The Coroners and Justice Bill passed its Second Reading Debate in the House of Lords on 18 May 2009. In this bill, the Government is seeking to remove the free speech clause from the ‘homosexual hatred’ law in the face of increasing concern about the erosion of free speech in the United Kingdom. Church of England bishops are on a collision course with the Government over these plans, claiming they will stifle what they believe is legitimate criticism of homosexual lifestyles.
A coalition of Anglican bishops, Conservative, Labour and cross-bench peers have united to block the proposals in order to safeguard the freedom of speech in this country.
Andrea Williams, Director of CCFON, commented in The Observer:
‘No reasonable person supports the stirring up of hatred of any kind. However, in 21st–century Britain we must find a way of being able to live peaceably alongside one another allowing for free and robust debate around every aspect of life, including reasonable criticism and discussion of all forms of sexual behaviour.
‘The government seeks to remove this commonsense provision at the behest of the homosexual lobby who do not want to have their sexual practices questioned. We are seeing case after case of Christians being discriminated against because of their biblical views on sexual conduct. It is time to take action before our laws silence any objection to homosexual practice.’
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/24/church-of-england-incitement-hatred)
The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Right Rev. George Cassidy, stated:
‘... people should be protected from inflammatory and intimidating behaviour towards them on the basis of their sexual orientation. Our concern is with the potential application of the law to restrict legitimate discussion and expression of opinion about sexual ethics and sexual behaviour.’
CCFON sought legal advice from Simon Draycott QC and Mark Mullins who specialise in criminal law. They concluded:
‘There is, in our view, a very real danger of a chilling effect caused by this kind of legislation. The harm is often done on the ground, when the police are pressed to intervene to stop a perfectly lawful speech or debate on the grounds that one of the speakers is stirring up hatred.’
Last month, Kwabena Peat, a Christian teacher, was suspended from a senior post for complaining that a staff training day was used to promote homosexual rights.
(See http://www.ccfon.org/view.php?id=729)
Likewise, David Booker, an employee at a ‘homeless’ charity in Southampton, has been suspended for answering questions about his faith and sexual ethics to a colleague at work.
(See http://www.christianlegalcentre.com/view.php?id=723)
In 2003, the Rt Revd Dr Peter Forster, the Bishop of Chester, was investigated by the Cheshire police as committing a 'hate crime' after he told his local newspaper that some homosexuals re-orientated to heterosexuality with the help of therapy. The Crown Prosecution Service decided to drop the charges because the Bishop had 'not broken any current laws'.
In 2005, the Metropolitan Police issued a warning to author Lynette Burrows that she was responsible for a 'homophobic incident' after she suggested on a BBC Radio Five Live programme that homosexual couples did not make ideal adoptive parents.
In 2006, an evangelical Christian campaigner, Stephen Green, was arrested and charged with 'using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour' for trying peacefully to hand out leaflets at a homosexual rally in Cardiff. A spokesman for the South Wales police said the campaigner had not behaved in a violent or aggressive manner, but that officers arrested him because 'the leaflet contained Biblical quotes about homosexuality'.
(www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-404052/How-Britain-turning-Christianity-crime.html)
In the same year, Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the then Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, was investigated by police for saying on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that homosexual practice was unacceptable in terms of health and moral issues.