British Artists Seek Repeal of Blasphemy Laws

According to today's London Times, author Phillip Pullman and director of the National Theatre, Nicholas Hytner, are leading a campaign to repeal Britain's blasphemy laws which apply only to blaspemy against the Church of England. The offense of blasphemy dates back to the 1697 Blasphemy Act, and to common law principles even older than that. The law was last used in 1977 in a private suit against Denis Lemon, editor of Gay News, for publishing a poem about a gay Roman Centurion’s love for Christ. The Church of England has, in principle, agreed to repeal of blasphemy laws, but has wanted to wait until the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill was enacted. That bill has now been passed, albeit in watered-down form. (See prior related posting.)