Prejudice

One in three Christians claim to have suffered discrimination because of their religious views, according to a new poll.

The survey by the BBC shows unprecedented disquiet among church-going Britons amid claims they increasingly face prejudice in the media, the workplace and even in their own communities.


It follows a series of high-profile rows over unfair treatment towards Christians, including the case of the British Airways worker who was banned from wearing a crucifix, while Muslim employees were allowed to wear headscarfs.

A third of those polled by the BBC's religious programme Heaven And Earth, claim Christians experience discrimination in the way the media portrays them.

One in four said they thought they suffered discrimination in the workplace from colleagues.

And more than one in five said they thought Christians faced discrimination in their local communities.

It reflects a growing unease that Labour multiculturalism has led to ethnic minority faiths such as Islam and Hinduism being given special treatment.

Meanwhile, there is a fear that the historic importance of Christianity in British life has been pushed to the sidelines.

Tory MP and prominent Roman Catholic Ann Widdecombe said:

"We should stand together and fight this discrimination. Christians are being marginalised, yet it is the established religion of this country."

The Rev Malcolm Duncan, of Christian campaigning group Faithworks, added:

"The Christian church is suffering more than all other faiths in the UK.

There is an aggressive secularist agenda that says it's OK to support any group ending in "ism" but not OK to support anything connected to Christianity."

To read more:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23389370-details/One+third+of+all+Christians+say%253A+We%2527ve+suffered+discrimination/article.do