BBC’s Nicky Campbell: Christians feel persecuted by human rights law and councils
This should be an interesting programme, as long as it’s balanced.
Nicky Campbell, the presenter of the corporation’s flagship programme for Holy Week, argues that Labour’s anti-discrimination legislation has led to clashes between religious conscience and equality for homosexuals.
He blames local authorities for rebranding Christmas celebrations as winter festivals because of a misguided belief that they are standing up for minority faiths.
Campbell, the Radio 5 Live presenter, also highlights the French and Russian revolutions as examples of what can happen when religion is pushed out of public life.
He concludes that although Christians do not face violence and suppression in Britain as they do abroad, their treatment can seem unfair in a modern democracy.
Campbell says: “So, are Christians being persecuted? No they’re not being tortured or killed like Christians in Pakistan and the Sudan.
“But a minority believes they are being sidelined and victimised. By the standards of a liberal society that can feel like persecution.”
However he adds that this may be a “source of strength” for churchgoers, who thrived in ancient Rome in the face of persecution.
The hour-long programme, called Are Christians Being Persecuted?, looks into widespread claims that the faith is being driven out of public life in Britain while its followers are being treated less fairly than minority groups.
Here’s my recent take on UK Christian “persecution”:
Tags: Christian Persecution, Media