§ 10.2 pm
§ Mr. Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury)I have the honour of presenting a petition from the members of the General Synod of the Church of England. The Human Rights Bill requires that Churches and other religious bodies be treated as public authorities when they perform public functions, such as the conducting of marriages and the running of Church schools. As the petition makes clear, because public authorities can be sued under the legislation for breaching the European convention, Churches and other religious bodies will be open to be sued in the secular courts on theological and moral issues.
The petition argues that religious bodies should be free to arrange their internal affairs and organise their Church schools and religious charities in accordance with existing arrangements. It also argues that the House should retain the amendments passed in another place, which would help to prevent religious bodies from being successfully sued in the secular courts.
The petition has been signed by 141 members of the General Synod, which is a quarter of the total membership. It includes the signatures of Philip Gore—a prominent lay member—and the Bishops of Manchester, Hull and Rochester. I am also authorised by the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury to say that he is concerned to ensure that the legislation cannot be used to require the Church to act in ways contrary to its religious principles and beliefs. There is also a great deal of concern about the issue among ordinary Church members. Their fear is that British courts could develop the law in a way that may restrict religious liberties.
The petition ends:
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your honourable House will support the Human Rights Bill as amended in the House of Lords thus allowing a proper defence for religious bodies who could be pursued in the secular courts over what are essentially theological and moral issues.
§ To lie upon the Table.