Four high-profile religious freedom cases

A NUMBER of Christians have been embroiled in employment tribunals or court cases with their employers over their faith.

Sent home for wearing symbol

IN October 2006, Nadia Eweida, an employee for British Airways, was asked to take leave after disregarding company uniform policy when she had refused to cover up her cross necklace.

Whilst she lost her initial appeal, in 2007 BA altered its uniform policy to allow the wearing of the cross.

When the company refused to pay Ms Eweida for her suspension time, she put forward her case once more at an employment tribunal on the basis of religious discrimination, which she lost in 2007.

Penalty for not covering up

SHIRLEY Chaplin, a nurse for the NHS in Exeter, was disciplined in 2009 after refusing to pin her Christian cross necklace to the inside of her uniform for health and safety reasons.

She took the case to an Employment Tribunal in 2010 which she lost on the basis that wearing the cross was not a mandatory requirement of her faith.

The Christian Legal Centre, strong supporters of Ms Chaplin’s cause, stated that the reason her case was unsuccessful was because she was unable to prove that she was part of a group experiencing disadvantage from the policy. Having now formed this group, her case has been brought to the European Court of Human Rights.

Forced out over civil ceremony

CHRISTIAN registrar Lilian Ladele refused to conduct civil partnership ceremonies on the grounds that it was against her faith, causing her to lose her job in 2007.

When civil partnerships were initially introduced in Britain in 2004, Ms Ladele avoided conducting them by swapping with other registrars.

When North London council introduced a more rigid system in 2007, Ms Ladele made an appeal that she was being forced to choose between her religion and her job.

Although initially ruling in her favour, the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled against Ms Ladele in November 2009.

Sacked in gay sex therapy dispute

BRISTOL marriage counsellor Gary McFarlane was sacked in 2007 after the counselling service Avon Relate questioned his views on giving therapy to couples of the same sex.

Mr McFarlane made an appeal for unfair dismissal on the grounds that the principles of his Christian faith were not adequately accounted for. The appeal was rejected in 2010.

Dismissing his appeal, Lord Justice Laws said legislation for the protection of views held purely on religious grounds could not

be justified.