Case studies: court cases

• Nada Eweida- wearing a lapel cross on British Airways uniform
• Shirley Chaplin- a nurse wearing a cross for work
• Mr and Mrs Bull- refused a room at their guesthouse to a gay couple
• Margaret Jones, a registrar- said she could not conduct same sex-weddings
• Nada Eweida: wearing a lapel cross on British Airways uniform:

  For: this expression of her faith would cause no harm

  Against: displays of religious affiliation inappropriate in workplace

  Legal decision: FOR. Not restricting anyone else's rights
• Shirley Chaplin: a nurse wearing a cross for work

  For: this expression of her faith would cause no harm

  Against: prohibited by her NHS trust, so in breach of its rules

  Legal decision: AGAINST. Wearing any necklace is a health risk in hospital
• Mr and Mrs Bull: refused a room at their guesthouse to a gay couple:

  For: owners let rooms to married couples only; upholding Christian teaching on sexual practice- this was not a decision based on sexual orientation

  Against: an act of discrimination on sexual orientation grounds

  Legal decision: AGAINST. Their action was seen as a breach of the 2007 Sexual Orientation regulations
• Margaret Jones, a registrar: said she could not conduct same-sex weddings:

  For: expression of her Christian beliefs about marriage did not affect any couples. She was willing to register the marriage, simply leaving the other person on duty to perform the ceremony

  Against: conducting a ceremony did not prevent the essential feature of her faith- her right to worship as she wished

  Legal decision: FOR. Council had not investigated ways of accommodating her concerns (she had been dismissed for gross misconduct