When an individual\u2019s sincerely held beliefs come into collision with the demands of their employers in this way, surely it is incumbent on both sides to try to resolve the conflict in a grown-up and sensible way. Yet instead of the application of a little common sense, we have seen protracted and costly legal action, followed by a judgment that severely curtails people\u2019s rights to manifest their faith at work. This is part of a wider trend to nudge religion to the margins of society. People of faith are depicted as being not part of the mainstream, as being quirky and different. Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, spoke out persuasively in this newspaper yesterday about the \u201cintolerance of aggressive secularism\u201d\u009d and it is time more voices like his were raised.<\/p>\n
We are not only a Christian country, we are a tolerant one \u201d\u201c but it seems the new secularism has no room for toleration. When these cases first arose, a number of church leaders warned of \u201capparent discrimination\u2019\u2019 against churchgoers where the \u201creligious rights of the Christian community are being treated with disrespect\u2019\u2019. That claim seems less alarmist than ever.<\/p>\n