A new initiative to protect religious freedoms

Affinity is joining forces with Barnabas Fund and others to call for a new law to protect freedoms that have taken centuries to establish in the UK. These hard-won rights are now in real danger as they are gradually eroded by intolerance, complacency and uniformity.

Such a law will help everyone, of any religion and belief or none. Our religious freedoms came about as a result of brave people in the past standing up to authority. It is time to enshrine those hard-won rights in law.

What will such a law do?

Very simply, it will protect people. It is important that we, as a society, recognise that all people can hold their worldview and beliefs without discrimination or persecution.

We want a law that establishes permanent freedom of thought, religion and expression in line with international agreements and covenants of human rights.

It must positively affirm the freedoms to practise, share and change one’s beliefs without government interference or societal persecution.

It must also affirm the freedom from being required to support a particular worldview or set of beliefs in order to hold a public sector job (except where this is a genuine occupational requirement such as chaplaincy posts); stand for election; work in teaching, healthcare and law; study at university; or give parental care to a child.

Will you join with us in calling upon the UK government to introduce such legislation? Please visit the website http://ourreligiousfreedom.org to find out more and to sign the petition.

You can also download a copy of the new 48-page booklet ‘Turn the Tide’ which sets out the argument for this new law, with a history of how our freedoms were won and examples of how, in our own day, those freedoms are being dismantled before our eyes.