LONDON – A government-funded watchdog panel said British judges have erred in supporting employers who try to fire Christian workers for wearing crosses or refusing to offer sex counseling to gay couples.

    The Equality and Human Rights Commission said Monday that employers should ease up, saying current interpretations of the law are “insufficient to protect freedom of religion or belief.”

    The commission’s ruling came barely a day after the Church of England’s General Synod called on the British government to give Christians the legal protection to defend themselves against prosecution for faith-based decisions.

    In a string of legal cases in recent years, Christians have faced labor and legal disciplinary action for wearing religious symbols such as crucifixes on the job or refusing services to gay couples because of religious beliefs.