Christian Councillor was Expelled from Green Party because of her Views on Gay Marriage
A councillor for the Green Party, Christina Summers, a Christian, who disagrees with her party’s support for redefining marriage should be “expelled”, an internal disciplinary panel has said. She has responded by saying the decision is a “typical symptom of prejudice, blatant prejudice”.
With the exception of Counsellor Summers every councillor at Brighton and Hove City Council voted in favour of lobbying the Government over the issue. Following the vote Cllr. Summers was subjected to a disciplinary inquiry. The panel announced its recommendation that she be expelled September 10th. She said: “It’s discriminatory against Christians. It raises a big question – can Christians serve in the public realm? They are saying don’t bring your faith into politics.” A statement from the Party insisted that the inquiry was not about her religious views or her right to voice her beliefs. It said it was about whether Cllr. Summers had breached her undertakings as a candidate. It said: “The panel does not have the power to expel Councillor Summers from the party or to remove her as a councillor.” But it has concluded that, in relation not to her speech or vote in the council chamber or her sincerely held religious views but in relation to her breach of her own written undertakings as a council candidate and her recent behaviour towards the party, she should be expelled.” It is “almost Stalinist” to expel a councillor from her party group just because she votes against gay marriage, a local Liberal Democrat leader has said. We thank the Christian Institute for reporting! Sources: The Christian Institute: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/ousted-christian-councillor-backed-by-local-lib-dem-leader/ http://www.christian.org.uk/news/christian-councillor-set-to-be-expelled-over-gay-marriage/ Christian Concern: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/religious-freedom/christian-faces-expulsion-from-green-party-group-of-councillors