- Debate Over Discrimination Against Christians in Britain Gains Steam
- British Atheists Want to Arrest Pope During Visit
- President Obama’s recent nomination of Goodwin Liu Worries Defense of Marriage Advocates
| Debate Over Discrimination Against Christians in Britain Gains Steam Posted: 14 Apr 2010 09:01 AM PDT
The issue of Christian marginalization has gained new heat as the National Secular Society (NSS) recently accused Christian church leaders, including former Archbishop Lord Carey of Canterbury, of seeking special treatment at the Court of Appeals (CA).  In a separate instance Shirley Chaplin, a nurse, was banned by Devon and Exeter NHS Trust from wearing her crucifix on the job although she had done so without incident for the last 30 years. This has sparked new debate among Christians, Muslims and secularists about the issue of discrimination of Christians in favor of secularists. Stephen Evans of the NSS said “Equality for all before the law must be non-negotiable.” However, Paul Diamond of the Christian Legal Centre filed the request on behalf senior church leaders after religious activists had already lost several cases of church discrimination. Diamond also represents Gary McFarlane, who was fired from his job for refusing to give sex therapy to gay couples. The church is requesting that McFarlane’s case is heard by a specialist panel of five judges with a proven understanding of religious issues. They also requested that the panel is headed by Lord Judge and the Lord Chief Justice. The Christian Concern For Our Nation (CCFON) website noted that senior churchmen felt the CA judges are biased against them. Lord Carey and others said that in the long term there is a need to appoint a panel of judges – of all religious faiths – to hear sensitive religious rights cases. In a separate instance Shirley Chaplin, a nurse, was banned by Devon and Exeter NHS Trust from wearing her crucifix on the job although she had done so without incident for the last 30 years. Others Protest Dr. Taj Hargey, chairman of the Muslim Educational Centre of Oxford said secularism in Britain is “virulent”, and that Britain should be defending Christianity as the faith of the British majority instead of marginalizing it. Hargey said “As a Muslim, I am filled with despair at the attitude of our politically correct officials towards Christianity” in his article entitled “What Has Britain Come to when it takes a Muslim Like me to Defend Christianity?” Hargey expressed regret that the core of religious liberty, which was a “…cornerstone for our democratic, respectful and tolerant nation” is slowly ebbing. Donald MacLeod, principle of the Free Church college in Edinburgh was featured in guardian.uk.com saying “Muslims may wear their burkas, gays their earrings and Sikhs their turbans, but Christians may not wear crucifixes. Marriage is attacked because of presumed links with Christianity, and euthanasia promoted because it is presumed to have none.” In the same article Mary Warnock said “We need an established church. There are occasions when the cultural traditions and ceremonies of religion are essential, and nothing else will do. Christianity is not just a private but a public matter, woven into our constitution and our shared imaginative life.”  |
| British Atheists Want to Arrest Pope During Visit Posted: 13 Apr 2010 07:28 PM PDT
Atheist leaders Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens want Pope Benedict XVI to be arrested when he visits the UK in September for “crimes against humanity,” Christian Today reported. Dawkins and Hitchens charges come amid reports that the pope had signed a letter in 1985 when he was known as Cardinal Ratzinger on behalf of priest Stephen Kiesle who was charged with sexually abusing boys under his watch in California. The Vatican denies they tried to stonewall Kiesle’s defrocking and say that they are victims of a hate campaign generated by their unpopular stance on several issues including birth control and same sex marriage. They maintain that sexual abuse by priests is limited and not as rampant as some media reports maintain.  Richard Dawkins. Atheist leaders such as Dawkins want Pope Benedict XVI to be arrested during his upcoming visit to Britain Dawkins cited as precedent the arrest of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet when he visited Britain in 1998. Last year a British judge issued an arrest warrant for Israeli politician Tzipi Livni upon the urgings of pro-Palestinian activists, causing Livni to cancel her UK visit. Human rights lawyers note that the Vatican is not a recognized by international law as a state, nor is it recognized by the UN. For this reason, the pontiff’ does not merit diplomatic immunity. However, the Vatican enjoys diplomatic relations with some 179 countries. Pope Benedict will visit London, Glasgow and Coventry on September 16 and 19 to beatify 19th century theologian Cardinal John Henry Newman. Historically, the only pope who was arrested was Pope Pius VII by Napoleon Bonaparte, who held the pontiff prisoner for six years for excommunicating Bonaparte. |
| President Obama’s recent nomination of Goodwin Liu Worries Defense of Marriage Advocates Posted: 13 Apr 2010 06:04 PM PDT
President Barack Obama’s recent nomination of Goodwin Liu has raised concerns among advocates of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage as “a legal union between one man and one woman for purposes of all federal laws.” Liu, 39, is the associate dean of Berkeley Law School. He has advocated many liberal causes including supporting national health care, affirmative action, same-sex marriage and slavery reparations.  President Obama’s recent nomination of Goodwin Liu Worries Defense of Marriage Advocates Liu’s appointment was preceded by several tax-paid advertisements by the U.S. Census Bureau urging same-sex couples who “consider themselves married” to fill out the Census form as a married couple. Only five states and the District of Columbia officially recognize same-sex marriages; meanwhile, the move contradicts the Census Bureau’s July 2008 statement that same-sex couples would not be counted. Many Republicans oppose Liu’s nomination and are set to grill him before the Judiciary Committee during his hearing which is set for Friday. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R., Ala.) who heads the Judiciary Committee was quoted by The Philadelphia Inquirer as saying Liu is “far outside the mainstream of American jurisprudence.” Concern had also been raised that Liu may eventually become the first Asian American on the Supreme Court. Curt Levey, executive director of the Committee for Justice raised this point and added, “Look, he was picked because he’s a darling of the left, and that’s exactly the reason conservatives are up in arms about him.” However, Liu also has his share of conservative supporters, including Kenneth Starr, the lawyer who investigated President Bill Clinton, and California GOP Senate candidate Tom Campbell. The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was signed into law by President Clinton in 1996 and passed with bi-partisan majorities of 342-67 in the House and 85-14 in the Senate. It defines marriage as “a legal union between one man and one woman for purposes of all federal laws.” |
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