The following article from the ‘Daily Telegraph’ was sent to me this evening by a kind friend.
It is a harbinger of things to come as the lovers and defenders of moral perversion grow bolder!
Note the implied threat of violence should the wishes of the opponents be ignored!
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster
Christian group blocked from holding conference at Cambridge college
Christian Concern accuses Fitzwilliam College of rejecting its booking on the grounds that it does not believe in gay marriage
By Gabriella Swerling, Social and Religious Affairs Editor
15 September 2022 • 7:19pm
A Christian group has been blocked from holding a conference at Cambridge University because its values were “not compatible with the values of the college”, the High Court has heard.
Christian Concern has accused Fitzwilliam College of “refusing” permission to book its conference on the grounds of the group’s philosophical and religious beliefs – namely that marriage should be between a man and a woman – and has alleged “discrimination”. The college is disputing the claim and denies discrimination.
The case arose after a representative from the Christian Concern campaign group contacted the college about booking conference facilities for about 100 people on behalf of Wilberforce Academy – one of its initiatives for young, professional Christians.
The Telegraph has seen court documents relating to the case, which was heard before the High Court on Thursday. They claim that a senior member of staff at the college justified cancelling the booking to host the event in February 2022 on the grounds that the group was not “inclusive”, did “not believe in gay marriage” and that Christian Concern’s “general beliefs” were “not compatible with the values of the college”.
Christian Concern’s legal claim rests on the basis that: “The belief in marriage as a union between one man and one woman, and opposition to same-sex unions, is a religious or philosophical belief protected” by both the European Convention on Human Rights and the Equality Act 2010.
The case was heard before High Court judge, Sir Ross Cranston, in London, where he was asked to decide whether, and how, the claim should proceed.
‘Concerns about the reaction of students’
Lawyers for Christian Concern said that the case was important because it indicates “wider concern” about “free speech on campuses”.
Alasdair Henderson, leading Christian Concern’s legal team, gave details of the claim and said it should proceed in the High Court or be transferred to the county court.
However, Sir Ross concluded there was an “issue” to be tried but ruled the claim should be heard by a lower-ranking county court judge. A date and venue will now be fixed for a county court hearing, with final details to be decided.
Yaaser Vanderman, representing the college, outlined the background to the dispute in a written argument.
He said college staff had conducted internet research about Christian Concern, which “gave rise to concerns about the reaction of the college’s students if the booking was accepted”, (emphasis ours) he said, adding that the claimant’s booking was rejected on the grounds that it is “not compatible with the values of the college”.
He said the college’s head of catering and events had, during a telephone conversation, referred to Christian Concern not being “inclusive” – and mentioned the group’s “concerns over the LGBT community” and its opposition to gay marriage.
Mr Vanderman said, during the conversation, the Christian Concern representative had “rejected the assertion” that the group was not inclusive but “agreed” that its “understanding of marriage” is “as being between a man and a woman”. He said there had “unarguably” been “no direct discrimination”.
College welcomes conference bookings
A spokesman for the college said: “Fitzwilliam College notes and welcomes the Court’s decision today to refuse Christian Concern’s claim for judicial review.
“The college continues to welcome conference bookings from a wide range of groups and organisations, with different beliefs and interests, including many religious groups.”
This is not the first time that Fitzwilliam College has faced criticism. Dr David Starkey, the historian, resigned from his honorary fellowship at the college after making comments about slavery which were branded “indefensible” by the college.
The case also comes after Worcester College, Oxford, admitted in June that it “misled” students after cancelling the Wilberforce Academy for similar reasons in September 2021.
Worcester College, run by David Isaac, the former head of the equalities watchdog, was forced to apologise to students for hosting a Christian Concern training camp – which had caused “distress” – before cancelling a second booking after a small number of students complained.
Baroness Sally Morgan, a Labour Party Politician who served under former Prime Minister Tony Blair, is the Master of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.