ICC Note: This definitely falls under the persecution lite category but it is important none the less. Christians are fighting back after being barred from using University facilities because of their refusal to accept homosexuality.
Christian Union takes legal action over suspension
Alexandra Smith
Friday January 5, 2007
1/5/2005 For the full story, go to the Guardian. A Christian (student) Union suspended from using student facilities at the University of Exeter is taking legal action against the student guild under the Human Rights Act, it emerged today.
The Exeter CU was suspended from the official list of student societies, had its student bank account frozen, and was banned from free use of student guild premises because Exeter’s student guild claims the CU constitution and activities did not conform to its equal opportunities policies (acceptance of homosexuality).
The CU said it seemed that unless they disassociated themselves from the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship – the national umbrella body for Christian student groups – and stopped the practice of asking committee members and speakers to sign a declaration of faith, they could be permanently banned from the guild.
CU committee member Ben Martin told the Press Association that legal action was the “very last thing” the union wanted to take.
“We are all students trying to concentrate on our studies, but the action by the guild, in blatant infringement of our rights, and their reluctance to reinstate us, has left us with no alternative,” he said.
