HSLD responds to Tim Farron's comments on advertising of faith-based healing

Humanist & Secularist Liberal Democrats welcome Party President Tim Farron's clarification on his participation in the cross party letter from the All Party Christians in Parliament group to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). He acknowledges that the letter is poorly worded, but reasserts its central point that the ASA should not intervene when a religious organization makes faith based claims about the power of prayer.

We disagree strongly with the assertion that claims of healing through prayer should be exempt from the regulation that applies to advertising of medicines and other healing practices.

However the letter is clearly signed by Tim as a Christian MP and not in his capacity as president of the party. That being the case he is entitled to express his beliefs, and retains our support as Party President.

Toby Keynes, Chair

You can find the All Party Christians in Parliament group letter at: http://www.totalpolitics.com/blog/314662/mps-try-to-overturn-and39god-can-healand39-ad-ban.thtml

Tim Farron's clarification is at: http://www.libdemvoice.org/tim-farron-mp-writes-the-asa-and-me-a-response-27864.html