Housing association van driver 'not a victim of anti-Christian discrimination'

Published by Ross Macmillan for 24dash.com in Housing

A Christian thinktank says that an electrician barred from displaying a cross in his van does not appear to be a victim of anti-Christian discrimination, since the rule in dispute does not single out any particular religion or belief.

Ekklesia has cautioned against a simplistic approach to such cases, which, it says, are being used to buttress campaigns suggesting that Christians face systemic discrimination in the UK.

Colin Atkinson faces disciplinary action from Wakefield District Housing (WDH) after refusing to remove a palm cross from the front of his vehicle.

Ekklesia has expressed the hope that all parties involved will attempt to resolve the case by mediation rather than confrontation, but has also questioned the interpretation being put on the incident by some - namely, that it amounts to hostility to Christianity.

The thinktank points out that the WDH ban applies to all religious symbols and other personal items. It says that while the rights and wrongs of such a prohibition can reasonably be debated and questioned, it cannot fairly be considered discrimination against Christians in particular. WDH allows Christians, as well as people of other faiths, to wear religious symbols on their persons or keep them on their desks.

Ekklesia says that repeated and unsubstantiated claims of anti-Christian discrimination only serve to make Christians appear defensive and obsessed with their own status.

Symon Hill, associate director of the thinktank, said: "Wakefield District Housing allows employees to wear religious symbols but not to display symbols in vehicles. This rule may or may not be defensible, but it applies to everyone - not a particular faith group. There therefore appears to be no substance to claims that WDH is discriminating against Christians in particular.

"Cases like this are most likely to be resolved by mediation and dialogue, not by scaremongering and hysterical headlines. We have seen no evidence that Christians as a group face systematic discrimination in Britain - but the constant repetition of unfounded claims may be in danger of bringing Christianity into disrepute.

Mr Hill added: "It is also ironic that this case should be about a cross and should be raised in Holy Week - since the cross symbolises Jesus' sacrificial death at the hands of political and religious authorities who wanted to suppress his nonviolent resistance to injustice. Properly understood, the cross is therefore a sign of self-giving love, not a justification for preoccupation with one's own status as a religious group."

In a statement released yesterday, WDH said: “WDH fully supports the right of our employees to wear religious symbols while at work, and support their right to have religious symbols on their desks.