No Conscientious Objection with Regard to Affirming Homosexuality in the Workplace
There have been a number of cases in the past few years that have followed a similar pattern in that no exemption will be made where a Christian has a conscientious objection in the workplace because he or she cannot endorse, condone or approve homosexual conduct.
The Christian will be forced to fall in line or leave the job. For example, in 2006 Lillian Ladele, an experienced registrar over births, deaths and marriages, was told that she had to participate in same-sex ceremonies. Rather than having her Christian beliefs accommodated, she was dismissed. In 2007 Gary McFarlane, a relationships counsellor for a national organization, told his manager of his “conscientious difficulty in dealing with same-sex sexual practices and fulfilling his duty to follow the teaching of the Bible.” Rather than being accommodated, he was dismissed for gross misconduct. Both cases are now before the European Court of Human Rights. The lack of accommodation for Christians who refuse to condone homosexual behaviour is also evident in other areas. For example, in recent years Christians have been prevented from fostering children because, during the interview process, the prospective carers explained that they could not condone homosexual behaviour to young children in their care. The local authorities considered this to be a breach of the commitment to “diversity” required by all foster carers. Source and further information: The Observatory's Report 2012 on Legal Restrictions Effecting Christians in Europe