Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg this week, DUP MEP Diane Dodds voiced her concern at the ongoing campaign to suppress freedom of religious expression. Addressing the Parliament, Diane Dodds said:
"In recent years we have witnessed an ongoing campaign to suppress freedom of religious expression. Christian nurses have been disciplined for offering to pray with patients and, only this week, Lillian Ladele, a Christian registrar who was told to perform civil partnerships or face dismissal, has lost her case for religious discrimination at the Court of Appeal in the United Kingdom.
Equality laws have failed to protect Christians – indeed, quite the opposite. An amendment to the Equality Bill to protect the religious liberty of churches was voted down in the House of Commons two weeks ago, amid accusations of interference from the EU Commission. The Commission, in their 'reasoned opinion', argued that the UK needs to narrow the religious liberty safeguard in its employment laws. I say: shame on the Commission.
There must be recognition that people have faith and have the right to express that faith. Christians ought to be protected, and not punished, by the law."
