Support for Christian legal bid

Lord Carey has defended the union's statement of belief

The former Archbishop of Canterbury has given his support to the University of Exeter Christian Union.

The union is seeking a judicial review at the High Court, after it was suspended by the university's students' guild and had a bank account frozen.

The guild took action after students joining the union were required to sign a statement of religious beliefs.

Now Lord Carey has given written testimony to the High Court supporting Exeter University Christian Union.

New members are asked to sign the statement of belief in Jesus Christ as their God and saviour, but committee members and official speakers have to sign a more comprehensive document.

'Mainstream faith'

This includes a belief in the bible as the supreme authority in all matters of belief and behaviour, the virgin birth and Christ's return to execute God's condemnation on those who have not repented.

In his written testimony, Lord Carey acknowledged not all Christians would assent to either the wording or substance of the statement, but he insisted they lay within the mainstream of historic Christian faith.

The Evangelical Alliance has also backed the union, which is seeking a judicial review at the High Court under the Human Rights Act.

The student guild said the union was the only society with barriers to entry and breached Equal Opportunities policy.

The case could have implications for religious groups across the UK.

The Christian Union at the University of Birmingham faced a suspension of a bank account and exclusion from free use of student union premises, with similar action said to have been considered against unions at Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University and some London medical schools.