Trevor Phillips states that faith rules end at the temple doors. Having made that very point myself, you would think that I agree with him. In part, I do. Faith should have no influence over the public sphere and most certainly not in the management of public affairs or legislation. In that, we appear to agree.
However:
Christian adoption agencies and hotel owners have fought legal battles against rules requiring them to treat gay and straight people equally.
But Mr Phillips said those who provide a public service must abide by the law.
There is a significant difference here and the law is wrong. People providing such a service are doing so from private property and as the property owners, they should make the rules about who they do business with and the terms of such business – and if their faith says no gays cohabiting, well, that should be that. Their gaff, their rules, just as is the case with gay only establishments.
Equally, I am comfortable with the idea of Christian adoption agencies applying their moral code when seeking homes for children – as it is a private agency, not a public one, even if the service being provided is public.
So, yeah, absolutely;
Asked about conflicts between religion and equalities, he said: “The law stops at the door of the temple as far as I’m concerned.”
However property rights should also apply. A law that doesn’t recognise that is wrong.
It does respect property rights. It just doesn’t think there are any.
The smoking ban set the tone. The government can now dictate what private property owners can and cannot allow on their own property. There’s much more to come.