Parliamentary Debate on Christians in Public Life
On 11 March there was a Parliamentary debate on Christianity in Public Life . This had been called for by Andrew Selous, Conservative, MP.
See the following link for the debate starting at Column 105WH
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090311/halltext/90311h0005.htm
Mr Selous stated that his main reason for securing the debate was to “celebrate and put on record the incredible contribution of the Christian community to the life of our country”.
In terms of the value of services provided, figures provided showed that it is “estimated that 18 per cent. of all income that was raised by charities in 2006-07 was raised by faith-based charities. That was the second-highest proportion for a generic group, behind health charities.” He went on to say that “faith communities in Wales contribute an estimated £102 million to the economy. If that figure is extrapolated to apply to the UK as a whole, the total is £2 billion.” The work of street pastors was praised with reductions in street crime of 30% in Lewisham, 95% in Camberwell and 74% in Peckham.
However, Andrew Selous mentioned how a Christian charity in London that helps single parents was refused local authority funding because “your assistance for single parents includes extending Christian comfort and offering prayer”. In another case, a woman who was a very successful foster parent to older children was told: “your beliefs do not allow you to actively promote another religion for a child”. A small charity in Norfolk that does useful work in relation to prostitution in that county felt that it had been discriminated against and stated that it feels such discrimination comes from “people who probably have scant knowledge of the Christian faith and principles”. He said that such discrimination sometimes was the result of “ignorance” and called upon the Minister to give some “reassurance” that there was “nothing to fear” from Christian organisations and that they “add greatly to the quality of life”.
Mr David Taylor Labour MP said that Christians and faith groups helped the marginalised in society. But that, the current situation means that Christians themselves and members of other faith groups are themselves being marginalised.
Evan Harris Liberal Democrat MP and honorary associate of the National Secular society said that people who provide the soup kitchens, shelter and similar sorts of things should “not discriminate against service users on religious grounds” and should not be allowed to “proselytise….while delivering a public service”.
However, the debate by MPs was generally positive on the role of Christianity in public life, Mr. Goodman, Conservative MP said that the contribution of Churches and Christians, now and over the centuries, to schools, hospitals, charitable work in prisons and voluntary work generally, which many people have illustrated, has made Britain a better country, and continues to do so… If by an act of the imagination Christianity were removed from its place in the public sphere—a settled place that is respected, particularly in England—this country would be the poorer for it.
Mr Iain Wright the Government Minister said one of the themes of the debate was the way local authorities manage their relationships with faith communities and concerns were misplaced. He said they were seeking to refresh the Local Government Guidance on “Faith and Community: A Good Practice Guide for Local Authorities” and said they would develop a charter similar to the existing faith works charter for Christians and other faith groups to sign.
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears has recently told a meeting of the Evangelical Alliance that such a charter will only be available to groups “promising to not to use public money to proselytise”.
http://www.eauk.org/articles/debt-care.cfm
However, the Faithworks charter is of great concern because it has been intimated that this will form the basis of Government plans which will require Christians who provide public services to do so on the basis of “never imposing our belief or faith on others”.
http://www.faithworks.info/Standard.asp?id=7432
The Faithworks charter requires “Serving and respecting all people regardless of their gender, marital status, race, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or physical and mental capability.” All Christians would want to serve and show the love of God to all people but there always needs to be put in place a clear proviso that in delivering such services Christians will not have to act in a way that is contrary to their beliefs.
A charter should not require faith groups to act in ways to silence and act contrary to their religious beliefs or require them to provide services if these promote or facilitate sexual practice contrary to biblical teaching .
However, it should be noted that the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 do not allow religious organisations to ‘discriminate against’ service users on the grounds of their sexual orientation when they have a contract to provide a service on behalf of a public authority. The law does not recognise a distinction between discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and discrimination on grounds of sexual practice. There is no good reason why a Charter needs to repeat this prohibition on discrimination.
The Archbishop of York has recently been quoted in support of the school receptionist case and the nurse, Caroline Petrie who was suspended for offering to pray with a patient by saying that:
Asking someone to leave their belief in God at the door of their workplace is akin to asking someone to remove their skin colour before coming into the office.
“Faith in God is not an add on or an optional extra. For me, my trust in God revealed in Jesus Christ is part of my DNA, it is central to who I am and defines me and my place in the world.
“The intolerance and ignorance of those who would relegate the Christian faith to just another disposable lifestyle choice, argue that they operate in pursuit of policies based on the twin aims of 'diversity and equality’.
“Yet in the minds of those charged with implementing such policies 'diversity’ apparently means every colour and creed except Christianity, the nominal religion of the white majority; and 'equality’ seemingly excludes anyone, black or white, with a Christian belief in God.”
With regard to the question of prayer in public life, the issue of stopping a town council having Christian prayers before meetings lead to, a spokesman for the Equality and Human Rights Commission being quoted as saying that the council was not breaching the Human Rights Act. "Article 9 of the Act is about allowing people to exercise their religious freedom, not about stopping them from expressing their religion."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1581578/Stop-prayers-or-face-being-sued-council-told.html
Please pray that Christians stand firm and do not act contrary to beliefs and that the Government and local authorities do not ask Christians to do so.
