Springer protests distorted churches’ role says Lib Dem leader
-4/02/05
The leader of the Liberal Democrats has said that headlines about abortion, homosexuality and blasphemy distort the important role and work of churches in the UK.
In a clear reference to rows in the Anglican communion over the ordination of gay priests and the campaigns by some Christian groups to prevent the recent screening of “Jerry Springer: The Opera” on BBC2, Charles Kennedy suggested that churches are at their best when they focus on issues of justice.
“The question of a wider role for faith groups is extremely controversial now in the United States, and it is moving up the agenda in Britain too.” said Kennedy.
“The headlines are often about abortion, sexuality or blasphemy laws. But they are a distortion.” the Lib Dem leader said.
His controversial comments came in a speech in front of a live audience of around 200 hundred church leaders, churchgoers and other faith representatives at Christ Church & Upton in central London. It was also broadcast over the internet as part of a live webcast.
The speech was part of the Faithworks Lecture series, which will see the three main political parties address churches.
“What people sometimes fail to acknowledge or recognise is that the focus of most faith based organisations is more practical and more domestic” said the Lib Dem leader.
“Itís a matter of battling poverty, here and abroad; or seeking to give our children a decent start – keeping them away from drugs and crime; and, at the other end of the lifespan, caring for our elderly and infirm.”
“The religious communities have congregations with both the skills and a unique willingness to serve that is a direct result of their beliefs” he continued.
Kennedy also joined in the attack by church groups against the Conservative party, over their plans for asylum seekers.
The Conservatives drew fire from church agencies after it announced that it wanted to pull out of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.
Kennedy said; “Asylum seekers are people in need of our help. This country does not turn them away.”
“It would be a sad day indeed if – as a country- we chose to pull out of international treaties constructed in the wake of the holocaust and overturned our human rights legislation.”
“Debate about asylum and immigration should never be used to stoke up fear or racism” he said.
Conservative Leader Michael Howard will give his Faithworks Lecture on February 23 and a senior figure from the Labour Party will also speak at a date yet to be confirmed. All three Faithworks Lectures, as well as being webcast live on the night, can be accessed from www.faithworks.info.