Rapid reading summary including reports on – Right to wear a cross; Chuurches reaction to government’s intent to legalise gay marriage
Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu attacks Government over right to wear cross
Telegraph – Dr John Sentamu hit out at “meddling” after it emerged that ministers were fighting a case brought by two women at the European Court of Human Rights.
The pair, Nadia Eweida and Shirley Chaplin, claim that they were discriminated against when their employers barred them from wearing the symbol.
Mrs Eweida’s case dates from 2006 when she was suspended by British Airways for breaching BA’s uniform code.
Mrs Chaplin was barred from working on wards by Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust after refusing to hide the cross she wore on a necklace chain.
Lawyers for the two women claim that the protection under Article Nine of the Human Rights Act for “manifesting” religion covers things that are not a “requirement of the faith”.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9136641/Archbishop-of-York-Dr-John-Sentamu-attacks-Government-over-right-to-wear-cross.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#disqus_thread
Christians have no right to wear cross at work, says Government
Telegraph – Christians do not have a right to wear a cross or crucifix openly at work, the Government is to argue in a landmark court case. In a highly significant move, ministers will fight a case at the European Court of Human Rights in which two British women will seek to establish their right to display the cross.
It is the first time that the Government has been forced to state whether it backs the right of Christians to wear the symbol at work.
A document seen by The Sunday Telegraph discloses that ministers will argue that because it is not a “requirement” of the Christian faith, employers can ban the wearing of the cross and sack workers who insist on doing so.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9136191/Christians-have-no-right-to-wear-cross-at-work-says-Government.html
It’s a huge mistake to forbid a tiny act of Christian worship – Boris Johnston on this issue
Telegraph – The right of Nadia Eweida to wear a crucifix is unassailable and must be upheld, writes
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/borisjohnson/9137523/Its-a-huge-mistake-to-forbid-a-tiny-act-of-Christian-worship.html
Government’s legal fight against the right to wear a cross at work brings accusations it is ’sidelining Christianity’
Mailonline – The Government was last night accused of ‘sidelining’ Christianity for preparing a legal fight against believers having the right to wear the cross at work.
In a move branded ‘extraordinary’ by Christian groups, the Government was reported to be ready to argue against two British women at the European Court of Human Rights.
It is set to defend the right of employers to ban the cross as it is not a ‘requirement’ of the Christian faith to wear it. Bosses could then sack workers who insisted on wearing the symbol.
The move would potentially scupper the case being brought by two Christian women, Nadia Eweida and Shirley Chaplin, who claim they were discriminated against when their employers stopped them wearing crosses.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2113304/Governments-legal-fight-AGAINST-right-wear-cross-work-brings-accusations-sidelining-Christianity.html
Catholic gay marriage anger grows
BBC – Roman Catholics in England and Wales are being urged to stop same-sex marriages in a letter from senior archbishops being read in 2,500 parish churches.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17329902
Legalising gay marriage unjustified, say archbishops
Guardian – Archbishop of York and two Catholic archbishops say that move would be a dangerous and unjustified change in the law. Some of the most senior bishops in the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches in Britain have united to warn that legalising gay marriage would be a dangerous and unjustified change in the law.The archbishop of York, John Sentamu, said on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “I happen to believe that to change the law in the end would be forcing an unjustified change.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/11/legalising-gay-marriage-unjustified-archbishops