Christian Lawyers Reject 'Intolerant' Sexual Orientation Regulations

The Lawyers' Christian Fellowship (LCF) has criticised the final draft of the new Sexual Orientation Regulations unveiled yesterday by Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly.

The LCF said the regulations were 'intolerant', as it remarked that the final version of the new law had not made any significant concessions to protect the rights of Christians and followers of other faiths.

The regulations, due to come into force on April 30, will make it unlawful to discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, services, premises, education and public functions.

Christians fought hard to overturn the regulations, fearing that people of faith will be forced to act against their consciences.

Under the regulations, it will be illegal for a Christian printer to refuse to print material promoting homosexual sex, or a Jewish conference centre to refuse to accept a booking from a gay and lesbian society which wishes to hold a meeting promoting homosexual practices.

Thomas Cordrey, barrister and Public Policy Analyst at the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship, said: "This legislation is unprecedented in its complete intolerance of those who have religious beliefs."

Cordrey said that the law will make it illegal for Christians to "hold clear to the Bible's clear teaching that God loves everyone and wants everyone to know him, but also, that extra-marital sexual conduct - whether homosexual or heterosexual - is wrong".

A recent row over the regulations centred on the Government's insistence that the new laws would apply to the Catholic Church's adoption agencies, meaning they will be forced to place children with gay couples or close.

Cordrey said it was "astounding" that the Government would shut down extensive voluntary services provided by Christian adoption agencies, drug rehabilitation centres, homeless shelters and community centres, "rather than accept that Christians should not be forced to promote homosexual practices".

The regulations and consultation response reconfirmed that there would be no exemptions to the law for faith-based adoption and fostering agencies. Rather the regulations will provide for a transition period for faith-based adoption and fostering agencies until the end of 2008.

Andrea Williams, Public Policy Officer at the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship, said: "Rather than balancing rights the Government have chosen to draft these regulations so that in almost every case the right to live a homosexual lifestyle trumps the right to live a religious lifestyle."

She added: "The morality being imposed by the Government on the British people has just taken a giant leap forward."