The government seems to believe that equality is important for all except those who hold and practice deeply held beliefs.
The Equality Law provides equality for all types of sexuality but does not allow christians to believe and practise their faith.
The Bishop of Hereford was made a bishop before the government decided to make it illegal for him to follow and preach his beliefs.
This country did very well as a christian country. What harm did it suffer when it acknowledged God as its Lord? We seem to be suffering plenty now that we feel we can do without Him.

Jock & Mamie Freitag, Stockton , Cleveland

There is a delicate balance to be struck between freedom of religion/religious organisations to employ whomsoever they choose and the welfare of society at large, e.g. anti-discrimination. Christian organisations bring immense benefit to British society, employing many youth workers, care workers and others - at their own expense. It is wrong to suggest that they should be asked to provide such services not only at financial expense but also at the expense of their conscience. This is not ultimately a question of human rights, after all there are many other youthwork posts available to Mr Reaney. This is a question of freedom of choice and is as much a legal issue as a theological one.

Anna Buchanan, Cardiff, Wales

This is bizarre! Why are we eroding the very thing that has made us so attractive to others around the world from the beginning of civilisation - our Christians principles? This country has benefitted and is still benefitting from some profound principles such as faithfulness in all we do, honesty and integrity taught and practiced in the Christian faith. Yet, what is being good and needed in a country that is fast losing its identity is what is being cast out. What lind of legacy are we leaving for our children? After we have done this we turn around and cringe at how promiscuous, unfaithful and disrespectful they have become. I have worked amongst young people who are Christians and its their belief is what is largely allowing them to make sensible decisions/ choices. It break my heart to hear members of the government profess to be Christians yet make the decisions they do. Christians are not cowards. Stop declaring this if you are not prepared to uphold the principles.

Fed up, London,

Well, you're from Texas, Philip, you would!

No-one is arbitrarily forcing you to believe anything against your conscience. I am sure homosexual people would wish no employment opportunity be closed to you just because you are a Catholic. So why should jobs be denied others just because they are gay, and your petty little concience might thus get offended if they were employed?

You can believe what you like in your own home and church, but that doesn't give you the right to practise your prejudices and discrimination in the wider public sphere.

rgrey, glasgow, scotland

Dear Sir/Ma'am

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the General Synod, the national assembly of the Church of England, and the Lambeth Conference, are not definitive or normative for Christianity, only the Bible sets its genetic code, being absolutely supreme in all matters of conduct, belief and doctrine, and regarding sexual sin, the Bible makes no distinction between sexual sin of either the homosexual or heterosexual varieties. Sin is sin is sin is sin is...............and the wages of sin is death. Sin is really bad news, and only Christianity has good news for sinners, they can be forgiven by the the God revealed in the printed words of the Bible, and supremely revealed in the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ, and I look forward to hearing the Bishop saying so.

Barry Holroyd, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England

The reference to Mr Reaney's human rights causes me to ask the question, what about the human rights of Christians? Our beliefs are constantly being rubbished. The Bishop has made it clear that the issue was not Mr Reaney's sexuality but his lifestyle. The church wouldn't employ a single person who was sleeping around, nor a married person known to be committing adultery. The bible is clear that sexual acts outside a married relationship is fornication. Fornication is sin. Those who pursue it, with no sign of repentance have no place on the staff of a church.

James Hall, Worcester, UK

Dear Sir/Ma'am

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the General Synod, the national assembly of the Church of England, and the Lambeth Conference, are not definitive or normative for Christianity, only the Bible is absolutely supreme in all matters of conduct, belief and doctrine, and in referring to sexual sin, the Bible makes no distinction between sexual sin of either the homosexual or heterosexual varieties. Sin is sin is sin is sin is......................and the wages of sin is death. Sin really is bad news, and only Christianity has good news for sinners, they can be forgiven by the God we worship, and I look forward to hearing the Bishop saying so.

Barry Holroyd, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England

In my country, a person who isn't upright is rejected even in government positions. For example, a practicing homosexual cannot become an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
So if some people on account of their immoral sexual acts can be rejected for government positions, then, surely religions should have the same rights to reject such people.
One more thing, people should always have the right to state what he believes is moral and immoral. I became a Catholic because I agreed with the Catholic positions. So when I defend Catholic positions, I do it because my conscience dictates it, and not simply because the Catholic Church teaches it. I believe everyone should respect my conscience just as I respect the conscience of my neighbor. No one should arbitrarily force me to believe their way if I think their way is immoral. Yes, I believe the practice of homosexual acts is evil.

Philip, Mathis, USA-Texas