[Miguel]

http://www.bosnewslife.com/europe/united-kingdom/2
856-british-evangelicals-threatened-by-sexual

Thursday, 22 March 2007 (20 hours ago)
By BosNewsLife News Center

LONDON, UK (BosNewsLife)-- A group of one million British evangelicals urged Christians on Thursday, March 22, not to withdraw public services despite a "perceived threat" after parliament passed sexual orientation legislation.

"Christians should not withdraw public services because of a perceived threat, but should continue to serve until the Equality Act Sexual Orientation Regulations 2007 [are] clarified," the Evangelical Alliance United Kingdom said.

The Alliance "welcomes" efforts to fight discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, but said it was concerned that the regulations "do not give religion and belief equal recognition with sexual orientation rights."

The group added that the legislation has "undergone minimal scrutiny" from parliamentarians and "do not give religion and belief equal recognition with sexual orientation rights."

ADOPTION AGENCIES

It comes two months after the Alliance said a Catholic minister was "singled out for criticism" because she refused to force Catholic agencies to allow adoptions by same-sex couples.

"Politicians should not be singled out for criticism because of their religious beliefs," the Evangelical Alliance UK said as pressure mounted on Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly.

Kelly, a devoted Catholic, reportedly objected to a proposed regulation that would cut off funding for those Catholic adoption services that refuse to accept applications for child adoption from gay and lesbian couples.

It would also bar local governments from having any dealings with Catholic adoption agencies, who receive 80 percent of their funding from local authorities, said Philippa Gitlin, director of Caritas Social Action, the umbrella organization for Catholic care providers in comments.

UNFAIR BALANCE

It was not immediately clear what consequences the new legislation would have on Christian adoption agencies and other groups active in social services.

The Alliance Director of Public Policy, David Muir, told BosNewsLife in a statement however that he regretted that "following months of constructive engagement with the government" a "fair balance has not been met" between defending sexual orientation and religious rights.

“We agree with the Archbishop of Canterbury that the rights of conscience cannot be made subject to legislation, however well meaning.”

But Muir also appealed to Christians not to stop offering public services until the legal implications of the regulations, "which are still unclear, are settled, if necessary, in the courts."

CONTINUE WORK

He said that the "Evangelical Alliance encourages members – who in many cases have been delivering public services for centuries – not to close down these services because of a perceived threat." They should, he said, "continue delivering them until the law stops them.”

He added that the developments underscore concerns over religious freedom in the UK.

“We hope to persist in constructive dialogue with the government urging application of the law in a way which treats all citizens fairly." However such a low should also, "allow Christians to deliver services in a Christian way and exercise fundamental freedoms of conscience and religion and belief,” he said.

Formed in 1846, his group aims to "act as an evangelical voice" to the state, society and the wider Church, "and provides resources to help members and other evangelicals live out their faith in their communities." (With BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos and BosNewsLife Research).