Last month
I wrote the following letter to the candidates in my constituency.
I wanted
to share this with others, to enable Christians in the constituency to be able
to use the responses to assist in understanding the value each candidate places
on specific areas.
Some have answered fully, others have skirted around the subjects, and I have simply reproduced their responses without redaction.
Please
Christians do: Make THE CROSS Count
Dear Candidate,
I’m writing to all of the candidates in my area to help me and my congregation
decide how to vote in the election. Firstly I would like to thank you for being
willing to stand for public office, and assure you that if you are successful
you will be supported in prayer.
I would be grateful for your answers to the questions below. Ideally
within day or so, because I intend to publish these to all of my
congregation and other local churches. No response will assume lack of interest
in the Christian vote.:
Family
- How should government promote a married mum and dad as the normal basis for
family?
- Would you support the reversal of the same-sex ‘marriage’ law?
- Do you oppose the introduction of sex education in primary schools?
Liberty
- Are you aware of challenges faced by Christians in the workplace? What steps would
you take in response?
- Would you back new laws to protect freedom of conscience and freedom of
religion?
- How would you protect the freedom of Christian parents to bring up their
children in line with their faith and to opt out of sex education in schools?
Foundations
- What influence does Jesus Christ have on your own life?
- How would you stop the ‘British Values’ drive being used to penalise
Christian-based schools?
- How would you stop Sharia law being practised in the UK?
- What code of conduct would restore the link between the public and
private morals of MPs?
Life
- What steps would you take to end abortion and the destruction of human life
through embryology and IVF?
- What will you do to prevent legalisation of assisted suicide?
- Would you work to reverse the law that allows the creation of
‘three-parent’ children?
Thank you for taking the time to respond. If you have any questions for me
please don't hesitate to contact me. As I said above, I'd very much appreciate
an early response.
If you would like more information about issues of concern to Christians at
this election You might try www.election2015.org.uk
Yours sincerely,
Rev. Keith Waters
9 Thirlby Gardens
Ely CB6 1EA
Conservative
Dear Keith,
Many thanks for
your email. I am sorry for the delay in replying.
Family
I am married to
David and we have two children. I do not support the reversal of the
same-sex marriage law. I believe that sex education should be age
appropriate.
Liberty
A number of
people have written to me about concerns that they have as Christians. I
believe in equality and freedom to practise one’s religion, whatever that
religion is.
Foundations
It is important
that people who come to this country should respect our values. That
should not diminish rights to practise as Christians. It is important for
MPs to regain the public’s trust.
Life
Any decisions
as to legislation which affect life must be taken incredibly carefully.
Kind regards
Lucy
Lucy Frazer
QC
Parliamentary
Candidate for South East Cambridgeshire (Conservative)
www.lucyfrazer.org.uk
UKIP
Dear Keith,
I am a practising Christian and as those who have seen me will know, I
frequently wear a cross as a sign of my faith.
Some additional points which may not be included specifically in the
manifesto:
- we had serious reservations with the way the same sex marriage act was
introduced but it is unlikely we would repeal the act unless the people wanted
to have a referendum on the issue, thereby allowing them to have a say which
they were not able to have when the legislation was rushed through
- we do not support sex education being taught in primary schools and we
believe all parents must be made fully aware of the sex education teaching
materials being used and we respect parents’ rights to withdraw children from
sex education classes if they wish
- we uphold freedom of speech within the law, and believe all ideas and
beliefs should be open to discussion and scrutiny
- we uphold the integrity of British law, ensuring it apples to all
equally and will not condone parallel or conflicting systems
- on issues such as assisted suicide and abortion, I personally don’t
believe it’s for the government to dictate. All life is precious.
However, I know there are some who argue there may be situations where
assisted suicide and abortion may be appropriate. I would very much like
there to be a proper debate on these issues before any further changes to
legislation and for people to be able to have their say.
Kind regards,
Deborah
07572 361047
Liberal
Dear Rev Waters,
Thank you for contacting me and asking these important questions from a
Christian perspective. I am strong supporter of the freedom to worship
and witness and to maintain an active Christian position in the public square.
I am also a strong believer in the importance of family life, marriage and the
value of effective parenting. As a Christian myself, I do believe that
man is made in the image of God. Of course, I also respect the views of
those who do not have my faith.
With my family, I attend St Andrew's Impington and I am also a trustee and
Council member for the Keswick Convention (established in 1875).
I am not minded to see assisted dying or legalised euthanasia admitted onto the
statute books.
Thank you again for contacting me.
With best wishes,
Jonathan
Published and promoted by Lorna Dupré on behalf of Jonathan Chatfield and South
East Cambs Liberal Democrats, all at 55 Market Street, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7
4LP, 01353 664348. Printed (hosted) by NationBuilder.
Labour
Dear Huw Jones
I’m writing to all of the candidates in my area to help me and my congregation
decide how to vote in the election. Firstly I would like to thank you for being
willing to stand for public office, and assure you that if you are successful
you will be supported in prayer.
I would be grateful for your answers to the questions below. Ideally
within a day or so, because I intend to publish these to all of my
congregation and other local churches. No response will assume lack of interest
in the Christian vote.:
Family
- How should government promote a married mum and dad as the normal basis for
family?
Nothing is more important than raising the
next generation. Children need stability and a loving, nuturing environment if
they are to thrive. Families come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, they all
need support. Labour brought in SureStart, a scheme designed to support
families targetted at deprived areas and aiming to break the cycle of
disfunctional families raising children who go on to become the next generation
of disfunctional parents.
- Would you support the reversal of
the same-sex ‘marriage’ law?
I understand that some Christians have
grave concerns over 'same-sex marriage'; I do not share those concerns. The labels
put onto a relationship are less important than the love and support shared
within a relationship.
- Do you oppose the introduction of
sex education in primary schools?
Schools act on behalf of parents and
children. Any form of sex education without a leavening of relationship
education will be doomed to failiure. Personal health and social education
(PHSE) must always be age appropriate, the school must be open and honest with
parents regarding the content of PHSE. As a school governor I know that parents
have the right to withdraw their child from sex education and i would vote to
keep that right in place.
Liberty
- Are you aware of challenges faced by Christians in the workplace? What steps
would you take in response?
- Would you back new laws to protect freedom of conscience and freedom of
religion?
- How would you protect the freedom of Christian parents to bring up their
children in line with their faith and to opt out of sex education in schools?
Every politician has a debt to the
Christian non-conformists of the sevententh and eighteenth centuries who fought
for freedom of conscience. The last Labour government enshrined human rights in
law and these rights include freedom of concience, a right to family life and
the right to freedom of expression. These rights and protections are important
in ensuring that you have the right to proffess your faith, to bring your
children up in accordance with your values and to gather together with your
fellow Christians to openly declare your faith and engage in a meeting of ideas
with others. I strongly disagree with those who talk of 'human rights gone
mad'; human rights protect us all from persecution.
Foundations
- What influence does Jesus Christ have on your own life?
I was raised in a baptist tradition but I
have not found faith in my life
- How would you stop the ‘British
Values’ drive being used to penalise Christian-based schools?
I cringe every time someone talks about
British values; there are values. You and I may share many values and disagree
on others. British values is a phrase devoid of meaning; I'd guess you share
more values with Christians from across the world than with some of your fellow
citizens in the UK. I personally favour non religious schools and to leave
faith to the realm of the family.
- How would you stop Sharia law being
practised in the UK?
There is one legal system in the UK. It
must be applied to all citizens equally irrespective of religions or traditions
- What code of conduct would restore
the link between the public and private morals of MPs?
It is for electors to pass judgement on
their MPs. The electors should have the power to recall MPs when things
go wrong.
Life
- What steps would you take to end abortion and the destruction of human life
through embryology and IVF?
None. I find the implicit criticism of IVF
distasteful.
- What will you do to prevent
legalisation of assisted suicide?
I cannot imagine any circumstance where
someone should be allowed to help someone end their life without facing the
law. I can understand that a jury and judge, hearing the circumstances of an
individual death might be moved to mercy. Conversely, where a court hears of
greed as a motive in assisting a death, the court would impose punishment. The
key is to keep the situation where a jury could ultimately examine the facts
and come to a judgement.
In my own family, my father had a series of mini-strokes that left him
unmanned; happily he was put onto suitable medications and returned to us with
full faculties. I fear a future where, had he signed a 'living will', a doctor
might suggest that a patient had indicated a wish to die and be unprepared to
prescribe expensive drugs.
- Would you work to reverse the law
that allows the creation of ‘three-parent’ children?
No
Thank you for taking the time to respond. If you have any questions for me
please don't hesitate to contact me. As I said above, I'd very much appreciate
an early response.
You and I may share many values and
disagree on others. Your values are important to you as my values are important
to me. Clearly we will differ on some aspects but I hope that all in our
community can respect each others values and find common ground to make life
better for all
If you would like more information about issues of concern to Christians at
this election You might try www.election2015.org.uk
Yours sincerely,
Rev. Keith Waters
9 Thirlby Gardens
Ely CB6 1EA
Green Party
Dear Mr Semmens,
I’m writing to all of the candidates in my area to help me and my congregation
decide how to vote in the election. Firstly I would like to thank you for being
willing to stand for public office, and assure you that if you are successful
you will be supported in prayer.
I would be grateful for your answers to the questions below. Ideally
within day or so, because I intend to publish these to all of my
congregation and other local churches. No response will assume lack of interest
in the Christian vote.:
Family
- How should government promote a married mum and dad as the normal basis for
family?
I
don't think it needs to promote it; it is the norm. The subtext of this
question is presumably that the government should deprecate any other basis,
and I think that would be a very bad idea: other arrangements exist, whether we
like it or not, and it would be unfair to the children involved to portray
their families as second grade.
- Would you support the reversal of the same-sex ‘marriage’ law?
No.
- Do you oppose the introduction of sex education in primary
schools?
No.
Liberty
- Are you aware of challenges faced by Christians in the workplace? What steps
would you take in response?
I'm
aware of the challenges faced by Muslims, Hindus, Jews, atheists etc. in the
workplace too. I'm against any kind of discrimination on specious grounds. I
don't think legislation - beyond what we have already - can really help much.
What really can help is open discussion of the issues, to which I will continue
to contribute - obviously with more effect if I'm elected to parliament.
- Would you back new laws to protect freedom of conscience and
freedom of religion?
Again,
I don't think new laws are necessary. I can see a subtext here again - with
which I do NOT agree.
- How would you protect the freedom of Christian parents to
bring up their children in line with their faith and to opt out of sex
education in schools?
I
wouldn't, unless there is provision to ensure that alternative arrangements are
made for the children's education on sex and relationships. Simply ignoring sex
and relationship education is a recipe for BIG problems.
Foundations
- What influence does Jesus Christ have on your own life?
Obviously
I'm familiar with the story of Jesus Christ, and I think very highly of his
teachings.
- How would you stop the ‘British Values’ drive being used to
penalise Christian-based schools?
- How would you stop Sharia law being
practised in the UK?
Some
of its practices (such as stoning to death for adultery) are already illegal in
this country. Such of its practices that are not illegal here generally don't
need to be stopped - there may be a few individual practices that are
undesirable but not currently illegal, but they need to be considered
individually. Some of its practices (such as prohibition of charging interest,
a policy of which Jesus Christ would obviously have approved) would be a very
positive contribution to our body of law.
- What code of conduct would restore the link between the public
and private morals of MPs?
An
expectation of integrity would be a marvellous thing. How to achieve this I
don't know. Our media could help enormously, but their work in this respect is
very erratic. Political interference in the media is itself fraught with
difficulties, of course.
Life
- What steps would you take to end abortion and the destruction of human life
through embryology and IVF?
Sex
education would help a lot to reduce the demand for abortions. I wouldn't
attempt to end abortion completely. Embryology and IVF don't destroy human
life: quite the reverse, they enable parents to have children who might
otherwise be unable to.
- What will you do to prevent legalisation of assisted suicide?
Nothing.
I would require very strong safeguards to ensure that this didn't form the top
of a slippery slope to euthanasia however.
- Would you work to reverse the law that allows the creation of
‘three-parent’ children
No,
although I'd like to see a moratorium on it until further work has been done.
Whether it should then be allowed should, in my opinion, depend on the results
of that work - not only on the biological and genetic safety of the technique,
but on the psychology and social psychology involved.
Thank you for taking the time to respond.
If you have any questions for me please don't hesitate to contact me. As I said
above, I'd very much appreciate an early response.
If you would like more information about issues of concern to Christians at
this election You might try www.election2015.org.uk
Yours sincerely,
Rev. Keith Waters
9 Thirlby Gardens
Ely CB6 1EA
