The government is garnering opinion here regarding religious equality and how it can be legislated for. Consultation closes tomorrow, (15 July). Why not log on and have your say?
Below are my "shoot from the hip" responses to the questions they asked
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Are there any areas of the law concerning equality and human rights and religion or belief – or the way that courts have interpreted and applied it – that concern you?
Yes,
1. When persons are suspended / sacked for refusing to endorse a particular moral/political position or perform a particular task due to conscience esp. when that conscience is informed by Christian beliefs.
2. When persons are suspended / sacked for offering advice or help to persons on the basis of conscience esp. when that conscience is informed by Christian beliefs.
Which legal cases or issues concerning equality and human rights and religion or belief are most significant, in your view? (If you prefer, you do not need to specify the names of particular legal cases; generic descriptions will suffice).
Ones like this, where a simple offer pray for someone gets them into very hot water.
In your view, are there competing interests in the area of equality and human rights and religion or belief? if so, what are they and do you think the law strikes the right balance between these interests?
I realise it is a hugely complex issue, for matters of religious belief cannot be judged upon in a court of law. My fear is that we have sleepwalked into a great irony; that in trying to be tolerant and impartial, a rather reductionist brand of secular atheism has emerged as the (intolerant? and) dominant hand in the justice system.
Can you identify any values or principles that you think could be used to address dilemmas or disputes relating to religion or belief? For example, these might be legal, religious, moral or 'common sense' values or principles.
My fundamental starting point is reconciliation that reflects the self-giving love of God displayed in Jesus Christ. The "problem" with this is that you can't write sacrifice into the statute books - rights and self-sacrifice are antithetical! Oh dear!
Failing that - not sure I have any clever ideas.
Can you suggest any criteria that could be used to decide whether or not religion or belief should be accommodated in the case of employees who wish to wear certain clothing, jewellery or symbols?
1. Anything that inhibits a person to person - face to face encounter should be outlawed.
2. I would use the slogan 'self-expression but with discretion.' A turban is discreet - a 15cm huge bling Crucifix is not
Can you suggest any criteria that could be used to decide whether or not religion or belief should be accommodated in the case of employees who wish to be excused from performing certain tasks on grounds of their religion or belief (also known as 'conscientious objection')?
When the process that the employee is being asked to perform or the viewpoint they are being asked to endorse, encourages their client / service user to think of themselves in philosophical terms that the employee doesn't agree with.
Can you suggest any criteria that could be used to decide whether or not religion or belief should be accommodated in the case of employees who wish to work flexibly to permit religious observance?
Official religious festivals
Can you suggest any criteria that could be used to decide whether or not religion or belief should be accommodated in the case of employees who wish to have prayer, meditation or quiet rooms provided; have washing or changing facilities provided or have certain dietary requirements met?
This can be encouraged / rewarded without being enforced. For example I don't see the point of making a small business with limited resources adhere to a hundred and one laws that meet everyone's personal preference, how will they ever get off the ground.
Can you suggest any criteria that could be used to decide whether or not religion or belief should be accommodated in the case of employees who wish to post or distribute literature relating to their religion or belief?
Difficult one. Wouldn't want to outlaw it, but at the same time moderation please - perhaps connected to a person celebrating their religious festivals it would be deemed appropriate to distribute literature of some kind.
Public notice boards are fare game too. If a colleague can sell their no longer needed bunk bed on the office notice board, a Christian should be able to advertise their church's Alpha course.
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