Did that headline get your attention? It should. A new law is dangerously close to becoming law in the U.K. that would essentially outlaw evangelical Christianity and Roman Catholicism. Not that "The Equality Bill" specifically designates those faiths as illegal in the legislation itself. Rather, the bill outlaws specific beliefs and practices that are fundamental to both evangelical Christianity and Roman Catholicism. In fact, experts are saying that "The Equality Bill" would create a volcanic eruption of litigation in U.K. courts and would ultimately force those who wish to continue to practice anything that even looks like traditional Christianity to go underground.
So just what is the Equality Bill?
The Equality Bill allegedly aims to consolidate all existing anti-discrimination laws into a single legal framework. However, it actually goes much farther than any "anti-discrimination" laws in the U.K. have ever gone before.
On the surface, this legislation seems like a good idea. After all, who wants to discriminate against old people or people of other races? You can read a summary of this legislation put out by backers of the bill right here. It actually contains a few good proposals.
But it is also a vicious attack on traditional Christianity.
The Telegraph quotes a top level official from the "Ministry for Equality" as saying the following when he was asked whether the Equality Bill would lead to legal action between churches and atheists....
"Both need to be lining up [their lawyers]," he said. "The secularists should have the right to challenge the church."
Secularists should have the right to challenge the beliefs and practices of the church?
What in the world?
So exactly what would the Equality Bill mean for churches in the U.K.?
Evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics would be wide open not only to lawsuits but also to unlimited government fines and even criminal prosecution if....
*They are found to discriminate against homosexuals or transsexuals in any area of employment - including the hiring of pastors and priests.
*They are found to discriminate against homosexuals or transsexuals in any preaching or teaching.
*They are found to discriminate against hiring married men or women as priests as the Roman Catholics have done for centuries.
*They are found to insist that pastors or priests remain celibate (as in the case of Catholics) or only have sex within marriage (as in the case of evangelicals).
*They are found trying to prevent any of their clergy from entering into same-sex civil partnerships.
*They are found to be trying to prevent their pastors or priests from having sex change operations, living openly promiscuous lifestyles or engaging in any other form of sexual expression.
So essentially, if the Equality Bill is fully implemented, no religious organization is the U.K. will be able to preach or teach against sexual immorality, will be able to discriminate against the sexually immoral when hiring clergy or will be able to take a formal moral stand against sexually immorality in any way whatsoever.
Some analysts are even claiming that if the Equality Bill is adopted, all hiring for church positions that do not spend at least 51 percent of their time leading worship and preaching would be subject to regulations that would ban discrimination against those from other religions. So, for example, a Baptist church would be forced to consider an Islamic candidate for a position that ministers to the youth but that also performs other non-teaching functions much of the time as well.
Basically the Equality Bill would be a total nightmare for both evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics in the U.K. The fact that the law is written in such vague terms would open up the floodgates for all kinds of endless litigation. If the Equality Bill becomes law, free speech and free expression in churches in the U.K. would be deeply chilled as church leaders struggle with the never ending threat of lawsuits, fines and criminal prosecution.
The days when churches in the U.K. could openly preach against sexual sin would be over.
The days when churches in the U.K. could openly have any say over the sexual behavior of their clergy would be over.
The days when churches in the U.K. could openly discuss what the Bible says about "right" and "wrong" would be over.
Thus this would essentially mean that end of legal evangelical Christianity and legal Roman Catholicism in the U.K.
That sounds quite dramatic, but that is the truth of the matter.
In fact, Baroness O'Cathain, a Tory lawmaker and an evangelical Christian, said last week that the Equality Bill is the "single most damaging Bill to come before the House in my 18 years as a Member".
Are you starting to get the idea?
We are living in the last days, and the truth is that Christian persecution is exploding all over the world. Christians in western nations have always thought that it was something that happened "over there", but now Christian persecution is moving forward with blinding speed in places such as the U.K.
Ultimately, there will be no escaping persecution. If you plan to be a Christian in the last days you will face persecution as long as you are on this earth.
You better get ready for it.
If you are a Christian and you are not already being persecuted, you will be soon.
How will this bill apply to Muslims? They don’t accept homosexuality either.
Somehow I can’t see the British government succeeding at regulating what goes on in mosques! They know that Christians, instead, are easy targets.
[...] Signofthelastdays.com [...]
I’m so tired of this “attack on the church” type of story.
The Catholic, Mormon, Methodist, etc. churches are all huge multinational corporations. That’s – FOR PROFIT – corporations.
The Mormons (the for profit corporation name) has a sub-division in the form of a non-profit entity, called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. All churches are set up in this corporate structure.
For those who don’t understand why the Mormons and the Christians of various faiths and non-profit churches can get away with giving money to political campaigns and support though billions of dollars in campaigns against civil rights like the “Yes on Prop 8″ media and advertising frenzy in California, and still keep their ‘non-profit’ status… it’s because the ‘for profit’ corporation that is the church is the one doing the dirty work, while forcing on their non-profit followers these so-called moral beliefs against minority lifestyles that the corporation frowns upon. That’s a lot of voters!
Now stop telling me the church is being attacked, for there is no separation of church and state when the church is a massive conglomerate corporation with millions or billions of blind donating followers.
You’re darn right I should be able to challenge the practices of the corporate church!
Now I grew up in church, and have a special place in my heart for the goings on of the small churches around the world who help the community. But these are the innocents, the blind parishioners.
Get rid of the corporation, and the churches have my support in any ethical and moral individual venture they want to take on…
But only if the “business” aspect is taken out of the equation. Only if the Vatican is shown for what it is… a rather hurtful corporation.
It’s about time this happens, and that good Christians realize that they are not only supporting their church, but also a corporation rather than their own community church when the offering plate comes around.
Morals and values without the fear of God is the true test of ones character.
Please don’t censer me, for this is information all should know and understand…
Peace and love to all.
[...] The Equality Bill: Will A New Law Essentially Outlaw Evangelical Christianity…In The UK? [...]
This hardly amounts to persecution…
I am a Christian, and a preacher, however the fact that some of the issues that have been wrong for centuries is now being put right is not a bad thing.
For goodness sakes, aren’t there more important things to preach about than sex? Like poverty. War. Climate Change. Justice. Kindness. Generosity. Love. Loving our Neighbours. Jesus’ life. The witness of the prophets. The Prodigal Son. Repentance.
Maybe if the church had held onto Jesus’ life and ministry more closely we wouldn’t be in this mess. If we held to good relationships as a norm, then we’d have realised the error of our ways and allowed folk to marry. If celibacy is self-evidently the right thing, then it will become apparent.
Christians will be able to apply for jobs in Mosques, and preach the gospel, if necessary using words. We will have access to places where previously would have had problems.
And maybe we’ll set sex to one side, and look at issues of life, death and resurrection, and Christ’s coming in glory to judge the quick and the dead. If Christ is coming, then the law doesn’t matter, for he is the fulfilment of the law, and we will be held to a higher standard. The law becomes a promise, not a stranglehold.
I realise that ‘you should never let truth get in the way of a good story’ but even a cursory examination of the proposed legislation makes the above post appear not simply wrong but malicious.
The legislation does not make for the ‘outlawing of ‘traditional’ forms of Christianity’ but does make another attempt at outlawing discrimination against workers; doing this for blacks or women was also opposed by ‘traditional’ Christians but fortunately ‘the Truth will set you free’ and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it.
Sad to think how many people won’t get to meet the Truth in Jesus because of the bigotry of the people who feel they represent him by holding hard to a few scattered verses from the Old Testament.
am a Christian, and a preacher, however the fact that some of the issues that have been wrong for centuries is now being put right is not a bad thing.
++++++
of course according to YOUR MAN MADE RELIGION it’s all wrong.
you will fight against the very Church instituted by Christ.
and YOU know what ? I don’t even need to hear YOUR arguments against the Roman Catholic Church as it’s not what YOU KNOW,it’s WHAT you know is wrong.
and to all NWO,you don’t win,you will not eliminate US.
cromwell tried and long before him caesar,etc etc.
you will never succeed.
Glory to God in the Highest !
It appears that Christians everywhere had better start preparing themselves for war, because the governments of the world are already making war upon Christians, by political means. An armed population that refuses to let a government get away with doing them wrong will also find itself gaining respect. Ironically, preparation for war may be the best way to avoid having to fight one entirely.
This is heinous. I’m an American, and this could NEVER happen in the U.S. because of our Constitution. In the United States, government has no business in religion, and vice versa. They talk about sexual expression? What about religious freedom and expression? Is that now wrong? I practice many religions, and I’m liberal in that sense, but I consider myself a Catholic since I was raised in the Church. This bill right here is quite frankly, awful. They’re basically throwing religion out the windows. They want to breed groups of immoral, impolite, rude individuals. I thought the moral fiber of the United States was going down the tubes, but then I see this, and I say, wow it’s not all that bad here. You guys need to take a serious look at what’s going on in your country. This Bill is a complete joke and an infringement upon freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. If you support this bill, get your head checked out.
- The Conservative Network of America
This is absolutely ridiculous, I have no problem with homosexuals but when did the minority get to speak for the majority? The same applies for the new smoking regulations, is the british government hell bent on waging war agaist those who do not agree with them. I was never a tory but I am now willing to change my mind.
Can you imagine the reprocussions in Northern Ireland? Unionists are mostly members of ProtestanT churches which condemn the act of homosexuality and the Nationalist/Republicans are mostly Roman Catholic, if the government think any laws which persecute the churches right to preach and follow the laws of JESUS CHRIST, they are in for a rude awakening.
This all stinks of aethiest militancy.
Anglicans as a majority do not agree with homosexual clergy and they are meant to be the state religion in the UK.
It all appears that Labour are trying to save their necks by appealing to the minorities.
God help us all, I will not remain in this country if the state decide they can control the churches.
Any act against God is an act of war against the Lord of All Authority, yes I will willingly join all the sons and daughters of Christ in jail when they speak out against what is unnatural.
The book of Revelation in the Bible foretold the destruction of an entity called ‘Babylon the Great’ This can be identified as religion including Christendom -the principle part. What we may be seeing is the beginnings of such an event that will sweep right around the earth. It is the opening part of what Jesus Christ called ‘The Great Tribulation’ such as man has never before experienced. We are indeed near the end of the ‘Last Days’.