Memorandum from John Morgan (CJ&I 269)

I am writing to express my concern over the proposed amending the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill to introduce an offence of inciting hatred on the grounds of sexuality.

one really must look at the broader picture.

Does that mean that Richard Dawkins does not have the right to disagree with Christianity and the existence of God if the Christians regard that as incitement?

He was allowed to produce his own television programme propounding his own hypothesis or should I say beliefs?

No committee is meeting to consider this as incitement to hatred or as giving offence.

Because Christians while finding his comments inappropriate and perhaps offensive are not prepared to be malicious in response nor does Dawkins himself look to promote hatred of Christian.

Was Dawkins inciting to hatred Christianity and their practices - if not then why allow Stonewall to declare that any expressed views contrary to theirs is incitement to hatred.

As a Christian I will always respect my fellow man/woman and respect their right to make decisions about their lifestyle ( I may not agree with their decisions or sexual practices).

But surely I also have a right to disagree with such practices and say so in a non offensive manner and in a way which is not incitement to hatred.

I am concerned that soon their will be no freedom of speech for the majority as well as the minority.

I have not gone into the usual objections on this occasion - I am sure you have had many who given other more logical points of view.

October 2007