So has anyone else emailed their support to the Co-op Bank ....

[non sociopath skin]

... for their stand over the Fundamentalist Christian Voice's homophobia?

Relevant sites here:

The Co-operative Bank’s Code of Ethics
http://www.cooperativebank.co.uk/servlet/Satellite?cid=1077524332960&pagename=CoopBank%2FPage%2FtplPageStandard&c=Page

The Co-operative Bank’s Statement
http://www.cooperativebank.co.uk/servlet/Satellite?cid=1053329498743&pagename=Smile%2FNCView&cpid=1119595646689&c=Page

The Co-operative Group of Companies
http://www.co-op.co.uk/

Christian Voice
http://www.christianvoice.org.uk/


I've banked with the Co-op for years and I'm bloody proud of them!

The Skin

[Kipling]

1. Wiil do...

I shop at the co-op. I bank with HSBC at the moment, but I'm going to change.

[bennywhale]

2. I love the Co-op and would normally love this stance, but banning someone'

custom due to their views makes me uncomfortable. My Grandad, bless him, was a customer of the Co-op all his life and had very dubious views about homosexuals, other than being thoroughly decent man, i would be horrified if he had have been barred from the co-op

[T_i_B]

3. Yes

This is religious discrimination. Are we to see the Co-Op refusing service to Muslim groups now for instance? This move shows the Co-Op to be no better then pubs who refuse to serve travelers for instance.

Ethical banking my arse. Anyone who supports religious discrimination such as this really is no better the the likes of the BNP.

[bennywhale]

4. There was another thread on this whereby most views were

basically expressing "Ha know they know what its like". People were cheering it as it was discrimination against people they don't like. Thats a bad precedent and rather narrow minded

[T_i_B]

5. 2 wrongs don't make a right...

...but don't expect DUer's to work that one out anytime soon. We on the left like to pretend that we are more enlightened and tolerant then the rest of the population, but actions such as this show that to be a complete and utter lie. DUer's are every bit as bigoted and hateful as freepers, it's just that on this board we tend to be a lot more conceited about it.

[non sociopath skin]

7. Would you mind speaking for yourself, Thanx.

Re-read the Co-op's Code of Ethics. Then, if you can stomach it, look at the Christian Voice website.

Are you really saying that one is as intolerant as the other?

The Skin

[non sociopath skin]

6. But that isn't what the Co-op is doing, Ben.

They have a Code of Ethics and they're using it, even if it costs them trade.

The Skin

[bennywhale]

9. Skin mate, i love the Co-op i just can't support then in this.

I know its a business but it reminds when some New Labour parasites were floating the idea of getting the BNP outlawed 2 or 3 years ago when they began to make gains. That made me more sick than the BNP itself.

The code of ethics is arbitrary. We ban people who do not agree with us. another code of ethics in a company may say: "We will not discriminate against anyone based on their lifestyle and views" To me that is just as ethical. i know this is well meaning it just sets bad precedent and makes me uncomfortable

[non sociopath skin]

11. OK, you're entitled to your opinion, Ben, and I have to respect it.

But have you read the "Christian Voice" website.

Could you do business with them?

I couldn't.

The Skin

[non sociopath skin]

8. Re-read the Co-op's statement, please.

The answer to your question would be, I assume, that a Muslim Group which took a similar anti-Gay stance (or an Anti-Semitic one, for example) would receive the same treatment.

But don't take my word for it. Why don't you ask the Co-op? They encoursge feedback.

The Skin

[T_i_B]

14. So a business that discriminates against people for their religion

is somehow OK to you? Just goes to show what a complete bigot you are N_S_S. However much Christian Voice maybe an embarrassment I for one hope that they sue the arse off the Co-Op. Religious apartheid is not acceptable, whoever does it.

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. Not for their religion - for their views on homosexuality

which are themselves discriminatory. T_i_B, I expect more respect from you to a fellow DUer.

[non sociopath skin]

17. Thank you, Muriel.

That's the crux of the matter.

The Skin

[non sociopath skin]

16. Didn't have time to read the statement, Thanx?

OK, here 'tis. NB the final paragraph.

I find the Christian Voice material on homosexuality repulsive and demeaning and in breach of any Code of Ethics which seeks Equal Opportunities. I feel exactly the same way about the Fundamentalist Muslim line on Homosexuality and Women's Rights and would support an organisation which took a stand on this.

If that makes me a bigot I'm in good company on this website. I think you'd find a lot of agreement on Free Republic, though.

I'm afraid there are too many homophobes, sexists and racists slithering behind religion these days. As I've said before, I'm beginning to feel that religion is replacing patriotism as the last resort of the scoundrel.

The Skin

"<snip>


The Co-operative Bank has asked Christian Voice to close its account following a review of their activities. Anyone visiting the Christian Voice website will see that it is engaged in discriminatory pronouncements, based on the grounds of sexual orientation. This public stance is incompatible with the position of The Co-operative Bank, which publicly supports diversity and dignity, in all its forms, for our staff, customers and other stakeholders.

The Bank believes in respect for all sectors of society and its approach to Christian Voice is based purely on the issue of diversity and not on the grounds of religion. Indeed, the Bank’s mission statement clearly states that: “it is non-partisan in all social, political, racial and religious matters.

The Co-operative Bank respects everyone’s right to freedom of thought on all religious matters. What it cannot tolerate, and what its customers will not tolerate, is any form of discrimination, violence, harassment or abuse directed at any section of society."

[McKenzie]

10. I try to shop at the Co-op

because of their ethical buying policy. Unfortunately, the service is awful and the range of items on sale is poor by and large. I still shop there though because the alternatives are sharks despite the friendly face they portray - you know that anyway. My heart says bank with the Co-op and I might just do that soon.

I don't have any evidence in support of this but my gut feeling is that they can't cut the mustard commercially in retailing; I don't know about their bakning track record so can't comment thereon. That's not their fault though; they are playing by ethical rules in a largely unethical world imho.

Cheers mate.

[non sociopath skin]

12. This isn't about Co-op Retail with which I too have problems.

It's about the bank with which I have fewer problems.

Finding a bank with any kind of ethical standards is hard work. The Co-op is the best I can find. I'm with them on this one.

The Skin

[Vladimir]

13. This seems to be a 'no platform' issue

and the Co-op are within their rights to do this IMO. Put it another way... I wouldn't be happy if my student union invited a representative of this group to come and speak to us, and I would almost certainly lobby to have the invitation rescinded, so I don't see why the Co-op should be happy to be their bank.