It's likely that any religious groups seriously interested in this sort of public service takeover will be the nuttier ones.

[xchrom]

2. +1

[Judi Lynn]

4. I never thought of that, I'm sure you're right. All I could see was the similarity to what George W

Genius did during his pResidency here, and all I could see at the time was the cynical move to hand over unwarranted power to lunatics of the highest order who were also his base.

Hideous seeing it happen anywhere.

Thanks for your observations.

[No Elephants]

3. Shades of V is for Vendetta.

[24601]

5. In the US, the Salvation Army does quite a bit of good - and it's a

faith-based army.

[StarsInHerHair]

6. and they keep saying here that the UK would never take the same disastrous

direction that the US has taken.....

[Judi Lynn]

7. Hope those in charge will come to their senses. This is so wrong. n/t

[patrick t. cakes]

8. What in the hell...

...makes religion qualified to take over public services?

:shrug: :scared:

[Lance_Boyle]

9. The UK has an official state religion

so this is likely not as problematic there (legally) as it is here. Not that it matters, with our god-deluded having been granted their own office in the White House for their "works." A pox on all their houses of "worship."