Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Freedom of Religion and Belief

Thursday 28 April 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Church of England is participating in an international ministerial conference on freedom of religion and belief in July.
  • Freedom of religion or belief in areas of Ukraine previously occupied by Russian separatists has been seriously restricted.
  • Discussions are underway to involve the Anglican Church in Africa in promoting freedom of religion and belief, addressing abuses across the continent.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Fiona Bruce Con
Religion & Faith
Context

The Church of England's efforts to promote freedom of religion and belief globally are being questioned.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to promote the freedom of religion and belief globally.

Answer from Andrew Selous

In addition to the involvement that the Church will have with the international ministerial conference on freedom of religion and belief that my hon. Friend is helping to organise in July, we will equip bishops from across the world to respond as effectively as possible to violations of freedom of religion at the Lambeth conference later that month. The Church also continues to work with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on the implementation of the Truro review.

Answered
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Q2 Fiona Bruce Con
Ukraine Religion & Faith
Context

Concerns have been raised about restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in areas of Ukraine occupied by pro-Russian separatists.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that people may not be aware that freedom of religion or belief is one of the fundamental rights for which people in Ukraine are fighting? In areas of Ukraine such as Luhansk, where pro-Russian separatists have taken areas in the past few years, churches are now required to register to meet. All the Baptist, Seventh-day Adventist, Pentecostal and other Protestant churches have been refused registration, so they meet in a climate of fear.

Answer from Andrew Selous

My hon. Friend has done the House a great service in putting the matter on the record, because I do not think that it was widely known that in the areas that Russia had previously occupied in Ukraine, freedom of religion had been restricted in such a serious way. I am sure that she agrees with the Archbishop of York, who wrote in The Yorkshire Post on Good Friday that we must all rise up to make sure Putin does not win so that what she is talking about does not continue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not directly confirm or deny agreement but acknowledged the issue and referenced a broader perspective from the Archbishop of York.

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Foreign Affairs Religion & Faith
Context

There is concern about serious abuses of freedom of religion and belief across large parts of Africa.

Question

Has discussion been raised with the global bishops to ascertain how the thriving Anglican Church in Africa can further be instrumental in promoting the treasured freedom of religious belief?

Answer from Andrew Selous

The hon. Gentleman is quite right to raise the issue. Unfortunately, there are serious abuses of freedom of religion and belief across large parts of Africa. The subject will be a major issue for discussion at the Lambeth conference, and we are working with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to make improvements in the area.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific details on discussions with global bishops but acknowledged serious abuses and ongoing work towards improvement.

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