JUSTICE LAWS' RULING AND THE LOSS OF A NATION'S CONSCIENCE

The Court of Appeal on Thursday April 29 2010 refused permission for Mr Mcfarlane to have his appeal against dismissal heard. A marriage guidance counsellor and Christian, Mr Mcfarlane was fired from his job for refusing to offer sex therapy to homosexuals because his Christian conscience wouldn't permit him to do so. The significance of this case could not be lost on anyone when before the ruling, Lord Carey (former Archbishop of  Canterbury), submitted a witness statement to the judge protesting against anti Christian judgments being handed down the English courts. The ruling therefore has wider implications as it suggests that non-Christian conscience has protection in law but Christian conscience has none.

Gerald Warmer writing for the Telegraph makes the following observation:

Lord Justice Laws, in his judgement, made a number of statements that raise serious questions of public concern. The first is his interpretation of the nature and character of English law. He claimed that to give one religion protection over any other, “however long its tradition, however rich its culture, is deeply unprincipled”. How is that view compatible with the Queen’s Coronation Oath, the Act of Settlement and the Establishment of the Church of England? Our head of state is inaugurated by being anointed by an Archbishop: this is a constitutionally Christian country. The Act of Settlement is the nearest thing we possess to a written constitution, which is why informed Catholics who object to its discriminatory provisions are careful to demand amendment and not “repeal”, which would leave a black hole in the British constitution ... This case is not only about Christianity, or even religion, but about conscience . . .Any civilised society respects conscience. In wartime we do not shoot conscientious objectors, who might well be atheists: we assign them to non-combatant duties. Telegraph.co.uk

Justice Laws' ruling is at variance with Sir Michael Burton's ruling on a case in November 2009, where Tim Nicholson an executive was given the right to appeal against his dismissal for his 'green' views. the judge ruled that ‘environmentalism’ had the same weight in law as religious and philosophical beliefs.

By this ruling, Mr Mcfarlane joins a long list of about 50 cases of Christians persecuted for their faith.

Lillian Ladele (Registrar dismissed for refusal to conduct civil partnership ceremonies when they were introduced in 2005, as she believed such unions were in breach of her Christian faith).

Nadia Eweida (Prevented from wearing a small cross by British Airways whilst followers of other religions could wear items of religious jewellery/clothing).

 

Lydia Playfoot (School girl and daughter of a Pastor prevented from wearing a chastity ring -silver ring thing with a bible verse inscribed on it.

Duke Amachree (Council worker dismissed for suggesting to terminally ill patient to "put her faith in God.")

 

Caroline Petrie (Community nurse suspended after offering to pray for an elderly patient).

Shirley Chaplin (Tribunal ruled Christian nurse could not wear a cross for religious reasons though a Muslim nurse could wear a hijab for religious reasons)

           

Olive Jones (Olive Jones, a Christian supply teacher from Weston-super-Mare, was offered the opportunity to return to her old job after North Somerset Council recognized that it can be appropriate for a tutor to share their faith with a pupil or a family, depending on the situation).

Theresa Davis (Deputy Registrar demoted to receptionist because of her refusal to preside over same sex civil partnership ceremonies).

Denise Haye (A Christian office worker, who was sacked for posting her personal views on homosexuality on a homosexual website).

BY CONTRAST;

Less than 24 hours after the Mcfarlane ruling, another court cleared Tohseef Shah of religious and racial incitement after descecrating a war memorial with the inscription;  'Islam will dominate the world  -  Osama is on his way' and 'Kill Gordon Brown.'

Shabina Begum in March 2005 won the Appeal Court ruling against her former school, Denbigh High School in Luton. The ruling backed her right to wear a "jilbab" to school claiming that her religion mut be respected.

In June 2009, Fata Lemes  A Muslim cocktail waitress who refused to wear a tight-fitting red dress at work because it made her "feel like a prostitute" was awarded £3,000 compensation.

In January 2007 a Muslim woman police constable refused to shake hands with police commissioner Sir Ian Blair during a passing-out parade for qualified recruits because as a Muslim, she should have no physical contact with a man she's not familiar with. She was passed out a fully qualified police constable.

In Feb. 2010 a Muslim bus driver in London stopped the bus in the middle of a journey and knelt in the aisle to pray for five minutes leaving bemused and anxious passengers trapped in ther seats. He carried on with his job afterwards.