The Republic of Nepal: what other change?

There’s been a bit of news about how Nepalese parliament disestablished the monarchy and erected a federal, democratic republic in its place. I expect the new republic will have birthing pains and I wish them well, but I don’t want the day to pass without noting that there was one other change. In its path to becoming a republic, in 2006 Nepal became a secular state. Given the monarch’s role in state religion the end of the monarchy underscores the transition.

Or as the Unitarian Toast goes: “To Civil and Religious Liberty, the world over.”