Update on Blasphemy and Free Speech
Headlines
Crucial debate and/or vote today on Blasphemy
The Amendments to abolish blasphemy within the House of Lords will be debated on 5 March 2008 at 4pm in the House of Lords. Please pray.
The LCF has written a briefing to all Peers asking them to oppose the abolition of the blasphemy laws. To read this briefing, click on the link below:
http://www.ccfon.org/docs/Blasphemy_Briefing_29_Feb_08_TL.pdf
The Times today mentioned the House of Lords’ decision in the ‘Jerry Springer—the Opera’ case. To see the article, click on the link below:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3486106.ece
Michael Phillips, Solicitor to Stephen Green, wrote a letter to The Times today in response to the decision of the House of Lords in the ‘Jerry Springer—the Opera’ case. To see the letter, click on the link below:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/global/article3485331.ece
Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill
Free Speech Amendment debated on Monday
The free speech amendment to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill concerning the incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation offence was debated in the House of Lords on the 3rd of March. Concerns were expressed about the chilling effect on speech which may arise if there was no such amendment, particularly for Christians. Lord Waddington did not press his amendment to a vote but made it clear that there was a great deal of support for some kind of free speech provision in the Bill.
Despite speeches from Peers to the contrary, the Government still insisted they thought they had got the balance right between the need to prevent the offence but also to allow free speech.
However, Lord Waddington thought that the Lords would recognise that the inconsistency of having a free speech exception to the religious hatred offence, but not to the sexual orientation offence, had not been properly justified by the Government. Lord Waddington went on to say that he did not think that the points made had been met in any way by the Government Minister and hoped that the Government would remedy this otherwise he would return to the matter at the Report stage (next stage) of the Bill.
The details of last night’s debate can be found in the following link:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldhansrd/text/80303-0010.htm
Please pray that the Government will reconsider and be willing to accept a free speech amendment which is vital so that Christian Biblical views on sexual ethics can continue to be promoted in the public square. Please pray for the same type of voting miracle witnessed by Christians for a similar free speech amendment in the Racial and Religious Hatred law.
