Ex-archbishop attacks judges over gay counselling ruling
By James Meikle, Guardian
Britain is moving towards a 'secular state', says Lord Carey, warning of civil unrest after Christian counsellor is sacked for refusing to see gay couples
The former archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey today accused judges of moving towards a new "secular state" that would downgrade the rights of religious believers. Attacking a "deeply worrying" court ruling, Carey claimed the judiciary was now tipping the legal balance against believers in "a deeply unedifying collision of human rights". [Image: Gary McFarlane, CCFON]
Carey reacted angrily to a judge who sharply criticised him for previously appealing for a court of hand-picked judges to determine religious rights cases. Carey had also warned of civil unrest over decisions he claimed could lead to Christians being barred from jobs.
Lord Justice Laws, dismissing a marriage guidance counsellor's attempt to challenge his sacking for refusing to give sex therapy to homosexuals, said legislation to protect a position "held purely on religious grounds" could not be justified and would be "irrational, as preferring the subjective over the objective … divisive, capricious and arbitrary".
His judgment at an appeal hearing by Gary MacFarlane, 48, from Bristol, will fuel resentment among Christian groups at what they see as unfair treatment. Read here
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