Evangelical Christian groups are giving warning that Christians who say gay sex is wrong could be sent to prison for up to seven years if MPs pass a new law being debated today.

A new offence against incitement to homophobic hatred could be put before Parliament as part of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, due to receive its second reading today. Gay rights activists are calling for racial hatred law to be extended to cover “homophobic incidents”.

Colin Hart, Director of the conservative evangelical Christian Institute, said: “In a democratic society people must be free to express their beliefs without fear of censure. A homophobic hatred law would be used by those with an axe to grind against Christians to silence them. There has already been high profile cases of the police interfering with free speech and religious liberty regarding sexual ethics. People shouldn’t face prison for expressing their sincerely-held religious beliefs.”

Andrea Minichiello Williams, of the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship, said: “If such an amendment is put forward it is likely to be in the form of the existing incitement against racial hatred law. The type of actions targeted would not only be violently homophobic words, but would no doubt cover any criticism of practising homosexuality, homosexual acts and lifestyles.”

'If Church got rid of gay clergy it would collapse'

A homosexual bishop claims the Church of England would come close to dimise if it was forced to manage without gay clergy

BACKGROUND

• Gay weddings flourish in a religious stronghold

• Pope to discuss influx of Anglicans

• US Church pledges not to consecrate gay bishops

• Bishop defects to Catholic Church in gay row

BACKGROUND

• Pro-gay agenda pushes Church closer to schism

• Archbishop of Canterbury's 'secret gay communion'

• Archbishop faces clash over gay marriages of 50 priests

The group led the recent campaign against the religious hatred law, which was eventually amended to protect freedom of speech and freedom of religion and came into force at the beginning of this month.