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Something Rotten In Blighty
Mar. 16th, 2005 07:26 amI am very, very alarmed to see the Catholic Church in this country calling for religion to return to the centre of British politics, for debates to be opened up on abortion, for, in Cardinal O'Connor's words, us to become more like the US in religious outlook and presence.
I believe this must not be allowed to happen.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor and his followers are dangerous, desperate men who would seek to banish centuries of humanist progress to the dustbin. He sees the decline of religion in this country and he seeks to keep the status quo intact - heaven forbid people should be allowed to think for themselves. He must be stopped. Do you want to go back to back-street abortions?
I think many people in this country regard Britain as removed and aloof from the religious revival in American politics. The reality is a lot different. I suspect many of you will think I am a reactionary fool, many of you don't think this could happen here? Maybe not. But are you willing to take that chance? Britain is not a secular paradise by any means. Already laws are going through that will seek to curtail our right to criticise religion. What we have could change. What the Americans had is changing now. Don't let it happen here. Already the BBC has been picketed by fundamentalist Christians. Already, intolerant elements of the Sikh community have caused legitimate theatre to be cancelled and freedom of speech to be curtailed as a result. Is it happening? It may already be.
It would be a great shame to see religious issues coming to the fore in the next election, but it is now my fear - reasonable I think - that this could happen. It is therefore vital that secularists and liberal Christians must mobilise now, ahead of time, to wipe out the fundamentalist vote in the UK. Because after they've taken back abortion, they will try and take back gay partnership rights as well, and these are things I am not prepared to sacrifice.
There is going to be an election this year, and I want you to please vote for secular candidates in May. If religious issues do become election issues, it is your duty to find out your parliamentary candidate's views and vote accordingly. I think we can keep the fundamentalists down if we start working now. Don't let this malign influence into British politics. Organised religion has no place in government.
We have freedom of religion in this country, and this should reasonably translate to freedom from religion, as well.
I believe this must not be allowed to happen.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor and his followers are dangerous, desperate men who would seek to banish centuries of humanist progress to the dustbin. He sees the decline of religion in this country and he seeks to keep the status quo intact - heaven forbid people should be allowed to think for themselves. He must be stopped. Do you want to go back to back-street abortions?
I think many people in this country regard Britain as removed and aloof from the religious revival in American politics. The reality is a lot different. I suspect many of you will think I am a reactionary fool, many of you don't think this could happen here? Maybe not. But are you willing to take that chance? Britain is not a secular paradise by any means. Already laws are going through that will seek to curtail our right to criticise religion. What we have could change. What the Americans had is changing now. Don't let it happen here. Already the BBC has been picketed by fundamentalist Christians. Already, intolerant elements of the Sikh community have caused legitimate theatre to be cancelled and freedom of speech to be curtailed as a result. Is it happening? It may already be.
It would be a great shame to see religious issues coming to the fore in the next election, but it is now my fear - reasonable I think - that this could happen. It is therefore vital that secularists and liberal Christians must mobilise now, ahead of time, to wipe out the fundamentalist vote in the UK. Because after they've taken back abortion, they will try and take back gay partnership rights as well, and these are things I am not prepared to sacrifice.
There is going to be an election this year, and I want you to please vote for secular candidates in May. If religious issues do become election issues, it is your duty to find out your parliamentary candidate's views and vote accordingly. I think we can keep the fundamentalists down if we start working now. Don't let this malign influence into British politics. Organised religion has no place in government.
We have freedom of religion in this country, and this should reasonably translate to freedom from religion, as well.