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| MP Carol Monaghan 'not embarrassed' about display of Christian faith | MP Carol Monaghan 'not embarrassed' about display of Christian faith |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MP Carol Monaghan says she was not embarrassed about her decision to appear at a Commons select committee meeting with a cross on her forehead on Ash Wednesday. | MP Carol Monaghan says she was not embarrassed about her decision to appear at a Commons select committee meeting with a cross on her forehead on Ash Wednesday. |
| The SNP MP for Glasgow North West said: "The reaction was generally positive, most people didn't know what it meant. | The SNP MP for Glasgow North West said: "The reaction was generally positive, most people didn't know what it meant. |
| "When I came into committee, one of the members asked me about it. I said 'it's Ash Wednesday' and they said 'but this is going to be broadcast'. | "When I came into committee, one of the members asked me about it. I said 'it's Ash Wednesday' and they said 'but this is going to be broadcast'. |
| "I think they just thought I didn't want to be embarrassed - but I was not going to rub it off. | "I think they just thought I didn't want to be embarrassed - but I was not going to rub it off. |
| "Many religions have visible symbols and Christians should not feel any embarrassment in either practising their religion or in the public display of religious symbols." | "Many religions have visible symbols and Christians should not feel any embarrassment in either practising their religion or in the public display of religious symbols." |
| Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and many Christians attend a church service at which their foreheads are marked with ash in the shape of a cross. | Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and many Christians attend a church service at which their foreheads are marked with ash in the shape of a cross. |
| The crosses are made from a mix of ashes - often from burnt palm leaves - and holy water and signify the worshipper's repentance before God. | The crosses are made from a mix of ashes - often from burnt palm leaves - and holy water and signify the worshipper's repentance before God. |
| 'Source of conversation' | 'Source of conversation' |
| Ms Monaghan says she got the "usual" reaction, including people pointing out that she had a mark on her forehead. | Ms Monaghan says she got the "usual" reaction, including people pointing out that she had a mark on her forehead. |
| It is something she is used to having been a science teacher in a non-denominational comprehensive school before becoming an MP in 2015. | It is something she is used to having been a science teacher in a non-denominational comprehensive school before becoming an MP in 2015. |
| "I am happy to answer their questions. For me it is an educational opportunity," she said. | "I am happy to answer their questions. For me it is an educational opportunity," she said. |
| The Church of England says it encourages members to go out on the streets to bring this centuries-old tradition to the wider public. | The Church of England says it encourages members to go out on the streets to bring this centuries-old tradition to the wider public. |
| Members of Croydon Minster spoke to commuters at the local tram station, offering what they dubbed "Ash n' Dash". | |
| In Galway, a drive-thru Ash Wednesday service was described as "beautiful and overwhelmingly respectful". | In Galway, a drive-thru Ash Wednesday service was described as "beautiful and overwhelmingly respectful". |
| For Christians, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before Easter, marking Jesus's 40 days of fasting in the desert. | For Christians, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before Easter, marking Jesus's 40 days of fasting in the desert. |
| Many attempt to fast, or give up something for the 40 days - such as Prime Minister Theresa May, who will stop eating crisps. | Many attempt to fast, or give up something for the 40 days - such as Prime Minister Theresa May, who will stop eating crisps. |
| On Ash Wednesday, Christians are encouraged not to rub the ashes off their foreheads and many display the symbol at work, like Ms Monaghan. | On Ash Wednesday, Christians are encouraged not to rub the ashes off their foreheads and many display the symbol at work, like Ms Monaghan. |
| A spokeswoman for the Catholic Church in England and Wales says: "Keeping the ashes on one's forehead throughout the day acts as a sign of the cross to all we meet and can often be a source of conversation. | A spokeswoman for the Catholic Church in England and Wales says: "Keeping the ashes on one's forehead throughout the day acts as a sign of the cross to all we meet and can often be a source of conversation. |
| "Many people are dimly aware of ashes and the season of Lent - this visible witness could awaken faith in the hearts of others in the way that words cannot." | "Many people are dimly aware of ashes and the season of Lent - this visible witness could awaken faith in the hearts of others in the way that words cannot." |
| But are Christians allowed to display the religious symbol while at work? | But are Christians allowed to display the religious symbol while at work? |
| Claire Dawson, employment lawyer at Slater and Gordon, says the right to display a religious symbol is protected under employment law and the European Convention on Human Rights, unless there is a good justification for prohibiting it. | Claire Dawson, employment lawyer at Slater and Gordon, says the right to display a religious symbol is protected under employment law and the European Convention on Human Rights, unless there is a good justification for prohibiting it. |
| She says: "If it was questioned by an employer or prohibited then they would have to have a good reason for that. | She says: "If it was questioned by an employer or prohibited then they would have to have a good reason for that. |
| "If you are someone who is a TV presenter, for example, there may be more of a debate. | "If you are someone who is a TV presenter, for example, there may be more of a debate. |
| "The type of justification which is taken seriously would be health and safety. | "The type of justification which is taken seriously would be health and safety. |
| "There has been a case where somebody was fighting for her right to wear a cross at work, but because she was a nurse, it was against the employer's health and safety policy which justified her not being allowed to wear it. | "There has been a case where somebody was fighting for her right to wear a cross at work, but because she was a nurse, it was against the employer's health and safety policy which justified her not being allowed to wear it. |
| "Whereas a woman who was British Airways ground crew and who wanted to wear a cross, although it didn't comply with BA's dress code and corporate image, that wasn't considered important enough to trump her religion." | "Whereas a woman who was British Airways ground crew and who wanted to wear a cross, although it didn't comply with BA's dress code and corporate image, that wasn't considered important enough to trump her religion." |
| 'Conscious decision' | 'Conscious decision' |
| In addition, she says, employees are protected from being treated less favourably because of their religion or belief and from being subjected to harassment because of it. | In addition, she says, employees are protected from being treated less favourably because of their religion or belief and from being subjected to harassment because of it. |
| She said that one of the Commons doorkeepers at Prime Minister's Questions had asked her about it after seeing another MP with, as he put it, "something on his head". | She said that one of the Commons doorkeepers at Prime Minister's Questions had asked her about it after seeing another MP with, as he put it, "something on his head". |
| The 44-year-old mother of three said it had never been a problem for her although "in a situation where cameras are rolling, you have to make a conscious decision". | The 44-year-old mother of three said it had never been a problem for her although "in a situation where cameras are rolling, you have to make a conscious decision". |
| "I have to be open about it - for me it would be wrong to hide something which is important to me." | "I have to be open about it - for me it would be wrong to hide something which is important to me." |