UK's Christian students 'facing discrimination'
Pastor Dale Morgan
UK's Christian students 'facing discrimination'*
By PA
Last Updated: 9:46am GMT 24/11/2006
Christian students at many British universities are facing "considerable
opposition and discrimination", church leaders have claimed.
Bishops from the Anglican and Catholic churches say students' rights of
"freedom of expression, freedom of belief and freedom of association"
have been violated by student guilds who have changed their
anti-discrimination provisions.
In a letter to The Times, which cites guilds at Exeter, Birmingham and
Edinburgh as examples, they condemn the practice as "intolerant and
unlawful" and call upon all Christian unions currently suspended by
student associations to be "reinstated with full rights as a student
society forthwith".
The letter has been signed by numerous church officials, including the
former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey of Clifton, and The Right
Rev Crispian Hollis, Roman Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth and lead Bishop
of Higher Education.
Other senior figures from groups such as the Universities and Colleges
Christian Fellowship and the Christian Medical Fellowship have also
added their signatures.
Whilst the letter acknowledges that university guilds and associations
have a responsibility to ensure societies are run properly, it claims
they do not have the right to "restrict or change the essential beliefs
of those societies, or impose as leaders people who do not share those
core beliefs".
It says Christian Union (CU) meetings are open for all students to
attend and, as faith-sharing organisations, people who do not share the
faith are specifically invited. No restrictions are placed on who can
and cannot join.
But, as the CU's executive committee acts like "trustees", responsible
for ensuring donated funds are only used to further stated objectives
and that the purpose of the union is advanced, it would be
"inappropriate" for those who do not agree with the union's beliefs and
aims to become committee members.