A core element of the Catholic Union’s work is promoting religious freedom. This includes helping Catholics to play a full and active part in society; in the places we live, work, and study. It also involves highlighting the plight of people in other countries who face persecution on account of their faith. The Catholic Union is part of the FoRB Forum of groups and organisation committed to promoting freedom of religion or belief.
The Catholic Union has called on Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, to implement the recommendations of the Bishop of Truro’s report into Christian persecution. Implementing the… Read More »Catholic Union calls on Foreign Secretary to uphold FoRB commitments
On Monday 22 November, the House of Lords debated an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill on ministers of religion having… Read More »Peers debate right for priests to administer Last Rites
The Draft Online Safety Bill proposes to confer various powers on the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and OFCOM to regulate… Read More »Draft Online Safety Bill: Additional Notes on Freedom of Expression & Delegated Powers
The Catholic Union has warned that work on faith engagement risks being “side-lined” under a new department headed up by Michael Gove. As part… Read More »Catholic Union calls on Gove to deliver for faith groups
In May 2021, the Government introduced the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill to Parliament. The purpose of the Bill is to make provision in… Read More »Catholic Union Briefing: Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill
The Catholic Union has warned that freedom of expression is under threat from an increasing failure to accept the legitimacy of different views in society.
It follows the Catholic Union submitting evidence to the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) on a wide range of matters concerning freedom of expression.
The JCHR is conducting an inquiry into freedom of expression, which includes possible changes to hate speech law, behaviour on social media, and the use of Public Space Protection Orders.
Read More »“Freedom of expression for believers is under threat” warns Catholic Union
The Catholic Union has warned against making any changes to hate crime legislation that risk undermining freedom of expression.
In response to a Law Commission consultation on potential changes to hate crime laws, the Catholic Union said that “protection of the individual citizen against the weaponization of the criminal law is one of the ‘bright line’ differences between a free democratic society and other societies.”
The Law Commission is carrying out a review of hate crime laws in England and Wales, including reformulating the offences of stirring up hatred.
Read More »Catholic Union warns against undermining freedom of expression
The Catholic Union has called on the Government to respect faiths in the same way as other world views in a meeting with the Government’s Faith Adviser, Colin Bloom.
The meeting was part of the evidence gathering process for the Government’s Independent Faith Engagement Review, being led by Mr Bloom.
The review was launched in November and included an online survey (which closed on 11 December) along with meetings with representative groups, including the Catholic Union.
The Catholic Union met the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Religious Freedom, Rehman Chishti MP, this week (27 January).
Director, Nigel Parker, and Head of Public Affairs, James Somerville-Meikle, met Mr Chishti in the Foreign Office to discuss the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the Truro report into Christian persecution.
Please click below to see some questions about religious freedom to ask your parliamentary candidates in the forthcoming General Election. Ask Your Candidate Letterhead
