UK Nurse Told to Follow Rules, Cries “Christian Persecution”.
Why is it so many people think “religious beliefs” should exempt them from any rule/law they don’t want to follow? Then they turn around and cry persecution when they find out they don’t have special rights just because of their lifestyle choices.
Shirley Chaplin, 54, of Exeter, said she was removed from front-line duties for refusing to take off her cross.
Richard Younger-Ross, Lib Dem MP for Teignbridge, said it appeared to be a case of “religious bias”.
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Actually, it isn’t:
The Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust has said its uniform and dress code prohibits front-line staff wearing any type of necklace because of health and safety concerns.
So it’s not a case of “religious bias” but an across the board policy that happens to include crucifixes on chains, particularly those on long chains such as the one Chaplin wears. People working in health care settings are in close contact with patients, and often have to bend/stoop over them. Necklaces, particularly longer chains and pendants, can dangle and become contaminated. When the caregiver moves to the next patient s/he could easily pass on an infection via the necklace (it’s highly improbable that a necklace is going to be washed routinely as hands are). Yes, it’s a remote risk, but a risk all the same. Furthermore it’s possible that confused or agitated patients could grab a dangling necklace, or that the chain could get caught in patient apparatus, which puts both caregiver and patient at risk.
I worked for 20 years with adults who had disabilities. While our dress codes didn’t forbid any particular jewelry we were warned strongly against certain types of jewelry that could pose hazardous with agitated or confused individuals. Among those things were long chains and hoop or dangling earrings, all of which could be grabbed by agitated or confused clients. At one agency we also had a dress code that forbade tops with political or religious statements/slogans, and we weren’t allowed to discuss religion/politics with the clients. This was not, as some might like to claim, a matter of “religious persecution”, but to avoid hot-button topics that could cause agitation among the clients (who had mental illnesses). We were there to provide care to our clients, not to worry about our personal agendas.
The trust said it would only be acceptable to wear a crucifix pinned inside a uniform lapel or pocket.
So it’s not that Chaplin is forbidden to wear the crucifix while on duty, it’s that she can’t flaunt it to everyone in the manner she wishes to.
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“I can’t explain how important the cross is to me. It’s how I express my faith.
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“My Christian faith is what motivates me to care for others.
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She added: “You cannot separate a person’s faith and motivation from other areas of their life, including their work.
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Translation: I went into nursing to earn religious brownie points. If my patients and co-workers can’t tell from at least 10 feet away that I’m super-Christiany then how is the Big Guy going to know to give me a check mark in His book? If people can’t see my cross what good are all my efforts? It’s not like I’m doing this just to help people!
Chaplin isn’t being perseucted. She’s just being told to follow the rules that apply to all. The only thing being harmed here is her astounding religious ego and her delusion that unless every person she works with knows she’s a Christian the world will implode.
