Bishops: Christians face discrimination

Admin Tue 30 Mar 2010, 11:11 am

Bishops: Christians face discrimination

LONDON (UPI) -- Christians in Britain are being discriminated against and the government is not upholding Christian beliefs, a group of bishops says.

In a letter to a newspaper Sunday, six prominent bishops and a former Archbishop of Canterbury condemned what they called "double standards" applied to public sector employers, claiming Christians are punished while followers of other faiths are treated far more sensitively, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

The letter cited the case of a nurse who was prohibited from working in hospital wards because she wore a cross around her neck.

Concessions are made for other faiths, including allowing Muslim nurses to wear headscarves on duty, the newspaper reported.

"There have been numerous dismissals of practicing Christians from employment for reasons that are unacceptable in a civilized country," the bishops' letter said.

"We are deeply concerned at the apparent discrimination shown against Christians and we call on the government to remedy this serious development," the letter concluded.

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