Freedom is only skin deep

This week has brought two more alarming cases of official persecution of Christians in the UK. First off a nurse in Somerset was suspended after offering to pray with a patient (only to be re-instated after a media outcry). Then an experienced foster carer in the North of England was struck off the register after a 16 year old in her care from a Muslim background decided (of her own free choice) to become a Christian.

Most of last year's high profile cases regarding religious freedom seemed to centre around jewellery (silver rings or necklaces bearing crosses). Although these revealed a worrying double standard, Christianity is not defined by wearing certain items of clothing, avoiding certain foods, or praying at a particular time while facing in a particular direction. But to pray for people and communicate the 'good news' of the gospel message are absolute commands of Christ and core fundamentals of our faith. Deny a Christian the right to tell people about Jesus in word and deed, and you leave them little choice but peaceful civil disobedience.

The inconsistencies and injustices in these cases are too many and obvious to even start listing. It is bizarre and sinister that diversity and equality policies which were supposed to protect (amongst other things) religious freedom are being used by a minority of vindictive public sector managers for the purposes of active repression, and are creating a climate of fear where many more get deluded and hoodwinked into doing the same.

And it's not over yet. Today another case emerged of a five year old being reprimanded for talking about her faith to her classmates (and her mother, a school receptionist, is now facing the sack). The government had better speed up its plan to build those 'titan' prisons, because at this rate it is going to need around 10 million new prison places.