Christian Voice (UK)
Christian Voice (CV) is a fundamentalist Christian advocacy group based in the United Kingdom.[1] Its stated objective is "to uphold Christianity as the Faith of the United Kingdom, to be a voice for Biblical values in law and public policy, and to defend and support traditional family life."[2] It is independent of religious, denominational, or political parties.[3]
Type
CV is led by Stephen Green.[3] Green is the group's spokesperson, producing scores of press releases from 2005 to 2010. According to Green, Christian Voice had in excess of 600 members in 2005.[4]
The group has been criticised for its positions. David Peel, leader of the United Reformed Church called Christian Voice "a disgrace"[4] and described their "claim to represent Christians" in the UK as "absurd".[5]
Protests and campaigns[edit]
Homosexuality[edit]
The group has been involved in campaigns against the Gay Police Association. Christian Voice is opposed to police officers participating in gay pride marches, and in 2003 wrote to the Chief Constable of each force which it alleged allowed its officers to march in uniform at Pride events. The organisation published the replies on its website and, in the accompanying 16-page document Homosexuality and the Police, described homosexuality as "characterised by disease, degradation, death and denial" and Gay Pride as "intimidating".[20]
On 2 September 2006, Green was arrested while handing out pamphlets urging homosexuals to "turn from their sins" at the Cardiff Mardi Gras. The police considered the leaflets hateful. The Crown Prosecution Service decided to withdraw their prosecution of Green on the grounds of insufficient evidence; the police stated that this did not "challenge the legality" of his arrest. Green's solicitor indicated he would seek damages in civil court for "abuse of police powers."[21]
Blasphemy[edit]
Christian Voice was involved in criticism of British performances of Jerry Springer: The Opera, including a transmission of a performance by the BBC in 2005.[22] The group stated that the production was blasphemous in its depiction of Jesus, Mary and God as guests on the Jerry Springer Show. Green said of the production,
Controversy[edit]
In February 2005, Christian Voice was reported to have caused the cancer charity, Maggie's Centres, to decline a £3,000 donation from the proceeds of a special performance of Jerry Springer: The Opera. The charity had been due to receive £10 per ticket for an afternoon gala but declined the donation after CV had threatened to picket their centres, which offer palliative care to cancer sufferers and their families.[10][39]
In June 2005, Christian Voice's bankers, the Co-operative Bank, instructed the group to close its account because the group's stance on homosexuality was in conflict with the bank's ethical policies of diversity.[12][40] Gay Times awarded an ethical corporate stance award to the Co-operative Bank in response to this move.[41] In response to this, Christian Voice encouraged a boycott of the bank.[42]