The Government has lost in the House of Lords over its attempt in the Equality Bill to alter the law on who churches and other faith-based groups can employ.
The Government has lost in the House of Lords over its attempt in the Equality Bill to alter the law on who churches and other faith-based groups can employ.
Peers voted 216 to 178 in favour of Lady O’Cathain’s amendment to keep the current law unchanged.
The Government claimed its plans would simply ‘clarify’ the law. But churches said the plans would narrow important safeguards designed to help religious employers defend their ethos.
The Government’s defeat means no change to the current law, which permits churches and other faith-based employers to protect their ethos by insisting staff live consistently with the religion’s doctrine on sexual behaviour.
At this stage it is not known whether the Government will try to overturn the defeat in the Commons.
At the weekend Church of England Bishops expressed deep concern about the Government plans.
The bishops said the Government has produced words that “create difficulties for churches and religious groups”.
They added: “This despite our raising the problem many months ago and offering various ways of resolving the issue.”
Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church have also opposed the Government proposals.
Most Revd Peter Smith, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff, voiced his regret at the Government’s refusal to “sit down earlier with religious groups and work out an amendment with the right wording”.
He continued: “As it is, legal advice indicates that a court might construe the wording too narrowly and if there was a doubt about the legal effect then the only prudent course is to support the rival amendment which deletes the definition entirely.
“That is the only sure way of guaranteeing this Bill neither widens nor narrows the scope of the current exemption.”
Ahead of tonight’s vote a Government spokesman said: “The Equality Bill will not change the existing legal position regarding churches and employment. It simply clarifies the current law to ensure a balance is maintained between the rights of people to manifest their religion and the right of employees not to be discriminated against.”
However, the Lords opposed the Government plans and voted to keep the present law unchanged.
Tags: Christianity, Law Moral Ethical, News, Politics
January 27th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Well, we’re certainly learning which parties we need to strongly oppose at the next general election! ‘Vigilance is the price of freedom’ and ‘All that is necessary for evil to conquer is that ‘good’ folk remain mute’.