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The vote by 168 to 122 in the House of Lord's last night in favour of the Government's Equality Act (Sexual Orientation Regulations) 2007 marks the imposition of a new morality.
The Regulations make discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation unlawful in relation to the provision of goods, services, premises, education and public functions.
Under the Regulations it will be illegal for a Christian printer to refuse to print material promoting homosexual sex, it will be illegal for a Muslim website designer to refuse to build a website for homosexual dating, and it will be illegal for a Jewish conference centre to refuse to accept a booking from a Gay and Lesbian society who wish to hold a meeting promoting homosexual practices.
Earlier this month, Thomas Cordrey, Barrister and Public Policy Analyst at the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship, commented:
"This legislation is unprecedented in its complete intolerance of those who have religious beliefs. The Government did not put forward a single piece of evidence to justify the need for the Regulations, they have ignored 72% of the public[1] who opposed their approach to this law, and they have ignored the majority of the 3000 responses to their consultation. Despite this weak basis to the law, the Government is prepared to take the landmark step of making it illegal for Christians to hold to the Bible's clear teaching that God loves everyone and wants all people to know him, but also, that extra-marital sexual conduct (whether homosexual or heterosexual) is wrong."
"To think that the Government would prefer to shut down the widespread and compassionate voluntary services provided by Christian adoption agencies, drug rehabilitation centres, homeless shelters and community centres, rather than accept that Christians should not be forced to promote homosexual practices, is astounding."
It is a clear sign that despite saying they were going to consult and listen the Government has failed to respect the consciences of citizens whose values are formed and shaped by their deeply held religious beliefs, be they Christian, Muslim or Jewish. This could have been easily resolved by a simple conscience clause.
In a week where the whole country celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery, brought about, by and large, through the determined efforts of William Wilberforce, we would do well to remember his driving force and motivation stemmed from his Christian conviction. History will record that today's vote marked the increased secularisation of Britain confining faith to private thought, rather than public manifestation in works of service for the whole community.
The consequences and implications of the SORs will unfold month by month. The result of the vote will mean that rather than balancing rights, the right to live a homosexual lifestyle will trump the right to live a Christian lifestyle.
Many Christians will be affected by this new law. Christians and other faith community groups will be considering the implications of the SORs carefully and will reflect on the various legal options open to them.
[1] See the independent Communicate Research Opinion Poll 
Andrea Minichiello Williams is a Barrister and has been working as a Christian lobbyist in the Legal and Public Policy arena in the United Kingdom for 10 years. She is also Director of the Christian Legal Centre Ltd which is partnered with 
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This article is completely misleading and not worthy of someone who has been trained to interpret the law objectively. The sexual orientation regulations do not pose a threat to Christians. No one is being forced to promote homosexual practises, the regulations were introduced to prevent unfair discrimination of gay men and lesbians, there is a difference between acceptance and approval.