Commenting on Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor's suggestion that equalities legislation in Britain is threatening freedom of religion, Simon Barrow, co-director of the religion and society thinktank Ekklesia, said:
"Refusing equal treatment in the public square, seeking wide opt-outs from anti-discrimination legislation and trying to cling on to privilege is the wrong direction for the churches to take, both socially and theologically.
"We now live in a mixed belief society, rather than one dominated by institutional Christianity. That may question certain privileges which have existed before, but this need not be a threat. Rather it is an opportunity to rediscover a more authentic, liberating Christian message and practice; one that has often been obscured or defaced by the collusion of official religion and governing authority."
Christians and equalities provisions
Commenting on Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor's suggestion that equalities legislation in Britain is threatening freedom of religion, Simon Barrow, co-director of the religion and society thinktank Ekklesia, said:
"Refusing equal treatment in the public square, seeking wide opt-outs from anti-discrimination legislation and trying to cling on to privilege is the wrong direction for the churches to take, both socially and theologically.
"We now live in a mixed belief society, rather than one dominated by institutional Christianity. That may question certain privileges which have existed before, but this need not be a threat. Rather it is an opportunity to rediscover a more authentic, liberating Christian message and practice; one that has often been obscured or defaced by the collusion of official religion and governing authority."
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Briefing on Religion, belief and non-discrimination law - http://ekklesia.co.uk/node/8700