Amnesty row: Charity Commission must reaffirm the value of faith-based groups

The Christian Institute and others have called on the Charity Commission to reaffirm the value of faith-based charities following allegations they are ‘anti-rights’.

In a letter to the Chair of the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Institute and ten other Christian and Roman Catholic organisations named in Amnesty International UK’s report ‘A growing threat’ wrote to set the record straight on its inaccuracies.

It asked the charities regulator to reaffirm that “the advancement of religion” is a legitimate charitable aim, that Christian charities make a valued contribution to society, and are entitled to speak into contested areas of moral debate.

In its controversial briefing, Amnesty claimed that it had identified a network of groups “targeting the rights of women and LGBT+ people”. It has since removed the report from its website pending an “internal review” and has self-referred to the Charity Commission.

Valuable contribution

The letter states: “Several of our organisations exist specifically to protect the fundamental freedoms that have formed the bedrock of democratic society for centuries, have deep roots in Christian thought, and are enshrined in international human rights frameworks.”

It asserts: “Amnesty International UK has repeatedly engaged in vilifying organisations that hold Judeo-Christian beliefs regarding the sanctity of life and human sexuality, as well as calling on various bodies to actively censor or discriminate against these views.”

The organisations welcomed the Commission’s role in ensuring Amnesty UK remains compliant with the law, and asked for the charities watchdog to clearly confirm what Amnesty denies: “That charities across the sector are entitled to engage in public debate on contested moral questions without being mischaracterised as a threat to human rights by other charities”.

They also asked that it affirm: “That Christian charities committed to advancing religion, as well as faith-based organisations working on the sanctity of life, marriage and the family, and biological sex-based rights, make a legitimate and valuable contribution to public life in England and Wales.”

The Christian Institute

The Director of The Christian Institute Ciarán Kelly said: “This was poor from Amnesty and they know it.

“This letter reaffirms the incredible public benefit generated by Christian charities and others working on some of the most contentious issues of our day.

“Under God, The Christian Institute and its supporters will continue to strive to glorify God in the public square and make known his good design for every area of life.”