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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Motion to end Bible oaths in court defeated | Motion to end Bible oaths in court defeated |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A proposal to end the swearing of oaths on the Bible and other holy books in courts in England and Wales has been rejected by magistrates. | A proposal to end the swearing of oaths on the Bible and other holy books in courts in England and Wales has been rejected by magistrates. |
| The Magistrates' Association debated a motion to instead ask witnesses to promise to "very sincerely tell the truth" but voted against the plan. | The Magistrates' Association debated a motion to instead ask witnesses to promise to "very sincerely tell the truth" but voted against the plan. |
| Supporters argued many people have become indifferent to the Bible. | Supporters argued many people have become indifferent to the Bible. |
| But opponents, including church leaders, believe it strengthens the value of witnesses' evidence. | But opponents, including church leaders, believe it strengthens the value of witnesses' evidence. |
| For centuries, magistrates have dispensed justice in England and Wales, and relied on the Bible to force people to tell them the truth. | For centuries, magistrates have dispensed justice in England and Wales, and relied on the Bible to force people to tell them the truth. |
| Its moral force was unquestioned, placing intense pressure on witnesses to tell the truth. | Its moral force was unquestioned, placing intense pressure on witnesses to tell the truth. |
| The oath, still sworn by witnesses and defendants as they hold a holy book, has given the English language one of its most familiar sentences. | The oath, still sworn by witnesses and defendants as they hold a holy book, has given the English language one of its most familiar sentences. |
| "I swear by Almighty God [to tell] the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." | "I swear by Almighty God [to tell] the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." |
| Other faiths can take the oath on their own books - Muslims on the Koran, Jews on the Old Testament, for example. | |
| Atheists are allowed to "solemnly, sincerely and truly affirm" instead of swearing. | Atheists are allowed to "solemnly, sincerely and truly affirm" instead of swearing. |
| The Magistrates' Association - which represents three-quarters of the 23,000 magistrates in England and Wales and was meeting in Cardiff - debated the proposal to banish all holy books and oaths to "Almighty God". | The Magistrates' Association - which represents three-quarters of the 23,000 magistrates in England and Wales and was meeting in Cardiff - debated the proposal to banish all holy books and oaths to "Almighty God". |
| 'Sent to prison' | 'Sent to prison' |
| The plan was put forward by a Bristol magistrate, Ian Abrahams, who claims many people are no more likely to tell the truth after using it to swear an oath. | The plan was put forward by a Bristol magistrate, Ian Abrahams, who claims many people are no more likely to tell the truth after using it to swear an oath. |
| He believes what is needed is a greater sense of how seriously lying in court is treated. | He believes what is needed is a greater sense of how seriously lying in court is treated. |
| Mr Abrahams' alternative oath would include an acknowledgement of the duty to tell the truth. | Mr Abrahams' alternative oath would include an acknowledgement of the duty to tell the truth. |
| "I understand that if I fail to do so, I will be committing an offence for which I will be punished and may be sent to prison." | "I understand that if I fail to do so, I will be committing an offence for which I will be punished and may be sent to prison." |
| His plan was opposed by other lawyers, such as Nick Freeman, a solicitor who often represents clients in magistrates' courts. | His plan was opposed by other lawyers, such as Nick Freeman, a solicitor who often represents clients in magistrates' courts. |
| "Evidence must be strengthened if people swear on religious texts," said Mr Freeman. | "Evidence must be strengthened if people swear on religious texts," said Mr Freeman. |
| "The way you stamp out lying under oath is to punish people who do so, not to get rid of the religious oath. | "The way you stamp out lying under oath is to punish people who do so, not to get rid of the religious oath. |
| "By changing it you are depriving people with a religious faith of the chance to reinforce their evidence by swearing on their religious text." | "By changing it you are depriving people with a religious faith of the chance to reinforce their evidence by swearing on their religious text." |
| Secular promise | Secular promise |
| Church leaders have also spoken out against any change, insisting that Christian belief is still widespread and the Bible has considerable meaning for many who give evidence in court. | Church leaders have also spoken out against any change, insisting that Christian belief is still widespread and the Bible has considerable meaning for many who give evidence in court. |
| They point out that there is already a non-religious "affirmation" that can be sworn by people who choose to do so. | They point out that there is already a non-religious "affirmation" that can be sworn by people who choose to do so. |
| Earlier this year, the Guides decided to strip all religious content from the promise made by its members and replace it with an entirely secular one. | Earlier this year, the Guides decided to strip all religious content from the promise made by its members and replace it with an entirely secular one. |
| But earlier this month, the Scouts opted to keep their pledge to "do my duty to God" and simply to introduce an alternative version for non-believers. | But earlier this month, the Scouts opted to keep their pledge to "do my duty to God" and simply to introduce an alternative version for non-believers. |
| Had the motion been passed, it would probably have needed the approval of parliament to bring the change about. | Had the motion been passed, it would probably have needed the approval of parliament to bring the change about. |