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Christianity in Society
30 March 2023
Lead MP
Nicholas Fletcher
Responding Minister
Felicity Buchan
Tags
Crime & Law Enforcement
Word Count: 10021
Other Contributors: 6
At a Glance
Nicholas Fletcher raised concerns about christianity in society in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Fletcher calls on the government to recognise the importance of preserving our Christian heritage and to encourage a better understanding of its historical significance among the public.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Nicholas Fletcher is concerned about the declining influence of Christianity and religious literacy in the UK, noting that fewer people identify as Christian according to recent census data. He highlights incidents such as institutions erasing references to their Christian heritage and the lack of awareness regarding biblical teachings like the significance of rainbows. Fletcher argues that understanding our Christian heritage is crucial for constitutional and cultural reasons, citing examples of historical figures like William Wilberforce who fought against slavery due to their faith. He also emphasizes the role of Christianity in shaping laws and values, including universal education, healthcare, and the Magna Carta.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Compliments the hon. Member for bringing forward this debate and raises concerns about pressure to disestablish the Church of England, advocating for its importance as a symbol of commitment to Christianity. He wonders if Church leaders should focus more on spirituality rather than mundane issues like road widening. He acknowledges that while Christians might be in a minority, people of faith overall are still very much in the majority.
Fiona Bruce
Con
Congleton
Commends the hon. Member for bringing this debate to the House, highlighting William Wilberforce's Christian faith as a motivator for his work against individual slavery. She agrees that the core message of the Church is sharing the gospel and the good news. She points out that Christians are concerned about the legal restrictions on expressing their faith, despite religion being a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. Asked the Minister for clear guidance on the rights and freedoms of Christians and other faith communities to publicly express their faith, noted concerns about confusion surrounding these rights and fear among those wishing to exercise them. Raised issues regarding police guidelines in hate crime cases and requested a review to ensure individuals are not arrested merely for silently praying.
Martin Vickers
Con
Brigg and Immingham
Mr. Vickers highlighted the decline in church attendance and the lack of religious education, drawing from his own experiences growing up in the 1950s when about half of his classmates attended Sunday school regularly. He emphasized the importance of faith for societal cohesion and criticized the Church of England for focusing too much on debates about sexuality rather than spreading its message. Mr. Vickers also mentioned the reluctance among the public to be open about their Christian faith due to fears of repercussions.
Matt Rodda
Lab
Reading Central
Matt Rodda thanked local churches and faith communities for their contributions to community work in Reading, highlighting examples such as the Whitley Community Development Association receiving food donations from various religious groups. He also recognised the efforts of organisations like New Beginnings and Sadaka that help homeless individuals and praised charities involved in international development.
Peter Grant
Lab
Galloway and West Dumfries
Acknowledges that social advances were achieved by people motivated by Christian beliefs but also notes that Christians introduced evils into society. He emphasized the need to address the negative impacts of Christianity, such as slavery and apartheid, alongside its positive contributions. He argued against the notion of a 'Christian country' due to historical injustices and religious conflicts. Peter also highlighted the importance of distinguishing between personal faith and legislative matters. The hon. Member is giving a very powerful speech. Does she agree that the circumstances she is describing, whereby people of a variety of faiths and people of no particular faith have all come together for the common good, are a reminder that although many of us would hold fast to what we regard as Christian values, those values are not exclusively Christian? If we recognised that a lot of those values are shared worldwide by people of many different faiths, maybe we would get on better than we do just now.
Sarah Owen
Lab
Luton North
Praised the work of religious groups in the UK, especially during Easter. Highlighted the interfaith community's role in Luton North and mentioned local churches providing essential support like food banks and warm banks during fires in tower blocks. Emphasised the importance of faith communities stepping forward when the state has stepped back over a decade. Expressed gratitude towards the Minister's response but pressed for an answer on returning overseas aid spending to 0.7%.
Government Response
Felicity Buchan
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Mundell. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley on securing this debate and thank other contributors. The Church of England and Church of Scotland are established Churches in the UK, fostering values of compassion, tolerance, and respect. Christianity has shaped Britain's history and culture; William Wilberforce's Christian faith led to the abolition of slavery. Faith inspires public service and supports those in need through services like after-school care, youth clubs, financial advice, addiction support, homeless shelters, food banks, and warm hubs. The Government distributed a £10 million night shelter transformation fund focused on voluntary and faith groups; the Budget included £100 million to support charities, including homeless and domestic abuse charities. Chaplaincy is provided across public sectors, with the Minister for faith championing work of faith communities. An independent review by Colin Bloom will make recommendations about how Government can engage positively with faith groups while addressing harmful practices. The Government are committed to ensuring religion plays a positive role in society.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.