UK Soft-Despotism Hardens Its Cutting Edge

Christians Are the New Terrorist Threat

We have highlighted several times in recent months a very disturbing trajectory in Britain: the government appears bent on punishing Christians for being Christian.  It looks like we will be moving back to the days of Tudor and Stewart persecution--in principle, at least.  And once started, who knows where it will end?

It's all bound up in the Conservative government's woolly and incompetent approach to combating "extremism".  That mistaken--even idiotic--approach has led directly to this:

MP: use anti-terror powers on Christian teachers who say gay marriage is ‘wrong’

New Extremism Disruption Orders should be applied on those who “teach” traditionalist Christian views about marriage in the classroom

The headline is found in the Daily Telegraph.  The MP concerned is a Conservative MP.   It appears that in the lexicon of the governing Conservative party, when Christian teachers faithfully teach the Christian faith they are engaged in terrorism.  How has this come to pass?

New banning orders intended to clamp down on hate preachers and terrorist propagandists should be used against Christian teachers who teach children that gay marriage is “wrong”, a Tory MP has argued.Mark Spencer called for those who use their position in the classroom to a teach traditionalist views on marriage to be subject to “Extremism Disruption Orders” (EDOs), tough new restrictions planned by David Cameron and Theresa May to curb radicalisation by jihadists.

In a letter to a constituent, Mr Spencer, the MP for Sherwood in Nottinghamshire, insisted that Christian teachers were still “perfectly entitled” to express their views on same-sex marriage – but only “in some situations”. Christian campaigners said Mr Spencer’s remarks confirmed what they had previously warned: that those who believe marriage should only be between a man and a woman would now be “branded extremists”. The National Secular Society, which supports same-sex marriage, said the proposed banning orders could be one of the biggest threats to freedom of expression ever seen in the UK.

By idiotically attempting to combat "extremism" and "extremists"--which amongst other things reflect attitudes of heart and beliefs of mind--the government is making speech and thought subject to criminal charges.  After all, to say, "You are a rat," is arguably extreme.  Rather than identify specific speech or acts which the government will prosecute, and instead focussing upon a  broader attitudinal category, anything unpopular risks being swept up in the net.  It is equivalent to the government making anger a criminal offence rather than murder.  It is arguable that every murderer is guilty of anger; but every angry person is not a murderer.  Moreover, the definition of what is "extreme" turns out to be something which others find objectionable.  By focusing upon "extremism" and proscribing it in law, the heavy hand of tyranny risks falling upon anyone who speaks or acts in a way offensive to others, rather than the person who stands up to call for "death to the infidels".

Thus the charming Mr Spencer, MP.  This particular chap is clearly offended that Christians believe homosexual marriage is an abomination.  To utter such "blasphemies" is an extremist, and therefore, terrorist act.  He, and no doubt many others in the Establishment, want to see "hate preachers" punished and banned.  They also want to proscribe Christians who offend them by proclaiming, teaching, writing traditional, orthodox Christian beliefs.  They are wound up and on the charge.

Lest we are tempted to think that Mr Spencer is a fruit loop and that he represents a whacko, extremist edge of the Conservative government, consider the clearly stated intent of Cameron's folly:  

Ministers have signalled that the orders, expected to be a key plank of the Government planned new Counter-Extremism Bill, would be used not only curb the activities of radical Islamist clerics but those who promote other views deemed to go against “British values”.  Ministers have defined British values in the past as including broad notions like democracy, tolerance and the rule of law. [Emphasis, ours.]

Mr Spencer has provided a constituent with his particular casuistry in the matter:

Mr Spencer was writing in response to an email from a constituent who was concerned about claims by the campaign group the Christian Institute that EDOs could be used against those with traditional beliefs. He wrote: “I believe that everybody in society has a right to free speech and to express their views without fear of persecution. “The EDOs will not serve to limit but rather to guarantee it: it is those who seek to stop other people expressing their beliefs who will be targeted.

“Let me give you an example, one which lots of constituents have been writing about – talking about gay marriage in schools.” He went on to insist that Christians with traditional views on marriage are “perfectly entitled to express their views” but suggests it could constitute “hate speech” in some contexts. “The new legislation specifically targets hate speech, so teachers will still be free to express their understanding of the term ‘marriage’, and their moral opposition to its use in some situations without breaking the new laws. “The EDOs, in this case, would apply to a situation where a teacher was specifically teaching that gay marriage is wrong.” [Emphasis, ours.]

How about that as an example of speaking out of both sides of one's mouth--otherwise known as speaking with a forked tongue.

Two critical responses put Mr Spencer and the Conservative government in context:

Simon Calvert, Deputy Director of the Christian Institute said: “I am genuinely shocked that we have an MP supporting the idea of teachers being branded extremists for teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman. “This is exactly the kind of thing we’ve been warning about.  “The Government says we’ve got nothing to worry about from their new extremism laws, but here is one of its own MPs writing to a constituent saying EDOs would stop teachers teaching mainstream Christian beliefs.”

He added: “Ten years ago the Conservatives opposed Tony Blair’s unpopular law against ‘inciting religious hatred’, saying it jeopardised free speech – yet here they are seeking to bring in an even worse law.  “EDOs will be a gross infringement of free speech and undermine the very British values they claim to protect.”

And, then, from the National Secular Society:

Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society said: “If EDOs really could be used to prevent teachers from talking about same-sex marriage, unless they are inciting violence, they are an even greater threat to freedom of expression than I had feared.

“To suggest that EDOs guarantee freedom of expression [as Mark Spencer suggests] is not just inaccurate, it is the opposite of the truth; they are the largest threat to freedom of expression I have ever seen in Britain.  “The spreading of hatred is far too vague a concept to be the basis of legal sanctions, and would be worryingly open to misuse, particularly by ideological opponents.