This is oppressive in the extreme. It dictates in effect what it is permissible to believe. The European Parliament is in the hands - generally, not just on this - of left-wing and anarchistic demagogues. They have no concept of democracy with respect for the beliefs and customs of minorities.
Since I would be “offended” by any attempt to ,enforce this as a law would I therefore be able to negate the whole oppressive directive ?
I see that in this country the Roman Catholics are making a major protest. I would hope that the CoE might wake up from examining its navel and protest likewise. I would prefer a Christian response rather than a sectarian one.
Christina
EU OBSERVER
4.8.09
Catholics alarmed by EU equal rights law
ANDREW RETTMAN
BRUSSELS - Atheists could attack galleries for showing religious art and witches could claim the right to use church halls under a draft EU equal rights law, the Roman Catholic church has warned.
The EU bill aims to curtail discrimination on grounds of religion, disability, age or sexual preference in social situations not covered by existing labour law, such as renting properties.
The directive could enter into force in 2011 if member states give unanimous approval [unanimous ? -cs] in discussions planned for November by the Swedish EU presidency.
The counter-blast was put forward in recent days by the Roman Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales as part of a formal British government consultation procedure.
The bishops' group "commends" the EU effort to protect "the innate dignity of every person."
But it calls for the legal text to soften a clause against creating an "offensive environment" and to add an exemption to let religious organisations "function in accordance with [their] ethos."
"There is a risk that practical implementation may effectively turn the directive into an instrument of oppression against one or other group," the church paper, signed by bishops' conference general secretary Monsignor Andrew Summersgill, says.
"Homosexual groups ...may declare themselves offended by the presentation of the Catholic Church's moral teaching on homosexual acts; Catholics may declare themselves offended by a 'Gay Pride' march; an atheist may be offended by religious pictures in an art gallery."
"It is not clear whether [the bill] would apply to the activities of a Catholic priest, if, as recently occurred, he were to refuse to take a booking for a Church Hall from a group of witches," it adds.
The European Parliament passed the draft law in April by 363 votes against 226. Left-leaning and liberal MEPs championed the bill. But centre-right deputies said it will create too much red tape.
TELEGRAPH
4.8.09
EU equality law is an 'instrument of oppression', Roman Catholic bishops warn
A proposed European Union equality law has been branded an "instrument of oppression" by Britain's Roman Catholic leaders.
By Simon Caldwell
The bishops of England, Wales and Scotland denounced the European Commission's planned Equal Treatment Directive as "wholly unacceptable" because, they said, it would force Christians to act against their consciences.
The directive is aimed at harmonising and enforcing a ban across the 27-member bloc on discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, age, religious belief and disability outside the scope of employment law.
But the bishops say the directive will simply have the result of sharply curtailing the rights of religious liberty and freedom of expression.
They say they will be powerless to stop witches from hiring out church property, for instance, or from insisting that people at Church events behave in a way consistent with Christian teaching.
Monsignor Andrew Summersgill, the general secretary of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, said that the Church "recognises that groups which do not agree with its teaching should be free to organise themselves and to propagate their views as they wish".
"What the Church is seeking from this directive is simply the right to maintain its own teaching and activities with integrity, according to its own ethos," he said in a written submission to a public consultation.
He said that the organisers of a Catholic conference, for instance, would be legally obliged to make double rooms available to gay and unmarried couples as well as for married heterosexuals.
He said: "At this point the EU would effectively be dictating to religious bodies what their faith does or does not require - a wholly unacceptable position."
The definition of harassment in the directive will also mean that any person who decided they were "offended" by an expression of Christianity could bring a case against the Churches.
Various pressure groups are likely to use the provisions of the directive to curtail the expression of views they disagree with by the simple expedient of declaring themselves to be offended.
"Homosexual groups campaigning for same-sex marriage may declare themselves to be offended by the presentation of the Catholic Church's moral teaching on marriage," he said, and "an atheist may be offended by religious pictures in an art gallery, or a Muslim may be offended by any picture representing the human form".
The directive fails to explain how conflicting rights could be reconciled, leading to fears that the EU will subordinate the rights of some groups, especially Christians, to the rights of others.
"If the directive is unable to provide a means of balancing those competing rights there is a risk that practical implementation may effectively turn the directive into an instrument of oppression," said Monsignor Summersgill.
EU directives are overarching laws introducing a minimum standard which all member states must meet.
A directive can only become law if all member states agree to it at a meeting of the council of the EU.
The European Parliament voted in favour of the proposed directive in April but MEPs put forward changes to the text that would reduce protection for churches and faith schools.
They also recommend deleting an assurance that the directive did not apply to national laws on marital status or abortion.
The EU council will now have to consider whether to adopt, amend or reject the directive.
Sweden, which holds the EU presidency, has indicated that it wishes to introduce the directive in November.
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