|TOP|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."

|QUOTE|"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. |AD|

“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”.