Country is failing Christians says MPs’ inquiry

A cross-party parliamentary group, Christians in Parliament, warns Christians in the United Kingdom “face problems in living out their faith”, blaming social, cultural and legal changes over the past decade for the problem.

The report states the rights of homosexuals are given precedence over religious rights, a situation it describes as “unacceptable”. It also states that Christians find it increasingly difficult to express their views on sexuality without fear of recriminations.

The inquiry was commissioned in the wake of several high-profile court cases in which Christian beliefs were brought under the spotlight, including the case of the British Airways check-in clerk who was sent home for wearing a small silver cross and of Cornwall guesthouse owners Peter and Hazelmary Bull who refused to allow a gay couple to stay in a double room, saying it would be against their faith.

Earlier this month the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, found himself under fire for saying that Government should not overrule the Bible and tradition by allowing same-sex marriages.

The report, Clearing the Ground, states: “Critically, early indications from court judgments are that sexual orientation takes precedence and religious belief is required to adapt in the light of this. We see this as an unacceptable and unsustainable situation.”

The inquiry found that often media coverage of these events was “counter-productive” in terms of how Christianity is viewed by many people.

The committee found that there is a high level of misunderstanding in the country about religion generally, and that Christianity has become minimised in both social and cultural life. It also claimed changes in the law exacerbated the problem, saying legal changes had “compelled Christians to provide services they have never previously offered and which may be contrary to their beliefs”.

Much of the blame is placed at the door of both central and local Government, and it calls for a review and restructuring of The Equality and Human Rights Commission to better include and represent religious beliefs.

It states that Government departments “handle religious belief in a complex and confused manner” and recommends employers be forced to accommodate religious beliefs in the same way they do people with disabilities.

Seven in 10 people in England consider themselves to be Christians but the committee found that too often Christians were opting out of public life and too often they were defined by what they oppose rather than believe in.

However the inquiry rejected the idea that Christians are “persecuted”, saying that such language minimises the genuine suffering seen around the world who face prison and even death if they practice the religion.

The inquiry recommends that Government and local bodies should work to make sure Christians “have greater confidence in their freedom to express their beliefs”.