Yes Joe.

But other lobby groups hope their wishes are taken on board.

The position of most religions is to assume their wishes are taken on board as a right.

I have never questioned the joy people get from involvement with their church, mosque, synagogue or temple. I would add, and should have added, freedom of expression of faith to my list of ethnicity, disability, gender and sexual orientation. Sadly, many people feel that questioning bigotry or misogyny is suppressing their freedom of expression of faith. Well, most people convicted of serious crime could find a biblical hero who did something similar. ...

The issue isn't people's faith and isn't their right to worship, nor indeed the good work people do using their particular organisation as a tool. Far from it.

It is the assumption of legitimacy of whatever an organised religion feels they desire and their right to pile it on others. That is why we have the absurd Sunday trading laws, legalised discrimination and both yours and our prisons stuffed with people whose avowed aim is a Caliph in The Whitehouse.

I said above that it is quite simple. If religions feel they have something to offer society at large, they should begin by acting with the same moral standards as those they wish to influence. As a start they should realise that you and the many like you are not just providing a view but a key to social acceptance. Gone are the days of favour, gone are the days of being used to keep the masses in order. (Blessed are the meek, rich men and camels through eyes of needles etc)