Category - equality

How equality can help reshape society

Jill Segger — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:58:09 +0100

To follow in the way of Jesus should make rank and status irrelevant, says Jill Segger, in the second of a series on Quaker values. Our equal value and dignity before God can re-shape our relationships with each other.

Quakers give enthusiastic response to call for economic equality

staff writers — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:22:25 +0100

British Quakers have given a warm response to a call by the academic and writer Richard Wilkinson for a more economically equal society. Speaking at their annual conference in York, he insisted that more equal societies almost always do better.

Church resistance to equality 'self-defeating'

Press Office — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:52:43 +0100

Commenting on Church of England and Roman Catholic lobbying for "the right to discriminate" in relation to employment and the new Equality Bill, Simon Barrow, co-director of the religion and societ

Large churches lobbying hard for their 'right' to discriminate

staff writers — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:32:36 +0100

C of E and the Catholic representatives have told the House of Commons they will fight to maintain their powers to discriminate in cases of employment and against limits proposed in the Equality Bill.

The Equality Bill 2008-9 and church responses to it

Savi Hensman — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:56:08 +0100

The Equality Bill 2008-2009, which will extend both to England and Wales, and to Scotland, covers age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. It also requires public authorities to do more to tackle the effects of socio-economic disadvantage. The Bill has received a hostile response among some religious groups, while the response of the large churches (including the Church of England) has been to welcome its principal aims while contesting aspects of its detail - particularly in terms of lobbying for opt-outs and provisions which would allow continued discrimination on grounds of sexuality and gender by faith bodies on grounds of 'upholding beliefs'. In this paper, Savitri Hensman assesses the issues and suggests that the churches need to move forward positively, on theological and practical grounds, in affirming comprehensive equalities in the public sphere. She also tackles the harm that discrimination and inequality causes, not least to the most vulnerable and those suffering prejudice.

Savi Hensman

People of faith urged to join the struggle for equality and human rights

staff writers — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:17:38 +0100

A major London conference this weekend will seek to show that people of faith and those with non-religious beliefs can be united in common purpose and action to eliminate prejudice and discrimination on grounds of sexuality and identity.

Cardinal launches valedictory attack on UK equalities legislation

staff writers — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:45:11 +0000

In a London lecture, Catholic Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor has claimed that UK anti-discrimination legislation is being used to limit freedom of religion “in unacceptable ways”.

Half of Catholic adoption agencies won over to new equality law

staff writers — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:07:25 +0000

Half of the Catholic adoption agencies that the Church threatened to close if they were required to work with gay couples have now adopted the new equality law following an exemption period that ended on 1 January.

Landmark conferences to look at equality, rights, religion and belief

staff writers — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:31:51 +0000

The first of four major conferences looking into issues regarding equality, human rights and ‘religion or belief’ will take place in London on Monday 10 November, involving a range of senior figures in the field.

Religion, belief, rights and equality

Press Office — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:41:37 +0000

Simon Barrow, co-director of the religion and society think tank Ekklesia, has welcomed a series of conferences on equality, human rights, religion and belief which are being part-funded by the Equ