VATICAN CITY (CNS) – While applauding the European Court of Human Rights’ recognition of the right of a British airline employee to wear a cross on her uniform, the Vatican lamented the court’s denial of the full right of conscientious objection in other cases claiming religious discrimination in the United Kingdom.

Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican secretary for relations with states, said the cases demonstrate how “questions relating to freedom of conscience and religion are complex, in particular in European society marked by the increase of religious diversity and the corresponding hardening of secularism.”

No matter how complex the questions, though, “regarding morally controversial subjects, such as abortion or homosexuality, freedom of consciences must be respected,” the archbishop said in an interview with Vatican Radio.

The archbishop was commenting on the European court’s ruling Jan. 15 on four claims of religious discrimination against English Christians.

The court found that Nadia Eweida, 60, a Coptic Christian, suffered discrimination when she was told by British Airways, her employer, to stop wearing a cross on her uniform.

But the court dismissed the cases brought by Gary McFarlane, a relationships counselor fired after he said he had a moral objection to offering therapy to same-sex couples; Lillian Ladele, a registrar who objected to presiding over civil partnership ceremonies for same-sex couples; and Shirley Chaplin, 57, a nurse who said she was forced from her job for wearing a cross in breach of uniform policy.

McFarlane and Chaplin said they would appeal the judgment at the court’s Grand Chamber.

The court decided that in the case of Eweida there had been a violation of Articles 9 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protect freedom of thought, conscience and religion and prohibit unjust discrimination. It awarded her $2,670 in compensation and a further $40,000 in costs.

The four took their fight to Europe after the highest British courts defended their former employers.

Speaking after the Jan. 15 judgment, McFarlane said, “I simply wanted to do my job in light of my Christian identity, but I was policed and punished for my thoughts, for my beliefs.”