Law Society Revokes Christian Debate Over Marriage
The Law Society has revoked the booking of a Christian conférence on marriage to be held by Christian Concern and other organisations because it considered it "contrary to its ‘diversity’ Policy".
Christian Concern, which forms part of a family values coalition, together with the World Congress of Families, was due to host a colloquium at the Law Society on the issue of marriage, entitled ‘One man. One woman. Making the case for marriage for the good of society’. In an astonishing e-mail, Adam Tallis, General Manager of Ampersand at the Law Society, stated that the event “is contrary to our diversity policy, espousing as it does an ethos which is opposed to same-sex marriage.” A range of high profile speakers had been due to participate at the event at the Law Society HQ in Chancery Lane, London at the end of the month, including senior High Court Judge Sir Paul Coleridge, a senior Family Law Practitioner Peter Duckworth, the Chairman of conservative think-tank, Bow Group, Ben Harris-Quinney, Director of ResPublica, Phillip Blond and media commentator Cristina Odone. Andrea Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, said: “This action by the professional body of thousands of solicitors across the UK, all of whom would be supportive of ‘free speech’, demonstrates how discussion on traditional views of marriage is being shut down before any change in the law to redefine marriage has come into force. (...) This colloquium was intended to be a genuine open debate on the issues, constructing a case for marriage in the public sphere, and they seem to be closing it down. (...) This move is highly political, highly charged and wholly inappropriate. A lot of lawyers will be very alarmed by this and ashamed of their regulatory body for taking such action.” Sources: Daily Telegraph Christian concern