19 March 2014

CHRISTIAN CONCERN-BREAKING NEWS: Christian guesthouse owners accused of "discrimination" seek justice in Europe rather than UK:


Jeff and Sue Green
 
Two Christian guesthouse owners who have been accused of discriminating against same-sex couples by offering double rooms to married people only, are taking their case directly to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Jeff and Sue Green from Wales say they believe they have no prospect of success in the British courts to allow them to conduct their business in line with their Christian conscience.  This follows a recent Supreme Court ruling against Christian bed and breakfast owners, Peter and Hazelmary Bull who were found to have discriminated unlawfully against a same-sex couple by refusing to give them a double room in accordance with their 'married couples only' policy.

The UK Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) wrote to the Greens, challenging them over a similar policy to provide double rooms to married couples only and warning them it was unlawful to discriminate on grounds of “'sexual orientation”.

The Greens have since changed their policy to offer single bed accommodation only and the EHRC has now dropped the case.

However, the couple are seeking a hearing at the European Court because of the serious, long-term implications for Christians in the public sphere. They are being supported by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC). 

Jeff Green, who is Mayor of Llandrindod Wells, said, "It seems that recent UK equality legislation is being used to undermine Christian faith and values. We believe that the rights outlined in the European Convention on Human Rights are an illusion in the UK, so we have to go to Europe because we don’t have a fighting chance in the UK courts.”
 
Comment from Andrea

Andrea Williams, Director of the Christian Legal Centre comments,

"The European Convention on Human Rights provides very strong protection for freedom of thought, conscience and religion. It is sad that we have to go to Strasbourg to argue for that freedom to be applied in practice because the British courts have refused to do so. However, it is important that we do. Continuing to expose the incoherency and unfairness of the 'equality' agenda is vital to safeguarding the freedom to live for Jesus and tell the good news about Him.

"We cannot simply take those freedoms for granted which is why we are so grateful for your partnership in standing with us as we support Jeff and Sue."


If you would like to make a donation to help us support Jeff and Sue - and others like them - please click here >

No comments:

Post a Comment