"Discrimination" by Christian clubs in the U.K.

As I have mentioned many times on this blog, I am troubled by the frequency with which efforts by religious institutions and associations to hire employees, or select members, in a way that is consistent with their religious identity and mission are characterized as "discrimination."  This news story (thanks to Amy Welborn) describes how the same kind of aggressive homogenization of religious associations is proceeding in the U.K., and bringing together Anglicans and Catholics.

Here is a joint statement, put out by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, and the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Conner, about efforts at British Universities to ban "Christian unions," on anti-discrimination grounds.

Here is more, from The Times:

Seventy Church of Engand and Roman Catholic bishops were urged today to intervene to help thousands of Christian students at British universities from having the organisations representing them banned.

Among those asked to take action to save Christian Union societies were the Archbishops of Canterbury and Westminster.

The rise of secularism in the UK is among the issues being debated today and tomorrow at the first ever joint meeting of the Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops of England and Wales in Leeds.

Dr Rowan Williams and Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor were to issue a joint statement later today on the importance of working together and how to surmount the differences that remain between the two churches.

The 40 Anglican and 30 Catholic bishops began their unprecedented two-day meeting at Hinsley Hall at lunchtime. The bishops prayed and worshipped together and discussed how to heal the historic rift between them.

But Christian Union leaders urged them to move away from the usual "bland platitudes" associated with ecumenical gatherings to help the beleaguered Christian student societies under threat of bans.