Newsletter Summer 2021

INSIDE Speaking out loud and clear

Protecting gospel freedom It has already been necessary  Bill to end disability is central to the work of The to take legal action to defend the abortion takes first steps Christian Institute. There are good freedom of churches to uphold the towards becoming law laws that allow Christians to live Bible’s teaching on marriage. We their lives according to the Bible. may need to take legal action to  Executive to consider We do not take them for granted. stop a broad ‘conversion therapy’ smacking ban We thank God that we won law banning preaching, prayer and our case on behalf of David pastoral care that uphold biblical  Another win for McConnell who was unlawfully sexual ethics. gospel freedom arrested and detained for sharing Through our meetings,  CI defends Christian the Gospel. It is a reminder that publications and online resources the law is on our side. we will keep encouraging Christians foster agency at Court But it requires enormous to speak boldly and faithfully on of Appeal effort to ensure that the many religious liberty, marriage, assisted freedoms we enjoy are not eroded. suicide and more. The Christian Institute warns of legal action over possible prayer ban

The Christian Institute MLA. has said it “will not It said: “Should any hesitate” to take legal proposals from the action if the Northern Department infringe Ireland Executive upon the everyday introduces a ban on church activities ‘conversion therapy’ outlined within the outlawing prayer which enclosed Opinion our breaches the tenets of client will not hesitate, LGBT theology. where appropriate, to LGBT activists are seek a judicial review.” pushing for a broad criminalise the ordinary their beliefs on sexual The Institute ban to criminalise work of churches. ethics and gender has also warned prayer, preaching, He warned that identity. the Westminster pastoral support and prayer, evangelism, Lawyers for the Government that, if even parenting which church membership, Institute issued the necessary, it will take do not affirm same- baptism and communion warning in a letter action over a similar sex relationships or a could all breach a broad to the Executive’s proposed ban in person’s chosen ‘gender conversion therapy law. Communities Minister, England and . identity’. Mr Coppel pointed But in a detailed out that such legislation  legal opinion for the would go against UK Read our update leaflet Institute, leading human rights law, which on conversion therapy in human rights QC Jason protects the freedom of Coppel says such wide churches to preach and the.ci/con-therapy-update definitions would “require conformity” to Bill to end disability abortion takes first steps towards becoming law

A Bill to better protect disabled unborn children from abortion has taken its first steps towards becoming law. Before he became First Minister, Paul Givan’s Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill passed its second stage with a sizeable majority.  The Bill would protect babies with conditions such as Down’s syndrome The Bill aims to outlaw abortion on the grounds of so- called ‘severe’ disability, which In an exclusive interview, Mr saying the current regulations includes conditions such as Givan told The Christian Institute give the impression that a Down’s syndrome. It received the law seeks to tackle the disabled person’s life may not support from over 1,500 discrimination within the liberal be worth living. people with the condition abortion regime imposed by Leaders of the denomination and their families. It is now at Westminster last year. highlighted the vague definition Committee stage. “It’s an opportunity for of “severe fetal impairment” parliamentarians to support what which could be used to cover “a will be a very progressive law range of minor conditions”. that deals with discrimination Elsewhere in the UK, whenever it comes to the similar wording has been used ending of the preborn child in a to justify abortions on the pregnancy”. basis of Down’s syndrome  Paul Givan MLA The Presbyterian Church and even cleft palate, a very in Ireland has backed the Bill, treatable condition. Executive to consider smacking ban

Justice Minister Naomi chastise their children. “uncertainty” in the law real abuse whilst Long says she intends She noted concerns meant cases of child protecting good to bring forward that stopping this abuse could be missed. parents. Redefining legislation that will could lead “to The Institute’s smacking as abuse criminalise parents who the prosecutions Callum Webster means they would be discipline their children and potential challenged her prosecuted for child with an occasional criminalisation of assessment. “The abuse – a career- mild smack. parents”, but claimed current law criminalises ending, life-ruining The measures accusation.” would be included introduced as part of the Justice a smacking ban last (Miscellaneous year. This means Provisions) Bill due to parents can no longer be considered later on give their child a mild this year. smack without fear of a criminal conviction. complained that the A similar ban will come current law allows  Justice Minister Naomi Long into force in Wales parents to reasonably next year. Ireland’s Church leaders win legal euthanasia battle for ‘essential’ worship Bill ‘a danger In March, to the Scotland’s Court of Session ruled vulnerable’ that the ’s ban The Irish Parliament is on public worship considering a Bill to legalise during the pandemic  Court of Session, Edinburgh euthanasia and assisted was unlawful. suicide. If passed, residents The regulations in Northern Ireland would which required “went further than trustee and minister be able to travel to the churches across the they were lawfully of The Tron Church Republic to be killed. country to close had able to do”. in Glasgow, led Campaigners been challenged by He noted the legal battle. branded the legislation 27 church leaders that while the He welcomed the “dangerous”, said it will with the support of regulations may not recognition that undermine palliative end- the Christian Legal have been intended corporate worship is of-life care, and warned Centre. to criminalise “essential”. it risked vulnerable adults Court of Session worship, anyone “However being coerced into ending judge Lord Braid who opened a well intentioned, their lives. ruled that the church or gathered criminalising Writing for The Irish regulations were “a with others to corporate worship Times, Breda O’Brien disproportionate worship, “would has been both warned that the Bill is “not interference” into be committing a damaging and so much a slippery slope as people’s freedom criminal offence”. dangerous for a push off a cliff”. to manifest their Revd Dr William Scotland, and must The Institute’s Callum religious beliefs, and Philip, an Institute never happen again.” Webster warned: “Once the boundary marker of assisted suicide or euthanasia has been Court blasts English council for crossed, it is not only difficult to go back, it discriminating against Christians is much easier to make further changes. If this Bill An English council discriminated Tower with the colours of the is passed, it will not be long against Christians by banning multicoloured ‘Pride’ flag. before activists seek to bus adverts for an evangelistic Judge Claire Evans ruled amend and expand it.” event featuring Franklin Graham, overwhelmingly in favour Around 2,000 doctors, a judge has ruled. of Graham and the Festival, nurses and geriatricians Blackpool Council removed saying the Council had shown have already called on the adverts because it opposed “wholesale disregard for the Parliament to ditch the Bill. Graham’s biblical views on right to freedom of expression”. marriage and sexuality. It then The Institute’s Simon Calvert showed its support for pro-LGBT called the judgment “good news activists by lighting up Blackpool for the Good News”.

Franklin Graham  Christian CEO ‘shunned and humiliated’ by Trust following Jesus in every area of life An employment tribunal has heard that the Chairwoman of a multimillion-pound trust humiliated its Christian CEO because of his link to a church with biblical views on marriage. Kenneth  Former Trust CEO Kenneth Ferguson Ferguson, an elder at Stirling Free Church, was whenever he chose sacked from The to speak”. Buy now from Robertson Trust A judgment will thegoodbook.co.uk or in March 2020. It be made in due livingchristianity.org.uk came after Shonaig course. Macpherson with anger” when The Institute is discovered the she learned of also assisting both church was renting the arrangement. the church and a Trust property for Giving evidence, the Billy Graham livingchristianity.org.uk its Sunday services. the Trust’s former Evangelistic He is being Head of Social Association in supported by The Investment Katie a separate legal Christian Institute. Campbell recalled action against The tribunal was that she later sat the Trust for BBC ‘guilty of told Macpherson with her back terminating their became to Mr Ferguson agreements to use Christophobia’ “incandescent and “muttered Trust premises.

Former BBC executive Robin Aitken MBE (pictured) has severely Dawkins: ‘Down’s abortions criticised the Corporation for its “inherent are sensible and wise’ antagonism” towards Christianity. Richard Dawkins has claimed He also suggested “the Aitken, who worked that aborting babies with amount of suffering in the world for the BBC for 25 years, Down’s syndrome probably probably does not go down, said it tries to avoid makes the world a better place. probably does go up” when a engaging with ideas that One of the world’s best child with the condition is born. might “undermine belief known atheists was speaking Stormont is in the tenets of in an interview with RTÉ currently considering a permissive, presenter Brendan O’Connor, a Bill (top left) to liberal, whose daughter was born outlaw abortion interpretation with the condition. Dawkins on grounds of of ‘progress’”. said it was “wise and sensible so-called ‘severe’ to abort a child which had a disability, which serious disability”, including the includes Down’s deaf and blind. syndrome. Another win for gospel freedom

A Christian street preacher supported by The Christian Institute has won his claim for wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and breach of human rights. West Yorkshire Police arrested David McConnell and detained him for over five hours in December 2019. As a result of legal action it admitted liability and agreed to  Wrongly arrested and detained: street preacher David McConnell pay him damages of £3,250 plus legal costs. Mr McConnell had – subjects he had not only that there were the Institute he was been preaching been preaching on – complaints he had been “thankful” the police in Huddersfield before calling the police “preaching on gay rights had admitted what they town centre claiming he had caused and abortion”. did was unlawful. when some ‘harassment, alarm and He was kept in “It was a very passers-by distress’. custody at Huddersfield distressing experience stopped Mr McConnell was police station for over for me. But I’m glad I to heckle subsequently arrested. five hours before can put it behind me him. They asked But police did not tell later being released and can continue to him questions about him what law he was without charge. share the good news of sexuality and abortion alleged to have broken, Mr McConnell told Jesus Christ.”

How to give to the CI defends Christian foster work of the CI agency at Court of Appeal None of our work would be possible without the In June, England’s only generosity of our supporters. evangelical fostering agency Giving regularly to The went to the Court of Appeal Christian Institute will help seeking to overturn a ruling that us to continue working to “evangelical” includes those preserve Christian freedoms who reject biblical teaching on for future generations. sexual ethics. Cornerstone Adoption and Give regularly Fostering Service (North East) is christian.org.uk/donate being supported by The Christian Institute. Lawyers for Cornerstone Leave a legacy Last year, the High Court ruled called the High Court ruling christian.org.uk/legacy that Cornerstone was entitled to “incoherent”, arguing: “You recruit only those who share its cannot be an evangelical Or call Christian faith. But the agency Christian whose lifestyle is

0191 281 5664 appealed a second part of the one which endorses same-sex ruling that said it could not require activities”. its carers to abide by its Christian A judgment is not expected beliefs on sexual conduct. for some time. Westminster faces judicial review over NI abortion ‘power grab’

Northern Ireland’s a radical abortion former Attorney regime imposed General will represent against their will.” pro-lifers in a judicial Abortion has review against risen dramatically in the Westminster the Province since  Government over its John Larkin QC a radical abortion attempt to override the regime was forced Stormont Executive on services nationwide. for the people of on Northern Ireland abortion. Individual hospital Northern Ireland”. by Westminster last The highly trusts already “All matters year. In the twelve respected QC John perform abortions, related to abortion months prior to the Larkin will represent but Westminster policy should be left law being changed, groups challenging politicians want this to MLAs – those who there were 22 the Government’s to be a requirement represent the people abortions performed decision to grant NI throughout the of Northern Ireland in Northern Ireland. Secretary Brandon Province. on this devolved Department of Health Lewis new powers to MP matter – the majority figures revealed that force the Executive to said the move showed of whom are pro-life in the year following, commission abortion “complete disrespect and do not want 1,345 took place. ‘Sorely missed’: Institute patron Hear from the CI Detta O’Cathain remembered

Baroness O’Cathain – economist, businesswoman, member of the House of Lords and Patron of The Christian Institute – died in April aged 83. Lady O’Cathain worked with The Christian Institute on many  Callum Webster, campaigns – boldly speaking Northern Ireland Officer out on religious liberty, assisted suicide, embryology laws and  The Baroness O’Cathain OBE: If you would like your church transgenderism. 2 February 1938 – 23 April 2021 to hear more about our work Asked why Christians should in person or online, email get involved in politics, she Institute Director Colin sandra.mackay@christian. said it was a “good way to find Hart praised Lady O’Cathain’s org.uk or call 028 9094 1667 out what really is necessary ‘to extraordinary political love my neighbour’ and to do courage, formidable intellect something about it”. and strong Christian faith.

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