Ann Widdecombe told an audience of Catholic Union members and supporters that “freedom of speech is under threat”
She was speaking at the Catholic Union’s third “Pub Talk” on Tuesday 6 June which was sponsored by the Universe Catholic Weekly.
Miss Widdecombe had been asked to talk about the challenges facing Catholics in public life, but instead the former Conservative MP and Minister spoke about the challenges facing Catholics in the workplace and wider society.
“The challenge is not in public life”, she said, highlighting that politicians and commentators are free to speak their mind, with MPs and peers having the benefit of parliamentary privilege when they speak in debates. “You don’t get into Parliament by being a shrinking violet” she added.
Instead, Miss Widdecombe spoke about the “pressure” faced by Catholics away from public life in their daily lives, in the workplace and at social events.
She highlighted recent cases involving people facing police action for silently praying outside abortion clinics, saying this was creating a “huge deterrent” to freedom of speech and expression.
The former Prisons Minister and current member of Reform UK, said that new law was needed to protect and promote free speech in general, not just in relation to religious belief.
But she also said that Christians needed to “take the initiative” when it came to standing up for free speech. “It’s our responsibility to say what we think and what we believe” she added.
Catholic Union Director, Nigel Parker, added that Catholics needed to be prudent in how they approached these challenges. He urged people who had faced disadvantage because of their faith to seek help early, including from the St Thomas More Legal Centre.
The Catholic Union’s next “Pub Talk” will be taking place on Tuesday 4 July. Further details and a full list of Catholic Union events can be found on our Events Calendar.