Cardinal Keith O’Brien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, has said that plans for gay marriage were a “grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right”. He’s a funny idea about what “human right” means. Article 16 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights says: (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family.

Our latest newsletter is here for you to download. [Just click here](http://www.suffolkhands.org.uk/files/1/SH&S News Mar 2012.pdf “SH&S News March 2012”) (pdf).

It’s our AGM with the usual reports and election. We’re hoping that members will have lots of bright ideas for the coming year’s activities. If there’s any time left over, we’ll find a way to fill it with stimulating something or other. [Click here for an AGM newsletter with the agenda](http://www.suffolkhands.org.uk/files/1/SHANDS Newsletter April 2012.pdf “2012 AGM newsletter”). [Click here for the online activity report that was omitted from the newsletter](http://www.suffolkhands.org.uk/files/1/SH&S online activity report, 2012 AGM_0.

The Society campaigns to encourage high standards of written and spoken English, which have been found to be lamentably low among school-leavers and even university graduates. One of its principal campaigns is for better and explicit English language education and regular constructive correction of errors in English language in schools. The Society arranges meetings, lectures and courses, promotes research, publishes members’ work and provides media comment. Rhea has taught drama, English and psychology.

Julian Baggini is co-founder of The Philosophers’ Magazine and author of ‘Atheisn: A Very Short Introduction’ (OUP). His series ‘Heathen’s Progress‘ that began last year in The Guardian’s Comment is Free section is worth reading. The latest part, ‘Yes, life without God can be bleak. Atheism is about facing up to that‘ firmly removes any comfort blanket you might be clinging to, and is bracingly honest. It ends: I think it’s time we atheists ‘fessed up and admitted that life without God can sometimes be pretty grim.

Had an email today (Sunday) from an East Anglian Daily Times journalist, wanting comment on Delia Smith’s claim that “we are somewhat under the cosh” on her website – does she mean Christians in general, or just Catholics? Devout secularists? What are they? Didn’t read the email until after 10pm, probably too late for the paper, but replied anyway. It gets sillier by the day. It’s interesting that Delia, a CAFOD ambassador, should think it appropriate to use her cookery website to air her persecution complex.

Margaret will be talking about humanism and anything else that Lesley asks her on BBC Radio Suffolk today. If you miss it, you can listen again.

From John Benton: “Andy Miles has offered to update us on the goings-on at QED con. If you have any scientific curiosities, feel free to bring them along, and no doubt there will be talk of the current and upcoming solar activity.”

Margaret Nelson from Suffolk Humanists & Secularists and someone from the local hospice will be on Mark Murphy’s programme to talk about assisted dying. Listen on air, online or listen again via the BBC website.