The UK Labour government has successfully implemented its Sexual Orientation Bill in Northern Ireland yesterday, making it a criminal offence to discriminate against homosexuals and lesbians. The law had been opposed by some of the political parties in Northern Ireland. The Christian Institute mounted a legal bid in an attempt to have the legislation postponed, until a proper debate could be held on the subject. Christian organizations fear that the new laws will infringe on civil rights and Christians could face discrimination because of their beliefs. But the judge presiding over the case, Justice Deeny, saw no reason why the law should be postponed, and the legal bid failed.

Quote: "At the hearing barrister David Scoffield, appearing for the Christian Institute and a number of Churches, asked Justice Deeny to postpone the introduction of the regulations in Northern Ireland given the Government had put back implementation in England and Wales until April 2007. "In view of that it is very difficult for the Government to argue there is a pressing need for this legislation in this jurisdiction at this time." But Justice Deeny refused and set a date for a full hearing to be heard on March 1 and 2.

But the fight is continuing, with Christian lawyers planning to petition the Queen over the issue. Christian groups want Her Majesty to speak to the Prime Minister as "Defender of the Faith" for the Church of England. The Queen has no power herself to change the laws passed by Parliament, but she can bring the matter up at her meetings with the Prime Minister.

Quote: "In mainland UK, the Church of England has pointed out that priests could be fined for refusing to bless same-sex civil partnerships under the rules. Catholic organisations have warned they will close their adoption agencies rather than be forced to allow gay couples to adopt children. Black churches have added their voices to the protest, saying pastors and churchgoers would go to jail rather than accept rules that would mean they had to open their meeting halls to gay lobby groups. The plea to the Queen is being made by the Christian Concern for Our Nation, an offshoot of the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship, a group which lists more than 2,000 barristers and solicitors among its members.

Sinn Fein's Caitriona Ruane said something very interesting. She said there is no clash of rights, between Christians and homosexuals, rather nobody has a right to discriminate...

Quote: "Speaking at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission`s annual conference in Belfast, Ms Ruane said: "I am not saying there should not be a debate. It is the way the motion is formed that I am critical of. I think it is framed in a way that is gay bashing. "I also do not accept this is about a clash of rights. Christians, Muslims do not have a right to discriminate. Nobody has a right to discriminate."

...I think she hit the nail on the head. In today's liberalistic society, it has become a sin to discriminate about anything. Gay rights is the tip of the iceberg, for as soon as you say its illegal to discriminate against homosexuals, you will soon find you cannot "discriminate" against pornography, paedophilia, child abuse or bigamy. It's their "lifestyle", who's to say it's wrong? The only answer is that the Bible says it's wrong, and while Jesus does love sinners, His command is to "go and sin no more", John 5:14, 8:11.

Deuteronomy 12:8-9 
Ye shall not do after all [the things] that we do here this day, every man whatsoever [is] right in his own eyes.  For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you.

Source Belfast Telegraph, GCN, Pink News