Posted on 07/21/2007 2:11:43 PM PDT by Baladas
A gay man has won his case for unlawful discrimination after he was refused a job as a youth worker by the Church of England.
The employment tribunal ruled John Reaney, 42, was discriminated against "on the grounds of sexual orientation" by the Hereford Diocesan Board of Finance.
John Reaney: 'Gay Christians are entitled to fair and respectful treatment' During the tribunal hearing, Mr Reaney said he was questioned by the Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Rev Anthony Priddis, on his previous gay relationship during a meeting in July last year.
He described the encounter as embarrassing and humiliating and said he was so upset that he had to pull over during his drive home.
Three days after the meeting, the Bishop telephoned Mr Reaney to say his application had not been successful.
Bishop Priddis told the tribunal he had made clear to Mr Reaney that a person in a committed sexual relationship outside of marriage, whether they were heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or transgender, would be turned down for the role.
Today Mr Reaney said he was delighted to have won his case, which was backed and financed by gay lobby group Stonewall.
"It demonstrates to many lesbian and gay Christians working for God within the Church of England that they are entitled to fair and respectful treatment," he said.
The bishop said he was disappointed by the ruling and maintained his decision was "the right one".
"I am naturally disappointed that the tribunal decided that I did discriminate against Mr Reaney but it dismissed the other complaints that he made," he said.
The bishop said the Church of England had always taught that there was a distinction between sexual orientation and lifestyle, a distinction which he said was not drawn by the law.
He said the diocese would examine the tribunal's findings in more detail before deciding whether to appeal.
The bishop also dismissed suggestions that he might resign, saying: "It's not that kind of an issue."
Wonder if we can expect a new batch of pilgrims to hit our shores??
“He described the encounter as embarrassing and humiliating and said he was so upset that he had to pull over during his drive home.”
a trip to a rest-stop mens room made him feel better?
Now who’s going to send their children to a CoE youth program of any kind? I certainly wouldn’t!
“Now who’s going to send their children to a CoE youth program of any kind? I certainly wouldn’t!”
The world has turned upside down, no pun intended.
I guess the dear old Church of England has gone the way
of the Episcopal Church.
It is a whole new world from the days that I went to church camp, and later served time as a camp counselor in Tennessee.
So if the gays succeed in destroying the youth program for everyone but themselves will they be happy?
You can just bet that they will discriminate against anyone who doesn’t agree with their perverse lifestyle.
Isn’t the Church of England the Episcopal Church? They are all in bed together in this gay Bishop and etc. mess. God forbid they should hold to the Gospel in employment matters.
Tell me this — the guy was humiliated? But I thot they were Gay and Proud? If he is proud how can he be humiliated? Because HE IS ASHAMED. As he should be.
From the responses on this thread, I can only assume it is legal in America for an employer to discriminate against people on the basis of their sexuality.
Is that the case?
I may be wrong, but I think it is okay for an employer to “discriminate” here if it conflicts with a church’s belief.
England has an offical religion, the line is already blurred more there.
bump
Is that the case?"
Churches, here in the USA, are permitted to make decisions on hiring based upon their moral beliefs.
For instance, here in the USA, a church could deny employment to someone in a sexual relationship outside of marriage -- which is exactly what the Anglican Bishop in this case tried to do.
“woe to those that call good: evil, and EVIL: Good”! I doubt God would call an unrepetnet-Homosexual a “follwer of Christ”: does it mean he cant become a “Christian”:NO. Such as “were” some of you-St. Paul.
Yet, this man needs Jesus before he is EVER allowed near Children. I shudder for the children of Britain, and our world.
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