Senior bishops call for end to persecution of Christians in Britain

London, Mar.28 (ANI): Senior bishops have claimed that Christians in Britain are being persecuted and are being "treated with disrespect".

In a thinly veiled attack on the ruling Labour party, they claim that traditional beliefs on issues such as marriage are no longer being upheld and call on the major parties to address the issue in the run-up to the general election.

In a letter to The Sunday Telegraph, the bishops express their deep disquiet at the double standards of public sector employers, claiming that Christians are punished while followers of other faiths are treated far more sensitively.

Their intervention follows a series of cases in which Christians have been dismissed after seeking to express their faith.

They highlight the plight of Shirley Chaplin, a nurse who was banned from working on hospital wards for wearing a cross around her neck. This week she will begin a legal battle against the decision.

Christians are also increasingly concerned that the Government is ignoring their views on issues such as sex education and homosexuality when introducing new legislation.

A group of 640 head teachers, school governors and faith leaders have signed a separate letter to this newspaper warning that compulsory sex education in primary schools will erode moral standards and encourage sexual experimentation.

They have called for the dropping of legislation that will see children as young as seven taught about sex and relationships.

In their letter, the bishops urge the Government to stop the persecution of Christians.

"We are deeply concerned at the apparent discrimination shown against Christians and we call on the Government to remedy this serious development," they said.

In addition to Lord Carey, Michael Scott-Joynt, the Bishop of Winchester; Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Bishop of Rochester;

Peter Forster, the Bishop of Chester; Anthony Priddis, Bishop of Hereford; Nicholas Reade, Bishop of Blackburn and Jonathan Gledhill, Bishop of Lichfield, have signed the letter. (ANI)