Senior Gov. Advisor: "not okay" for faith schools to teach marriage is between one man and one woman
British Values Oath - Oppressive, Intolerant and Authoritarian
British Values Oath - Oppressive, Intolerant and Authoritarian
At the end of last year, Dame Louise Casey released her report “The Casey Review: a review into opportunity and integration.” The report highlighted deep segregation within our society and proposed some solutions to this problem, one of which is the swearing of a “British Values” oath for all holders of public office.
Recently, the Dame gave oral evidence on this report in which she said:
“...it is not okay for Catholic schools to be homophobic and anti-gay marriage. That... is not how we bring children up in this country. It is often veiled as religious conservatism, and I have a problem with the expression "religious conservatism", because often it can be anti-equalities. We have got to be careful that people can choose, obviously, to live the lives that they want to live, but that they cannot condemn others for living differently.”
This should strike any fair minded person as alarming - especially given the fact that she is a senior Government advisor - since the passage implies that anyone who holds traditional views about marriage should not be allowed to teach in school and that religious schools cannot teach in accord with their faith.
As the architect of the oath to “British values”, it would appear that, if Dame Casey has her way, all traditional Christians, and indeed anyone else who disagrees with same-sex marriage, will not be permitted to teach in schools or hold public office. This is because they are, or at least Dame Casey believes they are, opposed to the “British value” of “equality”.
While she is keen that people “cannot condemn others for living differently”, she is apparently keen to condemn others for thinking differently.
Her proposal for a "British values" oath and her subsequent clarificatory comments, show a deep intolerance towards those who hold differing views.
Her comments represent a grave threat to freedom for anyone who disagrees with state doctrine regarding marriage and the family.
These proposals form part of what seems to be an ever expanding state into family life and education. Rather than parents being the primary educators of their own children where schools exist to assist parents in this task, the state, under the Dame’s guidance, is attempting to take over the moral indoctrination of our nation’s children.
Finally, the proposals serve to silence and marginalise speech on these kinds of matters. If they are adopted, it reinforces the idea that believing in traditional marriage is wrong and silences those who continue to hold such views.
Dame Louise Casey’s comments, amount to a (poor) case for state enforced doctrine, the violation of which would result in exclusion from public office and education.
Please sign this petition to the Prime Minister asking her to intervene in this important matter.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/01/10/government-integration-tsar-says-it...
http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/01/10/top-government-advisor-not-ok...
http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/dame-louise-casey-religious...
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fil...
http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidence...
Complete your signature
Sign this petition now!
Regarding The Casey Review and Dame Louise Casey's Oral Evidence
I write to you in regard to the recent statements by Dame Louise Casey. She made these statements as part of her oral evidence on “The Casey Review: a review into opportunity and integration.”
I find her recommendation regarding an oath of British values to be deeply concerning and this concern has only been heightened after hearing her speak on the matter. Her proposals would amount to a form of state enforced doctrine, the violation of which would result in exclusion from public office and education.
In response to a question about schools she said,
“that it is not okay for Catholic schools to be homophobic and anti-gay marriage. That is not okay either—it is not how we bring children up in this country. It is often veiled as religious conservatism, and I have a problem with the expression "religious conservatism", because often it can be anti-equalities. We have got to be careful that people can choose, obviously, to live the lives that they want to live, but that they cannot condemn others for living differently.”
Dame Casey uses Catholic schools as an example, but there are many other religious groups to whom the same sentiment would presumably apply.
What she says is concerning on multiple levels including, but not limited to, her understanding of what constitutes “homophobia”; her view that it is “not okay” to teach children that marriage exists between one man and one woman for life; and her implicit understanding of “equality” which she opposes to religious conservativism.
In light of her statements and her proposals for a British Values oath:
1. Anyone who holds traditional views on marriage would be unable to take the equalities oath and would therefore be ruled out of serving in public office or teaching in school
2. Catholic schools and many other religious schools, would have to stop teaching certain tenets of their faith or cease being faith schools altogether. She is effectively determining, for adherents of religions to which she presumably does not belong, what aspects of their faith they can teach to their own children. This would be a serious and unjustified state imposition on the freedom of religion and family life.
3. The introduction of such an oath would result in a silencing of anyone who disagrees with state orthodoxy on marriage.
While she is keen that people “cannot condemn others for living differently”, she is apparently very happy to condemn others for thinking differently.
In short, her proposal for a "British values" oath and her subsequent clarificatory comments, show a deep intolerance and represent a grave threat to freedom for anyone who disagrees with state doctrine regarding marriage and the family.
I understand that societal cohesion and unity are important to the proper functioning of a nation, but Dame Casey’s suggestions serve only to further divide, not only the different peoples within our nation, but also our nation from its own past.
Therefore, I ask for your urgent attention on this matter. You must do all within your power to stop this "British values" oath being implemented and continue to uphold the freedom of religion and the freedom of conscience in Britain. Families and religions should be free to disagree with the state in their beliefs regarding marriage and family without the threat of state reprisal.
Regarding The Casey Review and Dame Louise Casey's Oral Evidence
I write to you in regard to the recent statements by Dame Louise Casey. She made these statements as part of her oral evidence on “The Casey Review: a review into opportunity and integration.”
I find her recommendation regarding an oath of British values to be deeply concerning and this concern has only been heightened after hearing her speak on the matter. Her proposals would amount to a form of state enforced doctrine, the violation of which would result in exclusion from public office and education.
In response to a question about schools she said,
“that it is not okay for Catholic schools to be homophobic and anti-gay marriage. That is not okay either—it is not how we bring children up in this country. It is often veiled as religious conservatism, and I have a problem with the expression "religious conservatism", because often it can be anti-equalities. We have got to be careful that people can choose, obviously, to live the lives that they want to live, but that they cannot condemn others for living differently.”
Dame Casey uses Catholic schools as an example, but there are many other religious groups to whom the same sentiment would presumably apply.
What she says is concerning on multiple levels including, but not limited to, her understanding of what constitutes “homophobia”; her view that it is “not okay” to teach children that marriage exists between one man and one woman for life; and her implicit understanding of “equality” which she opposes to religious conservativism.
In light of her statements and her proposals for a British Values oath:
1. Anyone who holds traditional views on marriage would be unable to take the equalities oath and would therefore be ruled out of serving in public office or teaching in school
2. Catholic schools and many other religious schools, would have to stop teaching certain tenets of their faith or cease being faith schools altogether. She is effectively determining, for adherents of religions to which she presumably does not belong, what aspects of their faith they can teach to their own children. This would be a serious and unjustified state imposition on the freedom of religion and family life.
3. The introduction of such an oath would result in a silencing of anyone who disagrees with state orthodoxy on marriage.
While she is keen that people “cannot condemn others for living differently”, she is apparently very happy to condemn others for thinking differently.
In short, her proposal for a "British values" oath and her subsequent clarificatory comments, show a deep intolerance and represent a grave threat to freedom for anyone who disagrees with state doctrine regarding marriage and the family.
I understand that societal cohesion and unity are important to the proper functioning of a nation, but Dame Casey’s suggestions serve only to further divide, not only the different peoples within our nation, but also our nation from its own past.
Therefore, I ask for your urgent attention on this matter. You must do all within your power to stop this "British values" oath being implemented and continue to uphold the freedom of religion and the freedom of conscience in Britain. Families and religions should be free to disagree with the state in their beliefs regarding marriage and family without the threat of state reprisal.
