Brazier Calls for debate on prejudice against Christians

Friday, 22, May 2009 10:07

Julian has called on the Government to debate in the House of Commons prejudice against Christians in the Public Sector.

Mr. Julian Brazier (Canterbury) (Con): On the last day of term, may I appeal for a debate during the forthcoming term on prejudice against Christians in a growing proportion of the public services? On top of a string of incidents involving health service and local authority workers being penalised for offering to pray for people, for saying "God bless" to them and so on, the worst case of all must be that of the foster mother who had fostered a large number of children in care and provided a loving home for them, but who lost her job and with it her house because a 16-year-old girl she was fostering chose to convert to Christianity. May I urge the Leader of the House to consider this a worthy subject for a debate in the House?

Ms Harman: I shall refer the hon. Gentleman's point to the relevant Minister in the Department for Children, Schools and Families. This is really just a matter of basic good practice and common sense. There is nothing in any law or guidance that requires people to act daft. (Hansard, 21 May 2009: Column 1646)

After Business Questions Julian Said,

"As a nation we have a deserved reputation for religious tolerance, and have become home to many diverse religious groups. But, in our bid to prove a religiously tolerant country I believe we are going too far the other way? Recently we have seen a succession of pernicious attacks on Christianity by aggressive secularism.

For example, Caroline Petrie, a nurse from Weston-super-Mare, was suspended without pay by North Somerset Primary Care Trust, because she offered to pray for one of her patients. Despite the fact that the patient hadn't complained, Mrs Petrie faced disciplinary action on the grounds of failing to demonstrate a "personal and professional commitment to equality and diversity". The fact that Mrs. Petrie showed obvious compassion for her patient's wellbeing seems to have been irrelevant to this health trust."