Mixed decision for religious freedom in Europe

(Vatican Radio) Europe’s highest court on Tuesday ruled that British Airways discriminated against a devoutly Christian airline employee by making her remove a crucifix at work. But the court rejected discrimination cases by three other Christian claimants.

The court ruled against a nurse who was told to remove a crucifix necklace at work. The judges said Chaplin's employer banned necklaces on health and safety grounds, and so asking her to remove the symbol was not excessive.

The judges also struck down claims by a local authority registrar who said her Christian faith prevented her from overseeing same-sex civil partnerships and a marriage counsellor who refused to offer sex therapy to gay couples.

“The European Court has said that this is not final, and that appeals can be launched,” said Peter Norris of the UK-based advocacy group Christian Concern. Two of the Christian employees are being represented by Christian Concern’s sister organisation, The Christian Legal Centre. “I expect that the cases will be appealed, and then go to the Grand Chamber of the European Court.”

He said the ruling, particularly in the case of the two “conscience cases” that dealt with conscientious objection cases in regard to sexual ethics, should be of wider concern. “I think it’s definitely of broader concern for other religions or people who don’t even hold to a specific religion” he said, “particularly the conscience cases. Because in those instances it amounts to a policing of thought, really. If you don’t agree with the prevailing orthodoxy in these cases on sexual ethics, then you’re not permitted to do this job. And it’s creating a public bar to office for Christians, but has wider implications for other people’s freedom of thought, conscience and religion. So it’s definitely of much broader concern than just for Christians.”

Listen to the full interview of Christian Concern’s Peter Norris with Christopher Wells: