Post by Paddy by Grace on Dec 24, 2009 17:04:10 GMT -7
Minister predicts legal battles between churches and atheists over Equality Bill
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/6840843/Minister-predicts-legal-battles-between-churches-and-atheists-over-Equality-Bill.html
Michael Foster, the minister for equality, admitted that the controversial legislation could trigger the launch of religious and sexual discrimination cases against Christian denominations.
He said churches should be prepared to defend their traditions from secularists who may seek to challenge them.
Asked at a briefing of the religious press whether he thought the single equality bill, currently going through the House of Lords, would lead to legal action between churches and atheists, Mr Foster replied: “Both need to be lining up their lawyers by now.
“The secularists should have the right to challenge the church and if the church’s argument is good enough – which I believe it is – then the church should win through.
“Government is used to the fact that its legislation should be challenged in the courts. People feel very strongly about these issues. We can’t do anything about this and we wouldn’t want to.”
He added: “I would like to see the churches being more bold. I would like to see the faith groups stand up and be counted for what they think and to challenge secularism, if that’s what they want to challenge.”
The Bill, drafted by Harriet Harman, is being promoted as a way of consolidating earlier anti-discrimination legislation into a single law.
Faith groups believe it will reduce the control they have over who to employ, although Mr Foster insists their fears are “wrong”.
Roman Catholic bishops say they will be open to prosecution if – as their faith requires - they reject women, married men, homosexuals in civil partnerships or transsexuals as candidates for the priesthood.
Conservative peer Baroness O'Cathain, an Evangelical Christian, told the Lords this week that “for Christian freedom” the Equality Bill was the “single most damaging Bill to come before the House in my 18 years as a Member”.
Baroness Cumberlege, a Catholic former Conservative minister, questioned why the Bill was being pushed through the Lords in four days when the Government’s own whips had recommended at least eight days to scrutinise its provisions.
Neil Addison, a barrister and expert in religious discrimination law, said it was “completely misleading and untrue” for the Government to claim that the Bill simply consolidates existing law.
“The trouble is that the Government is passing vague legislation and then saying 'well, the courts will sort it out'," he added.
“But the law should be as certain as possible. Courts should not become the arena in which these issues are fought out.”
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/6840843/Minister-predicts-legal-battles-between-churches-and-atheists-over-Equality-Bill.html
Michael Foster, the minister for equality, admitted that the controversial legislation could trigger the launch of religious and sexual discrimination cases against Christian denominations.
He said churches should be prepared to defend their traditions from secularists who may seek to challenge them.
Asked at a briefing of the religious press whether he thought the single equality bill, currently going through the House of Lords, would lead to legal action between churches and atheists, Mr Foster replied: “Both need to be lining up their lawyers by now.
“The secularists should have the right to challenge the church and if the church’s argument is good enough – which I believe it is – then the church should win through.
“Government is used to the fact that its legislation should be challenged in the courts. People feel very strongly about these issues. We can’t do anything about this and we wouldn’t want to.”
He added: “I would like to see the churches being more bold. I would like to see the faith groups stand up and be counted for what they think and to challenge secularism, if that’s what they want to challenge.”
The Bill, drafted by Harriet Harman, is being promoted as a way of consolidating earlier anti-discrimination legislation into a single law.
Faith groups believe it will reduce the control they have over who to employ, although Mr Foster insists their fears are “wrong”.
Roman Catholic bishops say they will be open to prosecution if – as their faith requires - they reject women, married men, homosexuals in civil partnerships or transsexuals as candidates for the priesthood.
Conservative peer Baroness O'Cathain, an Evangelical Christian, told the Lords this week that “for Christian freedom” the Equality Bill was the “single most damaging Bill to come before the House in my 18 years as a Member”.
Baroness Cumberlege, a Catholic former Conservative minister, questioned why the Bill was being pushed through the Lords in four days when the Government’s own whips had recommended at least eight days to scrutinise its provisions.
Neil Addison, a barrister and expert in religious discrimination law, said it was “completely misleading and untrue” for the Government to claim that the Bill simply consolidates existing law.
“The trouble is that the Government is passing vague legislation and then saying 'well, the courts will sort it out'," he added.
“But the law should be as certain as possible. Courts should not become the arena in which these issues are fought out.”