EU strips protections for employees that object to gay-marriage

The chief argument against Britain’s continued membership in the EU is related to immigration. But UK citizens had better realize that the European government in concert with its own is gradually stripping away their religious liberties as well.

The Grand Chamber of the Council of Europe has rejected a request for referral from three British Christians, prompting serious concerns over legal protections for people of faith in the UK. It means that the displaying of religious symbols and the right to opt out of religiously intolerant situations will not be protected. Lillian Ladele was claiming religious discrimination after being forced out of her Islington Council job over her conscientious objection to same-sex civil partnerships. After initial success with an employment tribunal, council managers ruled she must perform same-sex civil unions even if other employees were available to do so. Facing dismissal in 2009 she resigned. A Spokesman for the Christian Institute, who represented Ladele, said “We are disappointed that the court has refused leave to appeal, and it just confirms our fears that people with Christian beliefs about marriage will be penalised in the workplace. Human rights laws are supposed to stop the power of the state being used to penalise people for their beliefs and opinions, particularly when those beliefs challenge the prevailing orthodoxy.”

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Gary McFarlane had practised as a relationships counsellor for a number of years. Then, during a training course for a new skill, he was prompted to indicate that if the situation ever arose he might have a conscientious objection to providing sex therapy to a same-sex couple on account of his Christian faith. He did and was dismissed by his employer, counseling service ‘Relate’, for gross misconduct for discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Shirley Chaplin of Devon, a nurse, was ordered to remove a Cross that was part of a necklace she had worn to work since 1978 on health and safety grounds. The courts agreed with her employer that it posed a danger. Chaplin responded "I don't regret it. I had to stand up for my faith. I've worn it without incident, I've nursed a very wide range of patients, I've been bitten, I've been scratched, I've had computers thrown at me, but no-one has ever, ever grabbed my crucifix. To say it's a health and safety risk, I really don't agree with that at all.” She was subsequently forced to take a desk job instead. All three individuals appealed to courts in Britain without avail with the High court refusing to take any of the cases. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) then voted against them (5-2 in the Ladele case). The only successful litigant was Nadia Eweida, a British Airways employee who had been told to stop wearing her white gold cross visibly at work, it was ruled she did suffer discrimination. The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has previously sought to provide assurances by saying that the Government would protect freedom of conscience for Christians if the proposed gay-marriage in the UK Bill becomes law. Assurances to the extent that it would appeal to the (ECHR) should any legal action be brought against Christians. Today’s actions not only question that but bring into question whether those protections exist if the bill doesn’t pass. Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of the Christian Legal Centre said "The ECHR has washed its hands of these cases and said that it is down to member states to rule on these matters. The European Court has made it clear that it doesn't want to interfere. With sexual orientation a 'protected characteristic' under UK equality laws, Christians' consciences concerning marriage and sexual ethics is not protected. We have seen time and again in British courts that when they come into conflict, sexual orientation rights trump freedom of religion rights. The decision of the Grand Chamber panel shows that the European Court cannot be relied upon.” Between the British and European systems Christians are being targeted in the work place and suffering discrimination in ways that others do not. In 2010 a Muslim bus driver stopped his bus for 5 minutes while he removed his shoes, got out his prayer mat and prayed toward Mecca in front of passengers. He received only a reprimand with a ‘Transport for London’ spokesman saying “The bus company – London General – has had a word with the driver as this is not something that should be happening.” You think! A Christian would have faced probable dismissal and the EU would not have stood in the way.