Plymouth MP says Christianity is being marginalised and overlooked
Christianity is increasingly seen as a “private activity” because religious belief is being “squeezed out” of public life, an inquiry has found.
The MP-led Clearing the Ground inquiry has warned that equality legislation is putting the rights of others above Christians.
The cross-party group Christians in Parliament, which is headed by Gary Streeter, MP for South West Devon, was set up last year amid controversy over religious freedoms.
Controversial cases including wearing a cross at work through to refusing to conducting same-sex civil partnership ceremonies.
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Its final report, published yesterday, found there is a “legal and cultural problem” where courts have “created
a hierarchy of rights” and companies, institutions and government “do not take sufficient action” to accommodate religious belief.
The committee of the inquiry took evidence from more than 50, mostly Christian, organisations.
In its findings, the inquiry blamed recent legislation for generating, rather than reducing, social tensions.
Its report highlighted “fundamental problems” with the 2010 Equality Act, and “failures” of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to adequately represent or protect religion, while “privileging the rights of other groups”.
It concluded: “The problems that Christians face are far from universal, but they do represent a trend towards a reduction in the space given to belief in public life. As a result this leads to an assumption that religious belief should be a private activity.”
Mr Streeter, who chaired the inquiry, said: “Of course Christians should obey the law, but the law should reflect the positive contribution the Christian faith has made to the heritage of this country and also respect the sincerely held beliefs of mainstream Christians.
“Our report indicates how this delicate circle can be better squared.”
Its recommendations include looking at the introduction of statutory guidelines for “reasonable accommodation” of religious belief among employers and services.
The report also calls for more public education about religion, better guidance for local authorities and a shake-up of the EHRC.
The Westcountry has witnessed a series of high-profile cases, including Christian guesthouse owners Peter and Hazelmary Bull who refused to allow a gay couple to stay in a double-bedded room in West Cornwall.
This month, the High Court also upheld objections to formal prayers at Bideford Town Council, Devon.
Comments
by raglanron1
Wednesday, March 27 2013, 8:57PM
“I fully support all that is said in this report. The belief in a God greater than ourselves whom we have to trust is my way. The idea that we are in 'control' of our lives belies that faith. We need to love our neighbours as ourselves and above all God.”
by Matt2112
Monday, January 28 2013, 4:17PM
“Just what I was thinking Puzzled, either the Herald are just lazy or there's some bias going on.
Also, just to reference the poll that's attached to this article on the main page, I think it's inherently flawed.
"Is Christianity marginalised and excluded from equality legislation?"
The poll results are currently slightly in favour of YES.
I think this is true, of course it's marginalised and excluded from equality legislation.
I also think that this is RIGHT.
Religious beliefs SHOULD be QUESTIONED, constantly. To take them for granted runs the risk of going the same way as the middle east and sharia law, of becoming a theocracy.
Religious beliefs also should NOT supersede the equal treatment of ANY other minority. Your personal religion is a conscious choice and not an inherent right, certainly not an excuse for anyone to discriminate again other religions, other races, women or homosexuals. To discrimination against races, sex or sexuality is reprehensible as these traits are not a choice. To discriminate against other religions is intellectually dishonest, their beliefs, however ludicrous they sound to you, are no less absurd than your own.
To conclude, the poll is flawed, because everyobody should be voting YES.
Christianity IS being marginalised and that's a GOOD THING.”
by puzzled1
Monday, December 31 2012, 11:22PM
“Why has this been on the front page of the herald site since February?”
by Molochius
Tuesday, November 27 2012, 7:30PM
“Gary streeters a christian fundamentalist who shouldn't be in a position of power in the first place, state and religion should never mix, look at the messes it causes in the us to see what the results of that can be! And I agree with the comment below a fair inquiry this was not!”
by fwancis
Wednesday, July 25 2012, 12:39AM
“Its a tough world Mr Streeter, but remember where would an easy life have gotten your Messiah? Probably knocking out Trirems in a dockyard for the romans, until obscure death as a Hebrew.
Please embrace the hard life you as a christian face, along with the homeless, unemployed, gay, sexually discriminated against, young party goers, drinkers, drivers, minimum waged members of your constituency.”
by niugnepyzarc
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 8:21AM
“This is merely society progressing, religion is an outdated concept that causes nothing but trouble when colliding with the modern world, it holds us back and keeps predjudice that should have been wiped out long ago going.
I did have a little laugh at the following quote from the article
`Its final report, published yesterday, found there is a "legal and cultural problem" where courts have "created
a hierarchy of rights" and companies, institutions and government "do not take sufficient action" to accommodate religious belief.
The committee of the inquiry took evidence from more than 50, mostly Christian, organisations`
so the comittee took evidence from majority christian organisations......yes tottaly going to be unbiased then isnt it? muppets! lol”
by Sahuagin
Tuesday, March 27 2012, 1:53PM
“I am a devout atheist and yet even I get annoyed by this.
I see councils and government bending over backwards to make the various non-Christian worshippers happy, be it banning the word Christmas or allowing them to cover their faces in positions of trust (which defies that very position in my eyes) and yet Christians are not allowed to wear crosses to work?
Something is very wrong there!”
by circles1
Friday, March 16 2012, 4:13AM
“i just wish all doctrines just go away,pointless pointless spiteful nasty”
by MagicalOne
Friday, March 16 2012, 12:06AM
“If Christianity is becoming marginilised it is because of it's intransigence and inability to keep pace with human evolution and our society which reflects it . what one calls an "OWN GOAL" they have brought this on themselves , so exclusive there is hardly anyone left to support their outdated doctrines , prejudice and discrimination. will the last person leaving the church please turn out the lights , we don't want to waste energy.”
by crazypenguin
Thursday, March 15 2012, 10:46PM
“exactly timplymouth, maybe the christians want to stop whining about discrimination etc while so many of there ministers seem to be rallying against things like gay marriage etc so publicly at the moment because to be honest it just makes them look completly hypocritical and idiotic.”