Comments on: All religious beliefs are equal ... http://www.anthonysmith.me.uk/2008/12/29/all-religious-beliefs-are-equal/ Ceci n'est pas un blog Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:09:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anthony http://www.anthonysmith.me.uk/2008/12/29/all-religious-beliefs-are-equal/comment-page-1/#comment-13813 Anthony Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:26:48 +0000 http://www.anthonysmith.me.uk/?p=267#comment-13813 Hi White, Sorry, your post was delayed unintentionally. I don't think the Pilgrim Home excludes the gay community, except insofar as having a Protestant Christian ethos might discourage gay people from wanting to live there. But I don't have a problem with that - I'm sure the council is in favour of diversity and will financially support care homes with a wide range of ethoses. But this seems to be the real issue: do you think that local authorities should impose religious discrimination in order to promote "equality" and "inclusion"? Hi White,

Sorry, your post was delayed unintentionally.

I don't think the Pilgrim Home excludes the gay community, except insofar as having a Protestant Christian ethos might discourage gay people from wanting to live there. But I don't have a problem with that - I'm sure the council is in favour of diversity and will financially support care homes with a wide range of ethoses.

But this seems to be the real issue: do you think that local authorities should impose religious discrimination in order to promote "equality" and "inclusion"?

]]> By: white hotel http://www.anthonysmith.me.uk/2008/12/29/all-religious-beliefs-are-equal/comment-page-1/#comment-13756 white hotel Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:28:56 +0000 http://www.anthonysmith.me.uk/?p=267#comment-13756 Belief and expression of belief are not the same thing. Freedom of expression is a limited human right, limited precisely inasmuch as it does not impinge on the rights of others to live a life free from discrimination, harassment, etc. A belief (doctrinal or otherwise) that homosexuality is wrong is a private matter; expression of that belief, in personal or professional life, may well test the legal boundaries of freedom of expression. Services commissioned by local authorities are bound by standards around equality and inclusion. The care home you refer to has every right to provide its services on the basis that it does not include the gay community, but applying for public funding on that basis is inappropriate. Belief and expression of belief are not the same thing. Freedom of expression is a limited human right, limited precisely inasmuch as it does not impinge on the rights of others to live a life free from discrimination, harassment, etc. A belief (doctrinal or otherwise) that homosexuality is wrong is a private matter; expression of that belief, in personal or professional life, may well test the legal boundaries of freedom of expression.

Services commissioned by local authorities are bound by standards around equality and inclusion. The care home you refer to has every right to provide its services on the basis that it does not include the gay community, but applying for public funding on that basis is inappropriate.

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