When Freedom of Speech and Expression and Religion comes up against anti discrimination protections.

[SomeHorribleMamsnetter]

Really interesting to see how this is handled. The National Secular Society had reported a Baptist minister for sexist comments made in a sermon:

premierchristian.news/en/news/article/complaints-after-misogynistic-sermon-at-scottish-church-but-pastor-denies-wrongdoing

The Regulator has refused tot intervene:

'The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) refused to intervene on charities which posted homophobic memes on Facebook and published a sermon saying housework is the "primary function" of women.'

www.secularism.org.uk/news/2023/03/regulator-oks-misogyny-homophobia-at-scottish-religious-charities

'the NSS said that while the Equality Act protects all individuals from discrimination, it does not protect the beliefs themselves because this would "essentially impose a 'blasphemy' code on wider society."

Adding that both sex and sexual orientation are also protected characteristics, it said: "We fail to understand why OSCR has apparently decided that religion should be prioritised over these protected characteristics by failing to prevent charities from promoting ideas which are clearly discriminatory to women and LGBT people."'

...

'In her response to the NSS in February, Robinson said: "The Scottish Government is clear that everyone is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and to freedom of expression.

"But these do not confer a right to act in a way that negates the human rights of other members of society."

She added that she has "committed to conducting a review of charity regulation in Scotland" and that work will begin "later this year".'

Seems reasonable. One cannot have windows into people's souls. No reason that a preacher should not preach against the practice of homosexuality (being homosexual is not a sin for Christians or Jews), nor preach in favour of women staying at home with children and being domestic (some women wish to do this and, in the current climate that unpaid work is worthless, feel discriminated against). Forcing women to stay at home (or go out to work, same difference) or orchestrating hate against homosexuals is against the law, but having unfashionable opinions is not.

I'm glad of the OSCR response. My understanding of the Equality Act is that it is intended to prevent unreasonable discriminiation by employers, service providers and public bodies, NOT to regulate free speech.

I have noticed a lot of 35 downwards religious people on social media have gone very religious, I lived in 1970/80s Catholic Ireland and what i am seeing now wasn't something i saw back then, they are more set in traditional roles than my 80 year old parents generation were. They seem to want to live more like my grandparents did including the lifestyle, especially in the USA.

As strong as the woke are there is a counter movement against them.

I sometimes am open mouthed at some of them, 28 and the confidence of then telling their peers to live as they do and they have loads of followers, it's like 'little house on the prairie'.

What's most interesting is they are having huge families and starting early, whilst the woke are not having children, having them late or small families. They are all now starting home educating as well more and more due to woke activist teachers.

There may not be many religious people around anymore, the young ones are like something I have never seen before.

The irony here is the national secular society is effectively accusing the church of blasphemy.