Petition raises concern about Equality Bill and religious freedom

A new petition has been launched to press Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the right of religious believers to live out their faith.

The petition was posted on the No 10 Downing Street website by Blandford Forum resident David Skinner. He fears the Equality Bill currently passing through the House of Lords could impinge on the rights of religious people to act according to conscience and belief, in the workplace and places of worship in particular.

If passed as it stands, the Equality Bill will narrow the exemptions allowed for organised religion by the 2003 regulations on employment equality and sexual orientation.

The Bill limits exemptions to the employment of people in posts concerning formal worship activities or the teaching of doctrine but states that other positions like those of church youth workers would not fall under the exemptions.

If the Bill is passed, churches and other faith bodies may find themselves forced to employ someone as a youth worker or worship leader with a different interpretation of sexuality.

Mr Skinner added: “I invite people to sign the petition and encourage others so to do. We must join together to commit ourselves to reaffirm the value and necessity of religious and civil liberty and the rights of conscience across the UK today.

"We believe that religion and civil liberty must include the right to live and speak according to one's conscience privately and in the public sphere, both individually and collectively, without harassment or the fear of civil or criminal penalty.”


The petition can be found at www.petitions.number10.gov.uk/harryhammond