Category - equalities

Concerns expressed over proselytism and discrimination in public services

staff writers — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:00:41 +0100

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) has said they are to stop work on the proposed ‘Charter for Excellence’ for religious groups running publicly funded services.

Discrimination and the churches

Simon Sarmiento — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:16:39 +0100

According to the Catholic bishops of England and Wales, in evidence to parliament on the Equality Bill 2008-9 "unjust discrimination is fundamentally wrong," notes Simon Sarmiento. But what does the prcatice of the churches tell us about its rhetoric?

The Equality Bill 2008-9 and church responses to it

Savi Hensman — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:56:08 +0100

The Equality Bill 2008-2009, which will extend both to England and Wales, and to Scotland, covers age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. It also requires public authorities to do more to tackle the effects of socio-economic disadvantage. The Bill has received a hostile response among some religious groups, while the response of the large churches (including the Church of England) has been to welcome its principal aims while contesting aspects of its detail - particularly in terms of lobbying for opt-outs and provisions which would allow continued discrimination on grounds of sexuality and gender by faith bodies on grounds of 'upholding beliefs'. In this paper, Savitri Hensman assesses the issues and suggests that the churches need to move forward positively, on theological and practical grounds, in affirming comprehensive equalities in the public sphere. She also tackles the harm that discrimination and inequality causes, not least to the most vulnerable and those suffering prejudice.

Savi Hensman

Christians and equalities provisions

Press Office — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:30:23 +0000

Commenting on Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor's suggestion that equalities legislation in Britain is threatening freedom of religion, Simon Barrow, co-director of the religion and society thinktank

Welsh equality seminar rounds off series on 'religion or belief' issues

staff writers — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:19:54 +0000

The last of four major conferences looking into issues regarding equality, human rights and ‘religion or belief’ took place in Cardiff earlier this week

Religion, belief and non-discrimination law

Simon Barrow — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:32:51 +0000

Over the past eleven years, the British government has passed a number of laws that specifically tackle, or include directly in their provisions, protection of the freedom of ‘religion or belief’ – based on the right to hold or not to hold religious or other philosophical beliefs. This paper looks specifically at how ‘religion or belief’ is defined, particularly in relation to the Equality Act 2006 / 2007, and locates this within the wider policy-led and academic attempts to define ‘religion’. Looking at some of the implications of the definitions applied, it goes on to summarise key elements of current law on non-discrimination, drawing on public sources and examples from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Nothing in this background paper constitutes legal advice or should be read as constituting such advice. If you have legal questions or requirements, please consult a qualified lawyer.

Simon Barrow

Nurse in patient prayer row is reinstated

Ecumenical News International — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:05:59 +0000

A nurse who was suspended for asking a patient whether she would like to be prayed for at the end of a home treatment session will return to work "as soon as she feels able to do so", the NHS has said.

Nursing our different convictions

Press Office — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:22:42 +0000

Commenting on a case in Somerset where a nurse has been suspended for offering to pray for a patient who appears not to have wanted this, Simon Barrow, co-director of the religion and society think

Nurse suspended for offering to pray for a patient

staff writers — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:06:35 +0000

In a case which tests the boundaries between personal commitment and public service, a Christian nurse has been suspended from duty after offering to pray for an elderly patient in her care.

Schools report shows need to end religious discrimination, says coalition

staff writers — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:37:37 +0100

Accord, the coalition concerned about the way faith schools currently operate and its impact on society, the new report by the Schools Adjudicator highlights the dangers of discriminatory admission policies and lack of regulation.