The Public Benefit Debate - what about religion?

My main focus in this blog will be on philanthropy and social justice/social change, with an emphasis on the UK. (But I may from time to time allow myself to stray into other fields and areas…)

I’m writing this first instalment on the day when the Charity Commission is all over the media talking about public benefit. They are getting excited about public schools, but I think the future of religious charities is much more interesting. I’ve never understood why ‘the advancement of religion’ continues to be a charitable object. The public benefit test is to apply to charities under this head too, but the reaction of some of the religious charities suggests that they are confident of finding a way round it - the Evangelical Alliance is convinced that there is ‘ready acceptance that religion generally contributes to social and spiritual wellbeing’ which begs a few questions.

But the Commission is evidently afraid to get to grips with the major issue. Its new guidance emphasises that ‘it is not within the Charity Commission’s remit to look into traditional, long-held religious beliefs or to seek to modernise them’ though one might have thought that given a) its commitment to take into account ‘any detriment or harm that might arise from the particular organisation carrying out its aims’; b) the fact that ‘Where benefit is to a section of the public, the opportunity to benefit must not be unreasonably restricted’ ; and c) that the advancement of science is also a charitable object, there really is quite a bit for the Commission to get to grips with.

Actually, most people have forgotten now, but a former Commissioner, Robin Guthrie (not the one from the Cocteau Twins …) did indeed dare to ask the fundamental question about religion and charitable status. Robin and I were never the best of friends, but he was brave to raise the issue when he did (in the late 1980’s as I recall). Maybe once Dame Suzi has sorted out the public schools, she should send for Guthrie’s files…