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Evangelical Head to Continue Fight as Sexual Orientation Regulations Upheld

The Evangelical Alliance has said it will continue to talk to the government about Christians' concerns regarding the Sexual Orientation Regulations, after a legal bid to have the Northern Ireland regulations annulled was overthrown in the House of Lords, 9 January 2007.

by Daniel Blake
Posted: Wednesday, January 10, 2007, 12:20 (GMT)
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The Evangelical Alliance has said it will continue to talk to the government about Christians' concerns regarding the Sexual Orientation Regulations, after a legal bid to have the Northern Ireland regulations annulled was overthrown in the House of Lords, 9 January 2007.

The challenge, led by Lord Morrow of the Democratic Unionist Party, was defeated in the Lords last night, while up to 2,000 Christians demonstrated outside Parliament.

During the debate, Lord Rooker acknowledged that the Alliance had played a part in the Northern Ireland consultation.

The government has delayed its decision on similar regulations for England and Wales after it received more than 3,000 responses, mainly from faith groups.

Joel Edwards, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, said: "We welcome the fact that the government recognised our constructive and full engagement in the process from the very beginning.

"The concerns about this legislation that we have been voicing all along have not gone away, and we will continue to hold the Government to account on its assurances that it will protect the rights of religious groups in practice.

"The strength of feeling among the Christian community on this issue, and the commitment to political engagement, was evident by the numbers and diversity of people who turned out at the demonstration.

"We support the principle of the law here - to defend people from discrimination.

"However, there is a danger that if a fair balance of rights is not achieved civil and religious liberties could be threatened."

In particular, Rev Edwards concluded, "Christians are not in favour of discriminating against gay people. But they don't want to find themselves coerced by law into facilitating the promotion of homosexuality.

"Freedom of conscience is an important right, which we intend to defend."



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Added: Thursday, January 11, 2007, 14:24 (GMT)

The religious hatred currently being shown by many secularist liberals and gay rights supporters and campaigners especially towards Christians is appalling. It's ironic for a group of people who claim to know what it was like to be persecuted are now the persecutors, Except their venom and hatred is a 100 times more than anything ever shown to them as far as I can see.
Christians have no right to judge anyone as we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. One day we will all be judged for our sins that includes homosexuals and heterosexuals, people of faith and those of no faith. Real Christians believe we are all equal before God.
The new Sexual Orientation Regulations are unnecessary as there is already plenty of legislation in place to stop discrimination to protect homosexuals. These new laws are about rubbing peoples religious beliefs in the dirt. Telling them what they can believe and how they can live their beliefs, even to the point of forcing people to act against their beliefs. Now where is the equality in that? Do two wrongs make a right? If the respect is not mutual, but only one way, that what is it worth?
During the last few days of the SOR debate I have heard nothing but aggressive divisive words coming from those who claim to represent the oppressed homosexuals, is this helpful in an open free democracy? Or is it true that liberals are only liberal when you agree with them; anyone who dares to hold a different view or hold different beliefs and values should be treated with the utmost contempt and hatred. Please tell me how this makes you any better than the people you love to criticise?

Simon Icke, AYLSEBURY

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