BHA response to Lord Carey’s ‘civil unrest’ statement

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has responded to a statement made in the Court of Appeal today by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey. Lord Carey said that the fact that ‘senior clerics of the Church of England and other faiths feel compelled to intervene directly in judicial decisions and cases is illuminative of civil unrest.’

Naomi Phillips, BHA Head of Public Affairs, said, ‘Lord Carey’s distinction between religious and “real” homophobes is false, and should hold no weight in the decisions of our judiciary. He is asking for two laws, one that permits Christians to behave as they want in the workplace, even refusing to provide gay people a public service, and one for everyone else. Lord Carey’s contention that the vast majority of Christians would agree with him that is particularly offensive, not least to the millions of gay and lesbian Christians in this country and around the world whose lifestyles he describes as ‘self destructive conduct’.’

‘The further suggestions in Lord Carey’s statement that recent court judgments which have not upheld claims of unlawful discrimination against Christians in the workplace are a threat to the social order and a step away from barring Christians from any employment is scaremongering, and a desperate cry from those unrepresentative few who are trying to retain the kind of privileges for religion that have no place in our society.’

Notes

Read Lord Carey’s witness statement.

For further comment or information, contact Naomi Phillips naomi@humanism.org.uk, 020 7079 3585 or 07540 257101.

The British Humanist Association represents and supports the non-religious. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.