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There is an unconnected organisation called Christian Voice in the USA.

Christian Voice, formerly known as Repent UK, is a religiously motivated pressure group based in the UK.

The group states it is striving, through prayer and public campaigning, for 'national repentance' stating "We must also pray that God will raise up men like John Knox and John Wesley in Britain today to call this nation to repentance"^[1] and "Blessed is that nation, whose God is the Lord." ^[2]

The group is led by and notably organised by National Director Stephen Green (a former Chairman of the Conservative Family Campaign), with Lord Ashbourne as its patron. Green is also the groups spokesperson and primary source for group output.

The group has often been controversial, and has been criticised by both secular and christian figures. John Cryer MP, called them "fundamentalist thugs" whilst the moderator of the United Reformed Church called them "a disgrace".^[3]

Contents 1 Views 2 Controversy 2.1 Jerry Springer: The Opera 2.2 Maggie's Centres 2.3 Homophobia and transphobia 2.4 Views on abortion 2.5 Views on Islam 3 Other 4 Media coverage 5 References 6 External links

Christian Voice claims that older, more traditional society created a more stable, safe, 'God-fearing', and wealthier lifestyle for rural Middle England. They oppose many aspects of twenty-first century British society, such as abortion,^[4] acceptance of homosexuality^[5][6] and no-fault divorce^[7] and call on the monarch to base British law on the Bible.^[8] For example, they object to the proposals to end the practice of male-preference primogeniture for the succession to the Crown of the United Kingdom.^[9] They advocate British withdrawal from the European Union, claiming that British membership of the EU prevents the Queen from exercising her coronation oath in which she pledged to 'maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel'^[10]

Christian Voice strongly opposes 'safer sex' education, claiming that condoms provide incomplete protection against sexually transmitted infections^[11] and believing that the availability of contraceptives encourages promiscuity.^[12] Christian Voice believes in restorative justice, and also the reintroduction of the death penalty for murder.^[13]

Membership details for Christian Voice are uncertain as the organisation is unwilling to provide information on numbers.^{[citation needed]}

Christian Voice was behind much of the controversy in the UK surrounding Jerry Springer: The Opera and a transmission of a performance by the BBC in 2005. The group claimed that the production was blasphemous in its depiction of religious figures such as Jesus, Mary and God. The group maintained a presence outside the Cambridge Theatre in London where it ran, attending on the last four weekends giving out evangelistic leaflets.^{[citation needed]}

Christian Voice started a campaign for people to send complaints to the BBC and published the home addresses and telephone numbers of several BBC executives on their web site, including Jana Bennett (Director of Television) and Roly Keating (Controller of BBC Two). Mr Keating subsequently received death threats.^[14] In recent times, more UK theatres signed up to host Jerry Springer: The Opera due to popularity and enthusiasm from the public.^{[citation needed]}

On 2007-01-08, submissions were made on behalf of Stephen Green at Horseferry Road Magistrates Court to pursue private prosecutions for blasphemy against the Director General of the BBC Mark Thompson and the show's producer.^[15] A summons was refused on 2007-01-30 due to lack of prima facie evidence that a crime had been committed, and the provisions of the 1968 Theatres Act (which enshrines the right of free expression in theatrical works).^[16] An appeal to the High Court was dismissed on 2007-12-05.^[17]

Stewart Lee, one of the writers on the production called the protesters "idiots" and said that he wouldn't work on a controversial religious show again. "I'd never become involved to such a degree on something on such a big scale if there was the possibility of it being effectively closed down like this." he added in a speech to Index On Censorship. [10]

The group has been criticised for its role in causing a cancer charity, Maggie's Centres, to decline a four-figure donation that came 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. A statement by Maggie's claims that Christian Voice had threatened to picket their centres and that the action by Christian Voice would be "effectively blocking our work"[11].

The group has been involved in a number of campaigns against the Gay Police Association (GPA). Christian Voice are opposed to police officers participating in gay pride marches, and in 2003 wrote to the Chief Constable of every force which allowed its officers to march in uniform at Pride events. The organisation published the replies on its website.^[18] They included:

"For your information, I have not allowed my officers to attend this event on 26 July 2003 for the simple reason that I believe that uniform should only be worn when on duty. As a lifelong practicing Catholic... I must advise you that I find your views morally offensive and totally reprehensible and I would be grateful if you would cease any further communication with me." Mr Terence Grange, Chief Constable, Dyfed-Powys Police.

And:

"Owing to the unreasonable, inaccurate, and abusive nature of your letters, I am afraid I am unable to provide you with a comprehensive response. Your voice is not Christian." Clive Wolfendale, Assistant Chief Constable for Mr Richard Brunstrom, Chief Constable, North Wales Police.

Christian Voice believes that homosexuality is an objective psychological disorder and treatable, and encourages lesbians, bisexuals and gay men to contact "ex-gay" organisations. (This belief is unsupported by the medical establishment^[19].) For the past 2 years, a small group led by Stephen Green have held protests during London's Pride Parade.

Christian Voice have also campaigned against gender recognition legislation, in accordance with their belief that gender reassignment surgery represents unacceptable interference with the human body as God's creation. They state that people who identify as transsexuals suffer from psychological disorders and imply that they have been abused and neglected as children.^[20]

Christian Voice has been the subject of criticism over its stance on abortion. The group claims to draw on both the Bible and modern medical knowledge in regarding abortion as the wilful murder of a living human being and comparing it to the Nazi genocide. It calls on the church to offer 'hospitality' to women who allegedly feel pressured into having an abortion, and has stated an intention to hold vigils outside abortion clinics to pray for those entering. It often undertakes actions together with the controversial pressure group UK Life League.

"... in the Qu'ran, Allah denies the Crucifixion and denies that Jesus Christ ever was and is the Son of God. Whoever it is that Muslims worship, he sure is not the God whom Jews and Christians acknowledge as the Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth."^[21] Green has also stated that Christian Voice will attempt to use racial and religious hatred laws in an attempt to ban the Qur'an, commenting to The Guardian: "If the Qur'an is not hate speech, I don't know what is. We will report staff who sell it. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that unbelievers must be killed."^[22]

On 24 June 2005, Christian Voice's bankers, the Co-operative Bank, told the organisation to take its account elsewhere as Christian Voice's homophobic stance was in conflict with the bank's policy of support for diversity. In response, Christian Voice have issued a statement calling for Christians to boycott the Co-operative Bank.^[23]

Shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in August 2005 killing over 1600 residents, Green issued a statement claiming that this was the result of God's wrath and had brought "purity" to the city, even though several Bible colleges were gutted while the gay-favoured French Quarter suffered only minor wind damage and flooding.^[24]

On 2 September 2006, Green was arrested while handing out anti-homosexual leaflets at the Cardiff Mardi Gras. He was detained for four hours, and charged with public order offences which were later dropped.^[25]

In 2007, the group issued a press release dismissing as a "tarts jab" a new vaccine, Gardasil, against the human papilloma virus, which is responsible for cervical cancer amongst other illnesses.^[26]

Since attempting to censor Jerry Springer: The Opera, the group, through their "National Director", has received increased coverage in the national media, although this has not always been to their advantage. After the appearance of Green on Question Time in September 2005, the group was condemned by a number of other church bodies, including the Rev Dr David Peel, then Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church. Dr Peel said:

It is a matter of some regret that … the BBC should choose to undermine the reputation of Question Time by giving a platform to a small, self-selecting group distinguished mainly by its absurd claim to represent Christians in this country.^[27]

As a result of similar complaints from members of the public, the BBC reviewed its policies towards the group and stopped inviting it on its programmes.

• Christian Voice homepage
• Anti Christian Voice - spoof of the Christian Voice homepage
• Times Report on the Harry Hammond trial
• Radical Christians to target abortion clinics - The Sunday Times article

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