Victory for Christian registrar who refused to carry out gay ‘weddings’
A Christian registrar who was harassed and discriminated against after she refused to carry out same-sex civil partnership ceremonies has won a key legal battle.
Lillian Ladele, 47, said that she was treated like a pariah by colleagues at Islington council in North London after she said that she could not carry out the ceremonies as a matter of religious conscience.
An employment tribunal found that the council showed no respect for Ms Ladele’s rights “by virtue of her orthodox Christian beliefs”.
Employment lawyers said that while the case set no binding legal precedent, it would make councils much more likely to give weight to the religious views of employees.
The decision outraged gay rights campaigners, who said that it “sanctions the right of religious people to discriminate”.
Ms Ladele, who had held her £31,000-a-year job for almost 16 years, could receive thousands of pounds in compensation at a further hearing in September after the tribunal found that the behaviour of her colleagues had “the effect of violating Ms Ladele’s dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment”.
The tribunal decided that gay rights should not be allowed to “trump” the rights of those with religious beliefs and said that the council’s other registrars were able to provide a “first-class” service to same-sex couples without Ms Ladele’s involvement.
The ruling said that Islington council “placed a greater value on the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community than it placed on the rights of Ms Ladele as one holding an orthodox Christian belief”.
Ms Ladele, who is now expected to return to work, wept as she told the tribunal that her bosses ordered her to perform the ceremonies or face dismissal for gross misconduct. She said: “I felt harassed and victimised. I was being picked on on a daily basis.”
She added: “This is a victory for religious liberty, not just for myself but for others in a similar position. Gay rights should not be used as an excuse to bully and harass people over their religious beliefs.”
She was applauded last night by the Christian Institute, a Newcastle-based charity that funded her case, and the Evangelical Alliance. Don Horrocks, head of public affairs at the alliance, said: “This decision underlines that, despite some recent claims to the contrary, freedom of religious conscience must be protected by law in the same way as any other human right.
“We would call on local politicians to take note and live up to the challenge of this benchmark decision.”
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the gay rights group Stonewall, said: “Public servants are paid by taxpayers to deliver public services. They shouldn’t be able to pick and choose who they deliver those services to. Doubtless 40 years ago there were moral objections to mixed-race marriages. Quite rightly such objections would no longer be entertained.”
Peter Tatchell, the human rights campaigner, said: “Lillian Ladele claims she was won a victory for religious liberty. No, she has not. She has won a victory for the right to discriminate.”
Islington council may appeal.
Article taken from Times Online (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4312447.ece)
All I can say in comment really is good on her. Yes, gay rights are important. Yes, I believe in equal rights for everyone. Yes, I believe that someone's religious belief, if they feel strongly enough about it should not force them into doing something that they feel strongly against. The Human Rights campaigners claiming that "she has won a victory for the right to discriminate" are being ridiculous. Are there no other registrars that can perform the ceremony? Stupid stupid PC happy clappy people. Maybe this woman should just resign anyway instead of being in an environment where people have so little respect for her religious beliefs that they would ostracize her for them. However I must see the other side. It is somewhat exclusive and although I am biased as I am Christian myself, when I see a spade, I call it such and this is tinged with homophobia. (This is potentially the most contradictory thing I've ever said but there you go!)
I think if it was another religion it'd be different but Christianity is becoming such a 'black sheep' of a religion in recent times, it doesn't surprise me.
Another news story that has amused me no end is the story about the British woman facing imprisonment after being found having sex on a Dubai beach. On the one hand, if you know that it's a bit of a taboo in the country, compose yourself; when in Rome. On the other hand, it's the 21st century! Apparently people get arrested for kissing in public. Not that I'm the biggest fan of public displays of affection but this is extreme. However, on a more serious note, respect people's cultures and ways of life when in their country - don't like it then stay at home!
(http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article4300911.ece)
I'm now hungry. All that venting has built me up a bit of an appetite. Am going away for the weekend so probably won't post until next week! Toodle
CBC
xx
1 comment:
Oooo I heard about this. I thought that the Registrar should have the right to refuse. Its not as if the couple could not ask another Registrar to "marry" them. Personally I think people are far too litigious now and try and take every opportunity to amass a small pile of cash for a rainy day. Every person has rights but those rights cannot override the rights of another.
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