Censorship ... continued

WHAT IS BLASPHEMY? - The legal position.

In the official Report of the House of Lords dated 23rd February 1978 (Col. 302), Blasphemy was defined as follows:- "Blasphemy is any writing about God, Christ or the Christian religion or some sacred subject in words which are so scurrilous, abusive or offensive, that if they are published, would tend to vilify the Christian religion and lead to a breach of the peace"

In Sir James Fitzjames Stephen's Digest of Criminal Law, Blasphemy is further described as "Any contemptuous, reviling, scurrilous or ludicrous matter relating to God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, or the Formularies of the Church of England by Law established". Stephen does add however that it is not blasphemous to speak or publish opinions hostile to the Christian religion or to deny the existence of God if it is couched in decent and temperate language.

The Colville commmittee has been looking at the Law of Blasphemy, and have come to no definite conclusion, except admitting the possibilty of three Options.

    1) To retain the status quo.

    2) To expand it to include other religions, or

    3) To abolish it altogether. It will now be for the Government to debate and decide the issue.