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Football, Free Speech and the Archbishop of York

February 3, 2012 5:15 PM
By Brian Lomax OBE

Dr. John Sentamu after his enthronement as Archbishop of YorkAs a leisure and competitive activity, football is fair game for LGBT LibDem campaigning; but the Archbishop of York is not. Does this campaign not understand that attacking his right to state his sincere views is a threat to religious freedom and freedom of conscience, and therefore falls foul of the LGBT's own critique?

As Liberals, we should always defend religious and political freedom of expression as strenuously as sexual freedom. Otherwise we just become an illiberal mafia ourselves. Remember Robespiere:- "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".

Cllr Brian Lomax OBE

Philip Bromhall writes

Football, Free Speech and the Archbishop of York.

Cllr Lomax puts it quite succinctly although I believe it was Voltaire rather than Robespierre he quoted. The criticism of the Achbishop of York came over as an intolerant rant designed to stifle anyone elses views as having no possible value. Hardly a liberal view. I doubt John Stuart Mill would have approved.

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