Should she be allowed to wear the cross?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/128816/NHS-nurse-faces-the-sack-for-wearing-her-crucifix

An health and safety issue or just another example of her employers being frightened in case the cross offends anyone?

If the answer is the former, then why has it been perfectly safe for her to wear it for the past 31 years?

Why is it not dangerous for her to wear the watch that is pinned on her tunic, or the pens that are jutting out of her pocket?

[Bbbananas]

Yes she should be allowed.
Would they ban a Jew from wearing a Star of David? I doubt it - a refusal might offend.

[craft1948]

Yes she should be allowed........31 years with no problems.....her employer should be sued as being anti-christian.....

[pericat]

yes she should be allowed

[caththecrazy]

So she's been wearing it for 38 years and it's suddenly a problem

" a confused patient might grab it" was the excuse - where are the figures back up the number of confused patients who have done this?

I think she needs to waer it not only for her faith but because she needs protection from the vampires who are making up these insane regulations

[daffy654]

If the rule applies to every member of staff and is enforced fairly then she should just take the necklace off. If however a person of a different religious persuasion is allowed to wear their religious symbols as jewellery then she should be allowed also.
It makes no difference how long she has been wearing it before hand,rules are rules.

[Jan1957]

If she has her "faith" why should she feel the need to wear a symbol to say so. She retires in 8 months. Why couldn't she just put it in her pocket till then. She would still know it's there and surely it's only her who needs to be aware of it if she feels she has to reinforce her faith by wearing a bit of jewellery.

[caththecrazy]

How many married people wear a wedding ring? If we take it off does it stop us being married? No it just signifies that you are married which is why many people like to wear them. If they made a rule saying you couldn't wear rings there would be an outcome. This comes down to religion.

I understand she had this cross at her confirmation which is a whole new understanding within her christain faith and if muslim women are allowed to wear a scarf I don't see the difference. It may be part of their faith but it is also a part of the muslim faith that men and women not related should not mix. That hardly works in a hospital does it?

[anotheoldgit]

Jan1957

Why couldn't she just put it in her pocket till then. She would still know it's there and surely it's only her who needs to be aware of it if she feels she has to reinforce her faith by wearing a bit of jewellery.

I don't know if you are married or not, but if you are, would you be prepared to remove your wedding ring?

I refer you also to a previous post of mine, would it matter for the Sikh policeman to remove his turban and wear a regulation helmet?

[daffy654]

I would be quite prepared to remove any item of jewellery if my job demanded I do so,even a wedding ring if I wore one. This woman is making a heck of a fuss over nothing really. The wearing of a cross or crucifix is not required by the christian faith,it is her own personal choice to wear one.

[Jan1957]

I totally agree with daffy and yes, of course I would be willing to remove my wedding ring. It doesn't mean I'm any less married! I take it off every day when I wash or do the washing up.

[DEN53]

Why are they suddenly asking her to remove it now ? Elf and Safety gone mad - the patients have more chance of coming to harm eating the food or dying from MRSA than her cross and chain harming them.

[caththecrazy]

The point of this is the rule came into being no discussion nothing. Whilst that is unfair as has been said a rule is a rule, however nothing was said until many months afterwards and why was that?

She said she wouldn't remove it. She should have kept quiet. I really don't understand why she can't wear a different uniform, enclosed at the neck and wear the cross underneath so it won't be seen.

With the NHS in that state it is in maybe they should be looking to retain someone who has worked in this field for so long with so much experience than worry about this.

It is surely against her human rights - her faith is what has given her motivation to work in the field of nursing. Luckily the leading human rights lawyer is acting on her behal,he managed to have the nurse who encouraged patients to pray, reinstated when she was suspended.

[Sqad]

She would soon change her mind, if a patient grabbed her by the cross and she was invalided out of the NHS....what would she do? ....sue them for at least £250,000 depending upon her disability....Christian or no Christian.

Why do Christians have to show their faith by crosses..........isn't true Christianity in the heart?

[daffy654]

Cath,how do you know that the "rule came into being no discussion nothing." ?

She is risking her pension for a little piece of metal....silly woman!

[caththecrazy]

How many people has that happened to though Sqad? She's been wearing it for 38 years without incident.

They are suggesting she could wear it under clothes but equally a patient could still grab it... the same as they could a watch sikh bracelets or even the hijab.

By the time this is sorted out she'll have retired on the same rate of pay she's now receiving at the cost to the NHS of what?

[Sqad]

Cath...I have no idea.....38yrs ago, nobody would think of suing their employer...now?......a different ball game.

[VHG]

>her employers being frightened in case the cross offends anyone?

Dont be so silly.

It is a safety thing, just in case the chain gets caught in any hospital machines.

It would be the same for any neckalce, the fact it has a cross on it is irrelivant.

[caththecrazy]

Daffy - her lawyer alledgedly said there was no discussion with the staff.

She will still get a pension if she comes off the ward and does admin but it may be at a reduced rate but as I said I think by the time this gets sorted she'll be on her same salary with same pension. I don't think she herself has mentioned her pension or her salary. Perhaps she feels she is standing up for her rights.

Why is it that all NHS trust aren't demanding the same rules if it is so important?

Sqad I meant how many times have confused patients grabbed a necklace? where are the figures to substantiate this?

The suing part is irrelevant - you're right people will sue for anything now.

[flip_flop]

Everybody is entitled to have a faith and everybody is entitled to demonstrate their faith.

However, a working environment is not the place for religious people to demonstrate their naive nuttery.

We are a largely secular society, but if people want to be all happy clappy or kneeling before Ipswich a gazillion times a day then that is fine and dandy, just so long as they do it on their own time.

IF the the real reason this lady has been told to remove her cross is for the fear it may offend, then all other signs of religious affiliation should also be removed.