Dear supporter,
The imminent changes at the top of the Conservative Party could significantly affect issues of concern such as the Online Safety Bill, transgender ideology, and the proposed ban on ‘conversion therapy’.
These areas have huge implications for free speech and religious liberty. A new Prime Minister and Cabinet could move them in a radically different direction, for better or worse. We need to pray.
This morning, the Government confirmed that its Online Safety Bill will be delayed until the autumn. Some of the Conservative leadership candidates have publicly expressed concerns about its impact on free speech. Rightly so. We have been highlighting this problem for months.
It attempts to regulate social media content that the Government deems ‘harmful’ to adults even though it is perfectly legal. This dangerously vague approach risks arbitrarily censoring mainstream biblical teaching on sexual and medical ethics. The Bill should have focused on uncontroversial and beneficial areas such as the long overdue protections for children from online pornography. These will now be delayed yet again.
The ‘conversion therapy’ ban targets the ordinary work of churches. Preaching, prayer and pastoral care are all at stake. Candidates have a range of different views. One has challenged the need for such a ban in the light of existing legal protections. But another has been a strong advocate for radical transgender ideology – supporting proposals to make it much easier to change legal sex.
The winner of the Conservative leadership election will become our next Prime Minister and form a Cabinet. These men and women will determine the Government’s approach on these issues as well as assisted suicide, sex education and more.
Please pray
Please join with us in praying that God would have mercy on our country.
Pray too that candidates’ views on moral issues will be publicly tested and that the new Prime Minister will:
- uphold religious liberty and free speech;
- protect children from being sexualised online and in school;
- defend traditional marriage and the sanctity of life;
- not interfere in the ordinary work of churches.
