British Christians are increasingly suffering harassment and discrimination in every part of society, a new report has claimed.
Based on a survey of 1,562 responses, the <a href="https://vfjuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/The-Costs-of-Keeping-the-Faith-Report.pdf"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">report</mark></a> says that people who hold orthodox Christian views are being <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/irish-teacher-sacked-from-teaching-job-over-use-of-pronouns-for-transgender-pupil/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">marginalised and treated with contempt</mark></a>, while the figures indicate such marginalisation is even more acute among younger generations.
The report by <a href="https://vfjuk.org/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">Voice for Justice UK</mark></a>, a Christian organisation committed to social justice, found that:
· 56 per cent said they experienced hostility and ridicule if they discussed their religious beliefs (this went up to 61 per cent in the younger age group);
· More than half of under 35s felt there were negative stereotypes of Christians at their place of work;<br><br>· 38 per cent of Christians under 35 felt their freedom of speech was restricted;
· 78 per cent of respondents said they believed religious discrimination was not treated as seriously as other forms of discrimination.
According to Voice for Justice UK, “the biggest challenges came when Christians revealed they did not adhere to the beliefs of the LGBT movement”.
Lynda Rose, the director of Voice for Justice UK, said: “Christianity lies at the foundation of British society, underpinning our tolerance and acceptance of diversity.
“But our survey shows Christians in the UK, both in the workplace and socially, are increasingly subjected to discrimination and marginalisation.
“Society has fallen victim to an ideology actively hostile to Christianity. This is a contravention of our law.”
She added: “If we want to safeguard our tolerance and freedom then we need to protect Christianity itself.”<br><br><strong>Related: <a href="Related: Police escort again needed at Manchester University to protect pro-life speaker from screaming pro-abortion mob"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">Police escort again needed at Manchester University to protect pro-life speaker from screaming pro-abortion mob</mark></a></strong><br><br><strong>Related: <mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color"><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/englands-christian-inheritance-at-stake-in-uk-general-election/">England’s ‘Christian inheritance’ at stake in UK General Election</a></mark></strong>
Voice for Justice UK commissioned the survey after it discovered that the UK was ranked among the top five countries in Europe for anti-Christian hate crime.
It discovered hundreds of instances of Christians suffering censorship, harassment, bullying or discrimination, often harming employment or promotion prospects.
More than half of those surveyed experienced hostility and ridicule and many complained of being compelled to sign up to ideologies they disagreed with or act against their consciences.
Voice for Justice UK says this conflict “raised questions about how we balance our different belief systems”.
“No protected characteristic is more important than another,” it concludes. “Yet the majority felt there was a hierarchy of protected characteristics with religion at the bottom of the list.”
Many respondents also noticed that Muslims were being treated with “a greater sensitivity” than Christians, with any criticism of Muslims perceived as comparable to racism.
Others complained that <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/progressive-ideology-has-replaced-christianity-in-many-of-our-catholic-schools/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">schools taught ideology to Christian children even when their parents objected</mark></a>.
“Children expressing Christian beliefs would be bullied by pupils and intimidated by teachers,” said Voice for Justice. “Christian teachers were required to teach materials which went against their faith.”
Voice for Justice UK said that when Christians were not supported by the mainstream churches to which they belonged they often responded by leaving.
The largest group in the survey were Christians who had no denomination but were depending on scripture and independent worship in order to sustain their faith.
In a foreword, Nick Fletcher, a committed Christian who was elected as Conservative MP for Don Valley in 2019, said: “Christianity is the cornerstone for so many of the values we take for granted.
“If it were not for Christianity our tolerance, our diversity, freedom of conscience and love for our neighbour would become a thing of the past.
“This report needs to be circulated widely among those working in human resources, those responsible for education, as well as employers, Church leaders, civil servants and those responsible for policy making.<br><br><strong>Related: <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/you-cant-police-belief-but-state-still-tries-to-control-our-thoughts-and-values/?swcfpc=1"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">You can’t police belief but the State still tries to control our thoughts and values</mark></a></strong>
“We all need to wake up to the attack on Christianity in our society, before it turns into something even more sinister. This report is a vital step in sounding the alarm.”
In response to the evidence of widespread discrimination, Voice for Justice UK set up The Commission of Inquiry into Discrimination Against Christians (CIDAC) which over two years will gather evidence of persecution and harassment of Christians because of their faith.<br><br><em><a href="https://vfjuk.org/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">Voice for Justice UK</mark></a>'s 'The Costs of Keeping the Faith' report can be read in full <a href="https://vfjuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/The-Costs-of-Keeping-the-Faith-Report.pdf"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">here</mark></a>. </em><br><br><em>Photo: A participant during London's Trans Pride protest, England, 9 July 2022. 'Trans rights' activists took to the streets of central London to march for the fourth year under the slogan 'Pride is a Protest'. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images.)</em>
