A Win for Bigotry.
Yet another homophobic bigot has refused to do her job because of her “deeply held religious beliefs”. She even took the matter to court…and won.
Lillian Ladele, 47, can expect a large payout from Islington Council after she was bullied and threatened with the sack for asking to avoid civil partnerships because of her deeply-held religious beliefs.
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The ruling that employees should not be required to act against their consciences has implications for the 18,000 same-sex ceremonies conducted nationwide each year and could encourage other registrars with strong religious beliefs to take a similar stance.
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After the ruling, Miss Ladele spoke of her relief: “I am delighted with the decision. It is a victory for religious liberty, not just for myself but for others in a similar position to mine.“Gay rights should not be used as an excuse to bully or harass people over their religious beliefs.”
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Now why is it that any time you attach “deeply held religious beliefs” to something you can get away with it, even if it would otherwise be considered unacceptable? Would I be able to claim “deeply held religious beliefs” any time I don’t want to deal with certain groups at work, for example? Or is it only certain classes of people against whom one is legally allowed to have “deeply held religious” intolerance toward?
Rod Liddle says it a little more bluntly:
Crucial to its judgment was Ladele’s “Christian faith” which, she insisted, precluded her from giving a professional blessing to sodomites. I don’t know what would have happened if she had told the tribunal that she wasn’t a Christian or a Muslim or of any other faith but just hated poofs. Probably she’d have lost.
Of course she would. But cloaked in the guise of “deeply held religious beliefs” homophobia sounds righteous. Just over half a century ago racism sounded just as righteous, as did opposition to interracial marriage. Times may change, but the modus operandi of bigotry changes little, if any.
Hat tips to Ebon and The Freethinker.
