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'This abject climbdown has obviously been prompted by the Pope's recent criticism of the pro-gay clause in the bill'
Climbdown...
'Pope's criticism' forces Harriet Harman to drop gay equality law
Harriet Harman has dropped a provision in her equality bill that would have forced churches to employ gay and transgender staff because of the "continuing malign influence of the Catholic church", according to gay humanist charity Pink Triangle Trust.
Last night the Equalities minister revealed that she will not attempt to force the contentious amendment through Parliament, a climbdown that began with bill's defeat in the House of Lords last week but was reportedly completed by the Pope's letter to the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales in which he spoke of a violation of "natural law".
The Times reported today that ministers were "astonished" by the Pope's letter, which criticised the legislation for creating "limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs", and that the pontiff's comments had eroded the government's enthusiasm to continue the fight.
Pink Triangle Trust's secretary, George Broadhead, said: "This abject climbdown has obviously been prompted by the Pope's recent criticism of the pro-gay clause in the bill and is a clear indication, if any were needed, of the continuing malign political influence exerted by the Catholic church."
Harman's amendment was intended to clarify rather than change existing law, exempting churches from discrimination legislation when appointing priests and other clerical posts but requiring them to comply with its terms for "non-religious" jobs such as administrators or youth workers.
The National Secular Society announced this week that it was planning protests over the Pope's state-funded visit to the UK in September, which it estimates will cost the British taxpayer £20m.
