Christianity is “marginalised” within the UK and those that profess the Christian religion are “considered with contempt”, a brand new report has warned.
Christians whose beliefs battle with mainstream LGBT ideology are “probably to be attacked”, says Voice for Justice UK (VfJ), which compiled the report.
The report attracts on responses to a VfJ survey of 1,562 British Christians about their experiences of intolerance or discrimination within the UK.
Solely round half of respondents (53%) mentioned they felt free to talk their thoughts on social points, in comparison with 38% of under-35s.
Greater than half (56%) mentioned that they had skilled hostility or ridicule for discussing their non secular beliefs, rising to 61% amongst under-35s.
Greater than three quarters (78%) didn’t really feel that non secular discrimination was handled as critically as different types of discrimination.
“Usually respondents felt that discrimination towards different religions was given consideration; what was ignored was discrimination towards the Christian religion,” the report mentioned.
“This was seen lately in a calendar the Nationwide Belief produced for its volunteers. Eid, Ramadan, Diwali, even LGBT+ historical past month had been included. However Christmas and Easter weren’t.”
“Lots of our respondents famous that efforts had been made to accommodate the beliefs of individuals from different non secular backgrounds and keep away from offending them, whereas the identical consideration was not paid to these of the Christian religion.”
Regardless of this, most Christians (78%) had been open to speaking about their religion and beliefs, though 1 / 4 mentioned they felt the necessity to conceal them at work, with a 3rd amongst under-35s.
Half of all respondents mentioned that there are unfavorable stereotypes about non secular individuals of their place of business or research.
A younger Catholic pupil described being “bullied” by most of his college buddies for holding pro-life views.
“Once they discovered, they began questioning whether or not it was ethical to remain buddies with me, and a variety of them determined towards it,” he mentioned.
One respondent described “a variety of taunts and mock” when working for an area council, whereas one other former native authority employee mentioned their council was “very supportive of LGBT however has no help for various positions”.
A former NHS employee mentioned that “as a Christian I’m usually ignored (shunned) or ridiculed for my beliefs within the office” and one other respondent described “measured strain from the hierarchy to help LGBT points”.
The report says: “Whereas there ought to be no hierarchy within the listing of protected traits, this appears counter to actuality. There seems to be a hierarchy of protected traits the place all issues LGBT+ are on the high and ethnicity is barely beneath that.” .”
Nick Fletcher MP mentioned: “Christianity is the cornerstone of so many values that we take with no consideration. With out Christianity, our tolerance, our variety, freedom of conscience and love of neighbor can be a factor of the previous.”
“This message must be disseminated extensively amongst human assets professionals, these liable for training, in addition to employers, church leaders, civil servants and people liable for coverage making.
“All of us have to get up to the assault on Christianity in our society earlier than it turns into one thing much more sinister. This information is a vital step in sounding the alarm.”
Lynda Rose, director of the VfJ, mentioned the findings made “alarming studying”.
“Christianity underpins British society, underpinning our tolerance and acceptance of variety. Nonetheless, our analysis exhibits that Christians within the UK, each within the office and socially, are more and more topic to discrimination and marginalisation,” she mentioned.
“Society has fallen sufferer to an ideology actively hostile to Christianity. That is towards our regulation. If we wish to defend our tolerance and freedom, we should defend Christianity itself.”
The report was compiled in response to analysis by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Towards Christians, which ranked the UK among the many high 5 nations in Europe for anti-Christian hate crimes.
Final month, the US Fee on Worldwide Spiritual Freedom (USCIRF) criticized a number of European governments for “focusing on people for his or her peaceable non secular expression”, together with the UK over its therapy of pro-life volunteer Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who has been accused a number of occasions. for silent prayers close to abortion clinics.