The Government and freedom of religion or belief
On Tuesday, the Government answered a written question from Sir Iain Duncan Smith (Con, Chingford and Woodford Green) on the appointment of a Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief as follows:
“This Government will champion freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. Envoy roles will be decided upon in due course. In the meantime, we will use the strength of our global diplomatic network, including dedicated staff within the FCDO, to promote and protect FoRB around the world.”
Which looks like at least a qualified “No”.
And while we’re on the subject, also on Tuesday, John Glen (Con, Salisbury) tabled a written question for answer by 2 September asking the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government “whether the Prime Minister intends to appoint a Minister for Faith”. Watch this space. Maybe.
Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2024
These Regulations bring into force sections of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 which amend the Marriage Act 1949 and the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, and sections of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 which amend the Civil Partnership Act 2004.
The amendments, which are effective from 2 August 2024, prohibit prisoners subject to whole life orders from marrying or entering into civil partnerships unless they have permission from the Secretary of State (who may only give permission for a whole life prisoner to marry if satisfied that this is justified by exceptional circumstances). They also make further various amendments to the Marriage Act 1949 and the Civil Partnership Act 2004 to ensure that registrars have all the information they need at the point they consider an application to marry or enter into a civil partnership and to clarify the relevant procedure.
In addition, amendments are made to establish that if a prisoner subject to a whole life order does manage to marry without written permission from the Secretary of State, the marriage will not be legally valid.
Swearing by a river?
Paul Powlesland, a barrister at Garden Court Chambers who was called for jury service in Snaresbrook Crown Court, attempted to swear the juror’s oath with his fingers dipped into a cup of water taken from the river Roding in Barking, where he lives on a houseboat, as follows:
“I swear by the river Roding, from her source in Molehill Green to her confluence with the Thames, that I will faithfully try the defendant and give a true verdict according to the evidence.”
According to the report in the Telegraph, he explained to the judge that nature was his god and that he treated the River Roding with the same “reverence, sacredness and love in action as many religious people give to their holy book”. He said that he was neither Christian nor an atheist and compared his belief as being “adjacent to Christian spirituality”. The judge accepted – provided Mr Powlesland made an affirmation rather than swore an oath.
Mr Powlesland took a small bottle containing the river water with him to court and was asked by security staff to take a sip from it – a test required of everyone taking drinks into court to prove the contents are not harmful. He complied but added: “I didn’t swallow any. I love my river, but I’m not entirely confident about what Thames Water might have put in it.”
“Jezebel’s Trumpet”: Appointment of Editor
Sarah Meyrick has been appointed the next editor of the Church Times, succeeding Paul Handley, who is to retire at the end of September after nearly 30 years in the post. She was Director of Communications for Oxford diocese and Public Engagement Manager at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, and rejoined the staff of the Church Times in January 2022 as assistant editor with a brief for public engagement.
Quick links
- Church Mouse Blog: How should we pick our bishops?
- Gary Rycroft, The Telegraph: Loud church bells are making our idyllic village life a misery: “… unless you can evidence unreasonable behaviour on the part of the church bell ringers, it will be hard to put together a claim with much chance of success.”
- Ellie Serridge and David von Hagen, Lexology: Balancing protected characteristics – religious belief v sexual orientation: Ngole v Touchstone Leeds: judgment here.
- Hattie Williams, Church Times: Spring Park scheme was not discriminatory, Privy Council declares(£): on All Saints Spring Park Parochial Church Council v Church Commissioners [2024] UKPC 23, which we noted here.
- ViaMedia.News: Clergy Summer Quiz.