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| Britain | |
| British Act Would Force 'Equality' Over All Religions And Businesses | |
| 2010-01-10 | |
| A new report by the leading charity -- backed by a legal opinion from a leading QC -- says the Bill will make it impossible for all churches and faith-based charities to insist that their senior staff lead private lives in accordance with their religious beliefs. CARE said that, under the Bill, which will be considered by the House of Lords on Monday, it would be illegal for a Christian charity to sack a senior manager for adultery or living an openly gay lifestyle. The same rules would, it added, apply to Muslim and Jewish churches and charities.
Previous legislation in 2007, also backed by Ms Harman, the Commons Leader and equality minister, forced the closure of two Catholic adoption agencies for refusing to comply with new laws requiring them to place children with gay couples. CARE's report -- A Little Bit Against Discrimination? -- warns that the proposals contained in the Bill are a serious threat to religious liberty in Britain. John Bowers QC said in a legal opinion for CARE that the Bill could make it unlawful for a church to require a priest or minister to be male, celibate and unmarried, or not in a civil partnership. When the Bill, which aims to wrap up all existing equality legislation in one piece of law, was debated in the Commons, ministers MPs tabled more than 100 amendments to it -- but ministers imposed a "guillotine" on the Bill and prevented most of them being discussed. The report's author, Dr Daniel Boucher, said: ''The Equality Bill is a direct assault on the freedom of all faith-based organisations, from churches to charities. This Bill will make it unlawful for those organisations to employ people who are committed to a particular set of religious beliefs. "This Bill in its current form is a further blow to the faith-based voluntary sector and will leave many people unable to access services they always have. "This legislation must be revised to recognise our plural society. It must recognise that there are many people in our country who have deeply held religious views and convictions, rather than trying to impose some modern day Stalinistic version of society where there is only ever one view that is right, the Government's." Overall, the Bill is designed to deliver greater equality between people of different gender, race, religion and class. However, it has attracted criticism, particularly from businesses. It paves the way for 'gender pay audits' in large companies, obliging employers to disclose the average hourly pay they award male and female workers. The planned legislation would also allow employers to give preference to female or non-white job applicants over equally qualified white men. Public bodies would have a legal duty to narrow the gap between the rich and poor in the provision of services. For example, local authorities would be expected to do more to help children from poorer backgrounds. If passed, the Bill could also oblige public sector bodies to consider the "gender balance" among employees of companies bidding for all government contracts. | |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |
| #6 Two Rods: Female Imam. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2010-01-10 17:33 |
| #5 Call this Dhimmitude to the Religion of Political Correctness. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2010-01-10 17:06 |
| #4 Zhang Fei, I'm sure that Muslims will be exempt from this law because it would offend their sensibilities. And we all know what happens when you offend the sensibilities of Muslims - rioting, bombings, etc. Of course, it will also offend the sensibilities of other religions, but we all know what happens when you offend the sensibilities of other religions - nothing. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2010-01-10 16:02 |
| #3 This is a wonderful idea - I look forward to an era of Lutheran imams and Muslim lamas. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2010-01-10 13:43 |
| #2 Next up, Hive Mind Law, erquires everyone to think what the Government tells you to, for "greatre equality". Britain is becoming Terry Gilliam's Brazil. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2010-01-10 13:08 |
| #1 "Overall, the Bill is designed to deliver greater equality between people of different gender, race, religion and class." Assuming this would apply to, e.g, the NHS; there are a disproportionate number of people of Asian ethnicities in the health services. I assume there would be a cull of brown skinned doctors, however well qualified and competent they may be. Also, I assume we could look forward to more white sprinters in the British Olympic team. In fact, a racially representative British team probably wouldn't have any black runners in most events. Also, about 49% of midwives need to be male... |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2010-01-10 13:07 |