Today’s Observer reports Ruth Kelly is blocking new legislation which would outlaw discrimination in the provision of goods and services because her fellow Catholics are objecting to the proposals.
According to the report Catholic adoption agencies and Christian guest houses “are saying they would not be happy for a gay couple to stay there.”
Tough.
Ministers have made clear in recent weeks that Muslims can’t be allowed to separate themselves from the rest of society behind the excuse of religion – the same is true of followers of Christian doctrine.
The laws of this country cannot be framed to sanction irrational discrimination and bigotry which derives from a selective reading of self-proclaimed religious texts.
When she was first appointed many anticipated that Kelly would be incapable of discharging her duties in the area of equality because of her religious views. It now seems we were right.
Elsewhere in the news Phil Woolas, a Minster in Kelly’s Department for Communities and Local Government, calls for a Muslim teaching assistant to be sacked on the grounds that she’s “put herself in a position where she can’t do her job” by covering her face.
I look forward to Woolas touring the studios calling on his boss to step down on the same grounds.
