Thursday 28 March 2019

Campaign response – Remove 'advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose


Recently some constituents have written to me to ask me to support the National Secular Society’s campaign to remove ‘the advancement of religion’ as a charitable purpose.

They say that the society finds that too many religious charities are receiving public funds without delivering wider public benefits and, in some instances, using public money to promote extremism and harmful practices.

I am aware of the strength of feeling that many have expressed when it comes to the issue of what role religious groups including charities should play in our society.

Like all charities, a small proportion of religious charities are misused by others and used in ways the public would not expect.

The Charity Commission has that said they have been made aware of the report and will review it carefully. They also gave this assurance: “The Commission deals with these issues robustly where they arise.”

Historically, in our country the concept of charity has often been closely linked with a religious sense of duty about helping others.

One of the reasons why the advancement of religion has been recognised as something that is for the public benefit is because of this connection between religion and charitable endeavour.

Religious belief and faith has, by its nature, both personal and public dimensions. In relation to public benefit, it is the public dimension that is of primary importance. Where religion helps to provide a moral and ethical framework for people to live by it can play an important part in building a better society.

Under the Charities Act of 2006, charities on the Charity Commission’s Register with aims that include advancing religion have to demonstrate the way in which they carry out their aims is for the public benefit, as per all other charities.

As a firm believer of the fundamental freedoms of practicing and expressing one’s religious beliefs, I support the right of religious charities to carry out their charitable work, insofar as they are deemed beneficial to the wider public good and abide by the rules that all charities including secular ones have to follow.