Faith leaders’ register ‘would harm religious freedom’

Prominent Christians have condemned counter-terrorism proposals that would force priests and other religious leaders to enrol on a national register.

The Conservative MP for north-east Somerset, Jacob Rees-Mogg, said that the plans, contained in a draft of the Home Office’s counter-terrorism strategy document leaked to The Sunday Telegraph, could have implications for religious freedom and for freedom of speech.

Mr Rees-Mogg, a Catholic, told The Tablet that it was not the role of the state to register religious leaders and warned that a lack of clarity over what defined extremism could lead to restrictions on Catholic teaching.

Likewise, there could be confusion as to who was required to register. “If the Holy Father was to visit the UK, would he be required to register?” he asked.

If the proposals go ahead, priests, imams, rabbis and other religious figures will be required to enrol in a national register of faith leaders, which will be maintained by the faiths themselves. The leaders will be subject to a minimum level of training and checks specified by the Government.

The strategy, which is due to be published this autumn, is part of an attempt to crack down on religious extremism. The document strongly criticises the police response to the so-called “Trojan Horse” plot by Islamist extremists to take control of schools in Birmingham. The leaked draft states that faith leaders who wish to work in the public sector, including universities and schools, will be required to register.

Most faith leaders in the country will be affected. Nick Spencer, research director of the religion and society think tank, Theos, said that he recognised that the state wanted to keep tabs on a small minority of hate preachers, but described the alleged strategy as “something of a sledgehammer to crack a very small nut”. He said the concept of an enforced register was excessive and marked a significant move in the state’s involvement in religion. “For centuries, religious bodies have been autonomous and have not needed the state’s permission to exist,” he pointed out.

The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales said it would not comment on leaked documents, but a former general secretary, Mgr Andrew Summerskill, pointed out that most religious leaders would not be keen to associate themselves with the Government’s anti-­terrorism measures.

He also said that religion and the state should be working together in tackling problems, not against each other.   

A spokesman for the Home Office said that it would not comment on leaked documents.