*Florists, photographers... will be sacked if they object to same-sex marriage

David Cameron’s government has admitted under scrutiny from the House of Lords that they want to give commercial employers to be able to sack staff who refuse to participate in same-sex marriage.  

The Coalition for Marriage reports:

‘Up until now, officials in the equalities office have been telling Government ministers that the Bill won’t harm the liberty of people who disagree with it. But after pressure in the House of Lords, Government ministers have admitted they want commercial companies to be able to sack staff who refuse to be involved with same-sex marriages.

The Government thinks commercial chauffeurs who object to a same-sex marriage should be dismissed. By the same logic, florists, photographers and cake makers would also be in the firing line. We want a reasonable accommodation for such workers, a bit of flexibility which takes account of people’s sincere beliefs. But so far the Government has stubbornly refused.

We are also calling for protections for public sector workers like teachers and chaplains; and we want to make sure that local councils can’t penalise organisations who disagree with same-sex marriage. So far, the Government won’t give way.’

In contrast to David Cameron’s government obvious intention to impose totalitarian compliance to same-sex marriage the Council of Europe has passed by an overwhelming majority a resolution in favour of the “reasonable accommodation” of the sincerely-held views of Christians clashing with employers or the authorities.

‘Passed by 148 votes to three, the resolution urges 47 member states to “accommodate religious beliefs in the public sphere by guaranteeing freedom of thought in relation to health care, education and the civil service provided that the rights of others to be free from discrimination are respected and that the access to lawful services is guaranteed”. It also called on member states to “ensure the right to well-defined conscientious objection in relation to morally sensitive matters.”

Andrea Minichiello Williams, director of the Christian Legal Centre, said she was delighted that the Council of Europe had called for reasonable accommodation to protect freedom of religion.

“We urge the European Court of Human Rights to insist on such accommodation as a sensible, practical way forward and we call on the UK to begin to reflect this important principle,” she said.

“Solutions need to be found to set the tone for religious freedom across Europe.”

http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/2013/06/20/same-sex-marriage-bill-the-government-is-blocking-protections/
http://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/news/latest-news/council-of-europe-adopts-new-principle-offering-protection-to-harassed-christians