Christians Nationwide Protest Sexual Orientation Regulations
Christian organisations, churches and individuals up and down the country continue to voice their opposition to the government's proposed Sexual Orientation Regulations that are due to come into effect in October.
by Maria Mackay
Posted: Thursday, July 27, 2006, 17:20 (BST)
As the government continues to draft its new Sexual Orientation Regulations, hundreds of Christian organisations, churches and individuals have continued to express opposition to the legislation which will force many Christians to act contrary to their faith.
Christians were among hundreds of protesters gathered outside Parliament last week to demonstrate against the regulations that will see the likes of Christian bed and breakfast owners unable to refuse homosexual couples, and churches forced to rent their facilities to homosexuals for purposes that may promote homosexuality.
Lawyer and Public Policy Analyst with Christian Concern for Our Nation, Thomas Cordrey, said in The Universal, that, "These regulations are not about preventing harassment and intimidation of homosexuals; they have a different and much broader scope."
There may be differing opinions in society about the acceptability of different sexual orientations, but one thing I am certain of is that it is not the government's role to legislate to prefer one view over the other.
Thomas Cordrey, Christian Concern for Our Nation
"They make it illegal for Christians to refuse to provide goods, services and education to homosexuals, even if to provide such things would help to promote, encourage or facilitate the practicing of homosexuality,” said Cordrey.
“There may be differing opinions in society about the acceptability of different sexual orientations, but one thing I am certain of is that it is not the government's role to legislate to prefer one view over the other."
Barrister and head of the Christian Concern for Our Nation Public Policy Unit Andrea Minichiello-Williams added: "The notion of 'equality' is not found in the Bible as the be-all and end-all. The Bible is just as clear that not all sexual orientations are equal - it is only a heterosexual relationship in the context of a monogamous marriage that is the paradigm sexual relationship according to God's word.
“This makes it starkly apparent that Christians must actively oppose the Sexual Orientation Regulations that will force schools (including Anglican schools) to teach that homosexuality is no different from heterosexuality, and that Civil Partnerships are the same as marriage."
Christians are now being urged to write to their local MPs to voice their opposition to the proposed changes in the law that could leave them open to prosecution despite an opt-out for organised religions currently being considered by the government.
“It is for these individuals that we must now stand up," said Chairman of the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship Mark Mullins.
"If the Regulations go through with protection only for organised religion it will be the individual Christians working in secular jobs who are hung out to dry. If we do not object to these Regulations now it will be the Christian teacher working in a state school, who refuses to teach that homosexuality is a perfectly valid alternative to heterosexuality, who will be the first in court. And by then it will be too late”.
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Added: Tuesday, January 9, 2007, 12:10 (GMT)
I want to applaud the brave souls protesting outside Parliament today. In this PC-world gone-mad I feel that religious beliefs are being eroded by contemporary laws. I am a Christian and I believe that homosexuality is wrong – I feel that to serves in business homosexuals undermines my integrity. This law, that will stop us refusing “transvestites into our Christian family B&B”, is totally unreasonable.
But if I am to be in complete integrity I must, as well as not serving homosexuals, stop being served by them too. I will tell my wife to change her hairdresser, and to stop buying those designer dresses. I will stop watching TV shows presented by gay celebrities, stop listening to certain music, ban ‘Songs of Praise’ and the BBC News (as I believe there are gay people working on those shows). I will ask my local [gay] policeman to stop watching my house and my children, I shall withdraw my children from their current school class, and write to the M.O.D. to tell them that I do not want to be defended by gay and lesbian services personnel. I will take all the clothes I bought from the Oxford Street department stores to the local charity shop – well, I shall find a charity shop that does not employ gay personnel!
I want to preserve my traditional beliefs, I do not want to mix with homosexuals, either on a day-to-day basis or in business, I think we should be able to pick and choose who we come into contact with – whether it's gays, Jews, Muslims, Blacks, Welsh… I will fight laws that force me to mix with the sorts of people I think are wrong – and will hang the label “Christian” or “Religion” upon my prejudice to protect me (in law and society) and to justify my intolerance.
But seriously – in today's climate, it is becoming inordinately clear that any religion, including Christianity, can be used for good or evil. I know we can sometimes mount our rightious high-horse, we try to be good and get it right, but at the same time we should keep clearly in mind the spirit of our faith – and watch that we don't become rediculously Pharisaic in our judgements of our fellow man. Christianity is about love, forgiveness, humbleness, gratitude. If let our ‘rightiousness’ restrict our love, then what hope do we have of influencing other people and bringing them to Christ?
Jonathan Harbourne, London, UK
