Surveys have repeatedly found Wales to be the least religious part of the UK, and a majority non-religious country. This fact is not lost on the Church in Wales, part of the Anglican Communion, which has announced it will spend £10 million funding projects to convert more Welsh people to Christianity.
Wales Humanists, which represents non-religious people in Wales and provides humanist funerals, weddings, and naming services, has called on the Welsh Government to reflect on the changing demographics in Welsh society and look closely at the privileges it still affords to religious groups in Wales.
A significant proportion of schools in Wales are faith schools, many of which operate admissions policies which discriminate on religious grounds. Non-religious parents can face an added struggle to find a local school in their preferred language that is not religious or which accepts non-religious families. Wales Humanists has been challenging discrimination of this kind against the non-religious, and recently scored a victory when Welsh Government clarified that councils must not prevent humanists from participating in the local bodies which advise on Religious Education.
Commenting on the new Church in Wales scheme, Wales Humanists coordinator Kathy Riddick said, ‘This newest funding initiative draws attention to the monumental changes Welsh society has seen in recent years. And yet despite the non-religious now making up a majority in Wales, we continue to be the victims of discrimination in areas like education. This state of affairs is surely unsustainable.’
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For further comment or information please contact Wales Humanists Development Officer Kathy Riddick on kathy@humanists.uk.
2016 news item on Welsh religion or belief statistics: https://humanists.uk/2016/11/30/nearly-a-million-welsh-adults-have-a-humanist-approach-to-life-yougov-research-shows/
Wales Humanists is part of Humanists UK, the national charity for the non-religious. We advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. Our work brings non-religious people together to develop their own views, helping people be happier and more fulfilled in the one life we have. Through our ceremonies, education services, and community and campaigning work, we strive to create a fair and equal society for all.