Christians in Britain Fight for Religious Rights in Court

Christians take fight for religious rights to European court
ICC Note:
Four British Christians are headed to the European Court of Human Rights to fight for their rights to do things as simple as wearing a cross necklace to work.  The say, “”Many believe it is unfair that hard-working public servants and employees are being discriminated against simply because of their faith.” We are hopeful for an outcome that results in their basic religious rights being restored to them
09/04/2012 United Kingdom (Christian Today)- Four British Christians are in Strasbourg today to press for the right to live according to their faith in the workplace.
The European Court of Human Rights is today hearing the cases of nurse Shirley Chaplin, relationships counsellor Gary McFarlane, airline worker Nadia Eweida, and registrar Lilian Ladele.
Mrs Chaplin was removed from frontline ward duties to a desk job by Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust Hospital for failing to remove a small cross necklace.
Ms Eweida was sent home by British Airways when she also refused to remove her cross necklace. British Airways contended that the item went against its uniform policy.
Ms Ladele was disciplined by Islington Council in London after she refused to conduct same-sex civil partnership ceremonies.
Mr McFarlane was sacked by the Relate counselling group after he said he would not be able to provide sex therapy to same-sex couples because of his religious beliefs.
Mrs Chaplin and Mr McFarlane are being supported in their cases by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC).
CLC Director, Andrea Minichiello Williams, accused the Government of “astonishing double-standards” in their handling of the case.
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The Government’s submission in relation to the four cases stated that “there was no interference with the applicants’ right to manifest their religious beliefs” and that the applicants were “free to resign if they consider that the requirements of the employment are incompatible with their religious beliefs”.
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