Christians Launch Landmark Human Rights Case [UK]

The Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | 4/20/13 | John Bingham

[marshmallow]

Christians are to launch a landmark legal case arguing their religion is being treated as a “thought crime” by government and courts.

Campaigners will submit papers to the European Court of Human Rights in a final attempt to overturn rulings they say have restricted religious freedom for Christians and effectively persecuted those wanting to publicly practise their religion

Campaigners will submit papers to the European Court of Human Rights in a final attempt to overturn rulings they say have restricted religious freedom for Christians and effectively persecuted those wanting to publicly practise their religion.

The move comes in the case of three Christians whose cases have become testing grounds over the restrictions which can be put on public displays of faith.

Their appeal to the Grand Chamber of the court will open the way for a final ruling on what limits can be put on such displays, including wearing a cross and talking about belief in the workplace.

Shirley Chaplin, Gary McFarlane and Lillian Ladele all had their cases rejected at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg earlier this year.

In the case of Mrs Chaplin, an Exeter nurse who was forbidden to wear a cross at work, the Strasbourg judges ruled that her right to express her faith could be overridden on “health and safety” grounds.

Mr McFarlane, a former Relate counsellor, and marriage registrar Miss Ladele - who both resisted tasks they saw as condoning homosexuality, which they believe is against the Bible’s teaching - lost their cases.

In the case of Miss Ladele, who had asked to be excused from performing civil partnerships, two judges broke ranks, issuing a strongly worded dissenting judgment claiming that conscience is being sacrificed on the altar of “obsessive political correctness”.

[Gen.Blather]

I’ve thought this (Christian though-crime) was going on for some time. I believe that at my last place of employment, a Fortune 500 company, if I’d said, “God Bless,” or “May God be with you,” I’d have been spoken to by HR. They had a broad “harassment” policy that was PC to the max. As it is, I got warned about an overheard conversation on concealed carry and the one time I cracked a joke.

[ExCTCitizen]

Christians are to launch a landmark legal case arguing their religion is being treated as a “thought crime” by government and courts.

Christianity is a thought crime, but The RELIGION OF TERRORISM is not??

If it wasn't serious, it would be funny!!

[Rashputin]

Outlawing Christianity all together wouldn’t cause near the ruckus censoring Internet porno or raising the tax on beer would and the people in power know that.