This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6463527.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK Christians 'suffer for faith' | UK Christians 'suffer for faith' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| More than one in five Christians in the UK faces discrimination in their local communities because of their faith, a survey for a BBC programme suggests. | More than one in five Christians in the UK faces discrimination in their local communities because of their faith, a survey for a BBC programme suggests. |
| The poll of 604 people describing themselves as Christian, for the Heaven and Earth show, also found 25% felt discriminated against at work. | |
| One in three said the media portrayal of their religion was discriminatory. | One in three said the media portrayal of their religion was discriminatory. |
| The findings come as churches complain the Christian values which underpin law-making in Britain are being eroded. | The findings come as churches complain the Christian values which underpin law-making in Britain are being eroded. |
| Church leaders say this process of aggressive secularisation is to the detriment of family life. | Church leaders say this process of aggressive secularisation is to the detriment of family life. |
| 'Fight back' | 'Fight back' |
| Rev Malcolm Duncan, of campaign group Faithworks, said: "The Christian church is suffering more than all other faiths in the UK. | Rev Malcolm Duncan, of campaign group Faithworks, said: "The Christian church is suffering more than all other faiths in the UK. |
| It's a case of those issues getting more attention, rather than there being more discrimination David GillettBishop of Bolton | It's a case of those issues getting more attention, rather than there being more discrimination David GillettBishop of Bolton |
| "There is an aggressive secularist agenda that says it's OK to support any group ending in 'ism', but it's not OK to support anything connected to Christianity." | "There is an aggressive secularist agenda that says it's OK to support any group ending in 'ism', but it's not OK to support anything connected to Christianity." |
| Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, who is a Catholic, said Christians must decide whether to "fight back or take it". | Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, who is a Catholic, said Christians must decide whether to "fight back or take it". |
| "My own belief is that we should stand together and fight this discrimination." | "My own belief is that we should stand together and fight this discrimination." |
| Perceived grievances | Perceived grievances |
| BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Piggott said the level of dissatisfaction among Christians about the way their faith is regarded would have been unthinkable only a few years ago. | BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Piggott said the level of dissatisfaction among Christians about the way their faith is regarded would have been unthinkable only a few years ago. |
| But some senior religious figures said they felt the case was being overstated. | But some senior religious figures said they felt the case was being overstated. |
| Bishop of Bolton David Gillett said religious issues were attracting more attention, leading to a greater perception of discrimination. | Bishop of Bolton David Gillett said religious issues were attracting more attention, leading to a greater perception of discrimination. |
| "Christians are now finding decisions going against them in a more high-profile way. | "Christians are now finding decisions going against them in a more high-profile way. |
| "But it's a case of those issues getting more attention, rather than there being more discrimination." | "But it's a case of those issues getting more attention, rather than there being more discrimination." |
| Heaven and Earth was broadcast at 1000 GMT on BBC One. |