Well, it's Sunday, so here's a "religious" themed story. The headline caught my eye, "British Christians fight for right to wear a cross to work." Ugh, really?! And the story is just what it sounds like. These women have taken their case over religious liberty to the highest level - the Government of the United Kingdom at the EUROPEAN Court of Human Rights to wear a cross or crucifix at work.
"The European Court of Human Rights is based in Strasbourg, FRANCE and is not a part of the European Union's patchwork of institutions but rather aligned to the Council of Europe, which is dedicated to the protection of human rights across 47 countries." Sounding dangerous? It should.
The New York Times reports that the court considers cases brought against nations that are bound by the European Convention on Human Rights, and notes that British Prime Minister David Cameron has recently called the court to restrict its power to overrule national judgments.
The Telegraph reports that the UK government will fight in court against these two women, asserting that Christians have no right to wear a cross or crucifix at work because displaying the cross is not a "requirement" of the Christian faith. Thus employers can ban wearing a cross, and consequently fire workers who insist on doing so.
Lawyers for the two women claim that the government is setting the bar too high in their position, and that "manifesting" religion includes doing things that are not a "requirement of faith." They also argue that Christians are given LESS protection than members of other religions who have been granted special status for garments or symbols such as the Sikh turban, kara bracelet or Muslim hijab. Is anyone listening??!
As England goes, so goes the U.S.A....
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