Parliamentarians discuss impact of Covid-19 on the non-religious

3 March, 2021

The All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG) met on Monday to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the non-religious, including on our pastoral carers working in hospitals and prisons, on the work of humanist funeral and wedding celebrants, and the impact across the globe.

The meeting was chaired by Baroness Bakewell and first heard from the Chief Executive of Humanists International Gary McLelland who shared an overview of the findings from this year’s Freedom of Thought Report about how the pandemic has intensified the persecution of the non-religious in countries that are already known for this, such as Malaysia, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Gary called on the UK Government to conduct a global review into non-religious persecution and lead the way to uphold the human right to FoRB.

Parliamentarians then heard from Lindsay van Dijk, Lead Chaplain, Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, and Chair of the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network, who explained how pastoral carers have been supporting people in hospitals and prisons throughout the pandemic. She highlighted the barriers that non-religious pastoral carers face in gaining paid roles in hospitals given that many people in hospitals do not yet know that such care could be available, and that many job roles are unfairly limited to religious applicants.

Hannah McKerchar, a humanist celebrant and the Network Coordinator for Yorkshire and the Humber, shared that it has been a very difficult time working with family and friends who have lost loved ones and have to hold funerals in very different circumstances, and with couples who have had to change their wedding plans. Ms McKerchar highlighted the valuable work of Humanists UK in successfully campaigning for equal treatment for humanists during the lockdown in September, when humanist weddings were while briefly limited to the ‘rule of six’ whereas religious and civil marriages were able to have up to 15 attendees.

The impact of the pandemic on humanists at risk. Credit: Humanists International

Finally, Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK, spoke about how it has responded to the pandemic including through pastoral support and ceremonies; by mobilising its 100,000 members and supporters to volunteer with the NHS or mutual aid groups and/or donate to foodbanks; through its school resources to help homeschooling parents and carers; and by holding a humanist National Memorial Ceremony in June for the first victims of the pandemic. Andrew also touched on ongoing work to call on non-religious people to, if they are able to, take the vaccine when offered, and to counter fake news and anti-vax misinformation.

After the presentations the panellists took part in a Q&A session and responded with clear calls to action for APPHG members which included to push for legal recognition of humanist marriages; to help support paid non-religious pastoral carer vacancies in the NHS; and to urge foreign diplomats to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief.

The APPHG is a cross-party group of Members of the House of Commons and Lords of all the main parties. The Group is co-chaired by Crispin Blunt MP and Baroness Bakewell, and has over 110 members. Humanists UK provides the secretariat.


Notes:

For further comment or information, please contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 020 7324 3072 or 020 3675 0959.

Read more about the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group.

See Humanists UK’s Twitter thread about the APPHG meeting.

Read the Freedom of Thought Report.

Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by 100,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.