Crucifix law hits 'right balance'
A Cabinet minister has insisted the Government was right to contest a European legal challenge over religious freedom after four British Christians, including an Exeter nurse, took their fight to the European Court of Human Rights.
The four claim they were discriminated against because of their faith but Commons Leader Andrew Lansley said current laws "strike the right balance" and losing the cases would mean new restrictions on employers.
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Shirley Chaplin
The court in Strasbourg, France, heard the cases of two workers forced out of their jobs after visibly wearing crosses, a Relate therapist sacked for saying he might not be comfortable giving sex counselling to homosexual couples, and a Christian registrar who wishes not to conduct civil partnership ceremonies. They argue the actions of their employers contravened articles nine and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibit religious discrimination and allow "freedom of thought, conscience and religion".
One of the cases heard was that of Nurse Shirley Chaplin, from Exeter, who was moved to a paperwork role by the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust after refusing to remove a necklace bearing a crucifix.
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The Strasbourg court, which heard the case on Tuesday, has reserved its judgment to a date yet to be set.
Comments
by JohnnyDale
Monday, September 10 2012, 12:30PM
“Once again you report this in a biased way. You state :
"One of the cases heard was that of Nurse Shirley Chaplin, from Exeter, who was moved to a paperwork role by the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust after refusing to remove a necklace bearing a crucifix."
The truth is that the last three words are not required. She refused to remove a necklace. Anything that was hanging from it is irrelevant, as all staff (regardless of any religious affiliation) were informed that necklaces could not be worn. This woman just thinks that she can flout any rule she doesn't like simply by virtue of her membership of a religion. When told that she was perfectly free to wear a cross as a brooch etc she refused.”