The British Humanist Association (BHA) today made a second submission to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, commenting on their Interim Statement, which outlines emerging themes from the public consultation on cohesion and integration. You can read the submission here .
Naomi Phillips , Public Affairs Officer at the BHA, said, ‘We were happy to see a focus on the importance of promoting shared values as necessary for community cohesion, but dismayed at the over-emphasis on the importance of religion and role of faith communities and the exclusion of any discussion of the non-religious.’
The BHA was particularly concerned that the Interim Statement labelled concerns about the divisive effects of faith schools a ‘red herring’ in the debate on cohesion and integration.
As Ms Phillips commented, ‘Faith schools, based on selection and segregation, are manifestly antithetical to the aims of community cohesion and integration.’
The Commission is due to publish a full report on its findings in June.
Notes
For further comment or information, please contact Andrew Copson , Education and Public Affairs, on 020 7079 3584 or by email or Naomi Phillips , Public Affairs Officer, on 020 7079 3585 or by email .
Read our second submission to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion here .
Read the Commission on Integration and Cohesion’s Interim Statement here .
Read our first submission to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion here .