Memorandum from SM Parker (CJ&I 260)

 

 

I write to you knowing that our views are unlikely to coincide but hoping that the new Labour promise to govern for all of the people still has some weight.  I gather that an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill to include a Gay Hate Crime provision is under consideration.  I would ask you not to support this unnecessary law.

 

I am a committed Christian who takes the bible's teaching seriously and tries to apply that in my conduct and the upbringing of my children, this includes valuing all people regardless of their views and actions.  I subscribe to the orthodox Christian position, derived from biblical teaching, that the only legitimate place for sexual activity is within heterosexual marriage.  Clearly this means that I cannot approve homosexual practice, although I can tolerate those who take part in such a life style, and it puts me in a position regarded as old fashioned or unrealistic by society as a whole (although one perhaps shared by your Muslim constituents).

 

Whether or not you support my views I hope that you can see I'm caught between a rock and a hard place over this.  The non-negotiable foundational teaching of my faith tells me that exercising particular choices that society would allow is wrong.   Yet I fear the demands for yet more pro-homosexual legislation may criminalise my views casting me in the position of the man asked "have you stopped beating your wife yet?", how can you answer!  I do not hate homosexual people or those who live together unmarried, but the bible teaches there is a better way for both groups and I want to retain the freedom of speech to argue and debate this without the fear of prosecution or the police interrogation endured by Joe and Helen Roberts.

 

 

October 2007