The Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill has another hearing today.

I received this email from Andrea of the Lawyers Christian Fellowship on Friday:

In the last couple of weeks a series of meetings have been held in parliament with Christian leaders regarding the Incitement to Racial and Religious Hatred Bill. The Labour Party is pushing this bill through Parliament as fast as possible, with a 3rd vote of the House of Commons scheduled for Monday 11th July. The Government are then introducing the religious hatred bill into the Lords as soon as possible in the autumn session. The Bill has been provisionally scheduled for its first Lords debate on Tuesday 11th October. (the second day after the summer recess)

Urgent action is required by all Christians in the UK.

If the Bill becomes Law, any Christian can be prosecuted for sharing his or her beliefs, be gagged from sharing their faith and even imprisoned for up to 7 years if others claim they feel insulted and the words are deemed likely to stir up religious hatred. This is outrageous and we need to be outraged by it. (Please see attached short paper I prepared to address Christian leaders in parliament and also visit our web site http://www.lawcf.org)

We have prayed and continue to pray. Now our faith and prayers must be coupled together with action.

We need Christians to lobby their local MP and encourage them to vote against the Bill. This needs to be done today and at the latest by Monday. You can contact your MP, before Monday’s vote, by emailing your MP (surnameinitial@parliament.uk) or fax via the internet at http://www.faxyourmp.com to express your views. An appointment or telephone conversation can be made by calling 0207 219 3000 and asking for the office of your MP. Today, Friday, your local MP may well be holding a constituency surgery which you could try and visit Your local MP must understand the voting power of Christians.

Further action can be gathered by you contacting your local radio station and getting them to petition your MP on the views you have expressed about the bill and how they propose to vote.

To support these efforts a rally is being organised by a broad coalition of Christian groups outside the Houses of Parliament on Monday 11th July at 1.30pm so that Christians can express their concerns about the Bill. It would be good if you could take a day’s annual leave/ half day/an extended lunchtime break and join the rally to let the Government and the House of Commons know that there is real opposition to the Bill, and the strength of the Christian movement.

and this update this morning:

Further to recent emails regarding the Incitement to Racial and Religious Hatred Bill, thousands of Christians throughout the UK are responding to the encouragement of their Church Leaders, to lobby parliament with their concerns by taking action on Monday 11th July.

In order to make a demonstrative impact, Christians are being asked to join the queue outside St Stephen’s Gate, House of Parliament, at 1.30pm and form a line around the House and onto Westminster Bridge, if necessary. A petition (attached) representing hundreds of thousands of Christians will be delivered to Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street at 9am

It is your constitutional right to enter the ‘Central Lobby’ and ask to see your MP. Although your MP may not honour your request. Also, you can enter the ‘Public Gallery’ during the reading and debating of the Bill.

It is important to stress that the media and world will be watching, therefore, we must demonstrate the heart of Christ by acting with good behaviour; showing the grace, peace and love that comes with our Christian faith.

Let us be continually prayerful as we queue and wait, with thanksgiving, making melody in our hearts and with our voices.

We have just heard that we will have representation on the Today programme tomorrow and that the BBC, ITN AND Sky are interested in filming our activities. Let us continue to pray for maximum impact for the glory of Christ.

Andrea Minichiello Williams
Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship Public Policy Officer
http://www.lawcf.org

I can’t be in London today, but I will be wayching with interest.