Equality, Authority and the rejection of the liberal consensus
Vinay Samuel and Chris Sugden . CEN December 9 .
Baroness Hale, Deputy President of the UK Supreme Court and the most senior woman judge in the land recently gave a lecture in Oxford on “The Conflict of Equalities, Religion, Gender and Sexual Orientation”.
Judge Hale illustrated her position by reviewing the following cases with respect to conscientious objection advanced on religious grounds for reasonable accommodations: a double room in a homeowner’s B&B for a gay couple, a pro-gay slogan on a cake, taking civil partnership ceremonies, wearing a cross at work, and giving marriage and sex therapy counselling to gay couples.
Interestingly these cases were all brought by Christian Concern and Christian Institute who were never mentioned. She argued that there were no core beliefs in Christianity and its truth could not be ascertained in the same way as the rules of society. She implied that this would apply to all religions. It is not possible to enquire into the reasons people held the beliefs they do and conscience applies equally to non-religious beliefs which are as entitled to respect and protection.
While we were processing our response, the political world was shaken by Donald Trump’s victory that signalled the rejection of the ruling liberal consensus that appeared permanent in western democracies.
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