Christians in Britain are feeling persecuted because of
“paradoxical” human rights laws and the ignorance of local councils, according
to a major BBC documentary to be broadcast on Easter Sunday.
Nicky Campbell, the presenter of the corporation’s flagship
programme for Holy Week, argues that Labour’s anti-discrimination legislation
has led to clashes between religious conscience and equality for homosexuals.
He blames local authorities for rebranding Christmas
celebrations as winter festivals because of a misguided belief that they are standing
up for minority faiths.
Campbell, the Radio 5 Live presenter, also highlights the
French and Russian revolutions as examples of what can happen when religion is
pushed out of public life.
He concludes that although Christians do not face violence
and suppression in Britain as they do abroad, their treatment can seem unfair
in a modern democracy.
Campbell says: “So, are Christians being persecuted? No
they’re not being tortured or killed like Christians in Pakistan and the Sudan.
“But a minority believes they are being sidelined and
victimised. By the standards of a liberal society that can feel like
persecution.”
However he adds that this may be a “source of strength” for
churchgoers, who thrived in ancient Rome in the face of persecution.
The hour-long programme, called Are Christians Being
Persecuted?, looks into widespread claims that the faith is being driven out of
public life in Britain while its followers are being treated less fairly than
minority groups.
Campbell looks at town halls such as Rochdale that have
added references to Eid, Diwali and Hanukkah to their high street Christmas light
displays, or replaced them with generic “winter events” as happened in Dundee
last year.
He says viewers may see this as “political correctness gone
mad” or “zealous councils following multi-cultural diktats from above”.
Campbell believes council leaders are scrapping traditional
Christmas celebrations because they have no understanding of what followers of
any religion want.
“If councils perhaps did more to find out what minority
faiths actually thought about Christian festivals, it would reduce much of the
resentment some Christians feel,” he says.
The documentary considers the cases of public sector workers
whose adherence to Bible teaching has led them to be suspended or even sacked.
These includes Caroline Petrie, the nurse who offered to pray for an elderly
patient, and Lillian Ladele, the registrar who refused to carry out civil
partnerships for same-sex couples.
Campbell interviews trainee teachers who say they are
“nervous” about discussing their faith with pupils as their conservative views
on sexuality “could get me into trouble”.
Describing the anti-discrimination laws brought in “to make
Britain a more tolerant society” by protecting religious believers as well as
homosexuals, the presenter claims: “The paradox is that these same laws that
have left some Christians feeling like a persecuted minority.
“The problem is the legislation never made clear what would
happen in the event of a clash. Whose human right would take priority over the
other?”
Campbell cites the terror and totalitarianism that sprung up
in France and Russia after their revolutions abolished religion and says: “The
guiding principle of ‘liberalism’ - a commitment to tolerance ... to live and
let live, has an inherent flaw.
“It’s less inclined to argue against strong competing
ideologies – religious or otherwise.”
He interviews prominent figures from all sides of the debate
about the place of religion in modern Britain, although Trevor Phillips, head
of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said he was “too busy” to take
part.
A survey of 1,000 people commissioned to accompany the
programme found that 44 per cent believed Britain is becoming less tolerant of
religion.
:: Are Christians Being Persecuted? is on BBC One at 10.50pm
on Easter Sunday.
