By Steve Doughty Last updated on 15th September 2010 Mail Online

Pope Benedict XVI has criticised Labour’s Equality Act, which he denounced as ‘sinful’

The Pope will use a key speech during his state visit to tell British authorities to show more respect for Christianity, Church leaders warned last night.

Benedict XVI, who arrives tomorrow for his tour of England and Scotland, is to call on the state to have ‘an open and positive attitude towards religious faith’.

His remarks amount to a criticism of politicians who have allowed equality laws to trump religious beliefs, in some cases preventing Christians displaying their faith at work.

Earlier this year the Pope denounced as sinful Labour’s Equality Act  -  which is likely to be put into operation by the Coalition this autumn.

Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, the head of the Roman Catholic Church for England and Wales, last night warned that the pontiff would be critical of British law in his speech at Westminster Hall.

‘He will want to explore the role of religious faith in modern democratic societies,’ Archbishop Nichols said. ‘While he will recognise the importance of institutions being secular, he expects secular institutions to have an open and positive attitude to religious faith.’

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By Steve Doughty Mail Online 17th September 2010

Easter and Christmas should not be discouraged by fear of offending others Christians in public roles should be allowed to act according to conscience Lack of ethical foundation resulted in financial crisis, he tells politicians

The Pope issued a clarion call to defend Christianity last night, saying Christmas was at risk of being struck from the calendar.

In a strongly worded speech delivered in Parliament, Benedict XVI bluntly told politicians not to ‘silence’ religion and discourage public celebration of its most important festivals.

And in a thinly veiled attack on controversial equality legislation, he said laws which forced Christians to act against their consciences were wrong.

‘There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere,’ he told senior politicians and public figures.

‘Don’t sideline Christianity’: The Pope urges politicians to work to ensure religion has a place in national life during a speech at Westminster Hall

‘There are those who argue that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.’

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