The former Archbishop of Canterbury and other church leaders will urge senior judges to stand down from Court of Appeal hearings involving religious discrimination because of "disturbing" and "dangerous" rulings handed down in recent cases, it has emerged. Lord Carey and other senior church figures are said to want them replaced with a panel of five judges who have a proven understanding of religious issues.
They believe a case being heard in the Court of Appeal on Thursday will not get a "fair" ruling if it is held before judges who they claim have shown a lack of understanding of Christian beliefs.
Gary McFarlane, 48, a Christian relationship counsellor from Bristol, is appealing against an employment tribunal decision that backed his sacking for refusing to give sex therapy to gay couples.
Lord Carey will back an application by Mr McFarlane's lawyers for his case to be heard by a panel of five judges headed by Lord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice.
According to The Sunday Telegraph, the former archbishop already prepared a witness statement in support of Mr McFarlane in which he will accuse the Court of Appeal of making a series of "disturbing" judgments and being responsible for some "dangerous" reasoning which could ultimately lead to Christians being banned from the workplace.
It is thought Lord Carey will point to a Court of Appeal ruling against Lillian Ladele, a Christian registrar who was found to have broken the law by refusing to conduct civil partnerships ceremonies.
However, the Church of England said none of its bishops were involved in the move.
A spokesman said: "This action is not being organised by the national bodies of the Church of England and we are not aware of which bishops, if any, plan to express such concerns about recent rulings by the Court of Appeal."
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