Pope criticises Equality Bill
Tue 02 Feb 2010
Measures to tackle discrimination in British workplaces have been criticised by the Pope.
The Equality Bill has been designed to stop recruiters rejecting job applicants on the basis of their age, gender, race or sexual orientation.
However, the Catholic Church is fundamentally opposed to homosexuality and the new legislation would make it harder for it to continue with its policy of not employing gay people.
Pope Benedict XVI said the legislation would impose "unjust limitations" on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs.
In addition, he claimed it violates the natural law "upon which the equality of all human beings is grounded and by which it is guaranteed".
The comments come after a government-backed study found that the public is becoming increasingly tolerant of homosexuality.
Whereas 62 per cent of respondents thought homosexuality was wrong in 1983, just 36 per cent shared this view in 2010.




