Conservative peer Baroness Berridge used a Lords debate on the role of religion in UK society yesterday to defend the Charity Commission’s decision to refuse charitable status to the Exclusive Brethren and dismiss concerns that it represents the ‘thin end of the wedge’.
The Baroness, a former director of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, even called for a Church-led inquiry into the Brethren – a “theological and psychological inquiry perhaps chaired by a former Archbishop”.
And she announced she would be hosting an event in Parliament for former Exclusive Brethren who had been expelled or escaped from the clutches of the organisation, so that MPs could hear for themselves how it operates.
'Doctrine of separation'
She explained that she has family in the Brethren herself, so knows how they work: “They hold to the doctrine of separation, so exclusives cannot live in semi-detached houses, as they share a party wall with non-Brethren.
"They cannot eat with non-Brethren, cannot have friends with non-Brethren; they have no TV, radio, cafes, restaurants, etc. They can attend only Brethren schools and they now work only for Brethren businesses. Attending university is banned.”
She went onto give an example of a member of the Exclusive Brethren who was recently spotted going to a pub by another Brethren brother. The Church leadership took his wife and children out of his family home and forbade them from seeing him, and stopped the Brethren from doing any business with him. He has now left the Brethren, but his parents are still in, and they won’t see him.
Baroness Berridge said: “If this is Christianity, it is not as we have ever known it before. I commend the Charity Commission on seeking to deal with this Christian sect, but many who would give evidence to the First-Tier Tribunal fear the implications for families still in the Brethren. The charity Commission must ensure that victims can give evidence and tell their stories anonymously.”
Charity status of other religions 'not at risk'
She added that none of the major Church denominations are at all concerned that their own charitable status is under threat. The Commission has been quite clear that its decision on the Brethren turns on the doctrines and practices of the Brethren, she said.
“Groups about whom there is credible evidence that they harm health, split families and send no one to university can exist in a liberal society, but whether they should be charities is very much open to doubt,” she added.
“The religion and public benefit guidance needs to be clarified, but we also need clarity on the outer limits of what is acceptable behaviour for all religious groups.”
The Baroness had earlier posted a question asking how many religious organisations had successfully applied to the Commission for charity status in the past year. The answer was 1,175, with just one – the Brethren – turned down for public benefit reasons.
Tory MP calls for Commons debate in support of the Brethren
A few hours earlier, in the House of Commons, Conservative MP Peter Bone called for a debate on the Charity Commission, “with a view to reviewing the Charities Act 2006 to ensure that previously excepted religious charities, such as the Plymouth Brethren, are not threatened with the removal of their charitable status”.
Leader of the House Andrew Lansley said he would discuss the matter with the Secretary of State for Culture and added: “I have had occasion to meet, by way of example, members of the Plymouth Brethren in my constituency, who have raised these issues with me, and I will of course discuss them with my colleagues.”
