Minister says Govt will stop suppressing faith
ICC Note
UK promises not to continue persecuting Christians and followers of other faiths. We hope the government will honor its promise and stop violating religious freedom.
07/21/2010 UK (The Christian Institute)-The state will no longer try to clamp down on Christianity, the Government Minister for Communities has said.
Eric Pickles, speaking at a meeting of faith leaders, declared: “The days of the state trying to suppress Christianity and other faiths are over.”
Earlier this month Andy Burnham, a candidate for the Labour Party leadership, said his party needed to apologise for creating a culture which sidelined Christians.
Encouragement
Faith leaders at the meeting with Mr Pickles expressed their encouragement at the Government’s position.
Appreciated
Mr Pickles, who in the run up to the General Election was Chairman of the Conservative Party, also commented: “Some see religion as a problem that needs to be solved. The new Government sees it as part of the solution.”
Arrested
Earlier this year
In December Christian hoteliers Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang faced a criminal trial in Liverpool Magistrates’ Court following a complaint over a conversation about Christianity and Islam.
Marginalised
Last October it emerged that a Christian grandmother, Pauline Howe, was investigated by police for ‘homophobic hatred’ after objecting to a ‘gay pride’ parade in her home town of Norwich .
Download the Christian Institute’s report on marginalization of Christians in UK
