THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND this week indicated that it is willing to see ancient blasphemy laws eradicated after the Government announced a review of current legislation.
Following a cross-party attempt by MPs to abolish legal protections for the Anglican faith the Church of England said it was open to the idea of reform.
The move to table amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill, led by the Liberal Democrat Evan Harris, has been backed by Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Harries, a former Bishop of Oxford. The campaign is also supported by Phillip Pullman, the author of the antiCatholic His Dark Materials trilogy, historian David Starkey and the atheist and Oxford academic Richard Dawkins.
During the debate Dr Hanis described the laws as "ancient, discriminatory, unnecessary, illiberal and non-human rights compliant". adding that "the Almighty does not need the protection of these laws-.