phoenix

The parish magazine of

all saints hanworth

December 2005

RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS HATRED BILL 2005

This was the subject of the last Deanery Synod Meeting and a full report will be given at the next PCC meeting.

In the meantime, your Deanery Synod Representatives thought you would be interested in a little information and clarification.

The bill has generated a lot of attention, arising as it does from the need to prevent preaching of hatred by any faith leaders. However, some unrest has been created in churches because of the original wording of the bill. This indicated that words likely to stir up feelings of hatred in a person of another faith (even if not intended) would become an offence.

The House of Lords has now passed an amendment to the bill which in effect reduces  the offence to those intending to stir up hatred .

This, however is not the end of the matter, as, in accordance with our parliamentary system,  the bill now has to go back to the House of Commons for it’s third reading- so our MPs  will be voting on it again.

At the meeting the importance of the church making it’s views known at this stage was stressed. This can be done by lobbying  our local MPs

We were invited to pass on to our parishes details of the web site which gives more information about  this matter:

                     www.christianconcernforournation.co.uk

Olwen Holme

Sylvia Teed

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