Pope criticises UK equality laws

Pope Benedict XVI, also known as Joseph Ratzinger

The Pope has caused controversy by criticising UK equality laws.

He told bishops that UK law threatens “longstanding British traditions” like freedom of speech, and “violates the natural law.”

UK equality law says that employers are not allowed to refuse to hire people on the basis of gender, sexuality, race, disability, belief or age.

However, there are exemptions for religious groups: they are allowed to discriminate when hiring for “religious jobs”. For example, the Church would be free to choose priests based on gender or sexuality, but would have to follow the rules when employing a cleaner.

Despite this, religious groups (including the Catholic church) have said the law restricts religious freedom and should include wider exemptions. Human rights campaigners, meanwhile, have said the definition of a “religious job” is too vague and allows unfair discrimination.

Following the Pope’s speech, the Government dropped an amendment to the upcoming Equality bill that would have clarified what counts as a “religious job”. The amendment had already been rejected by Anglican Bishops in the House of Lords.

The Pope has been criticised on two fronts. Some, including human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, have said it is a “coded attack on the legal rights granted to women and gay people”.

Others say he is interfering inappropriately in UK law.

What is ‘natural law’?

Natural law is not part of the legal system. It refers to the idea that there are rules about behaviour that are part of nature, not man-made. For example, many people think that murder is inherently wrong, not just because people have decided it is.

To avoid confusion, the man-made law is sometimes called “positive law”.

The idea of natural law is particularly controversial in cases like this, where one group thinks it disagrees with positive law, or when different people disagree on what natural law is.

Your Shout!

How should the law protect both equality and religious freedom? Is it wrong for the Pope to attack UK law? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.