Religious responsibility - If ruling is abused it will be revoked

THIS week’s ruling from the European Commission that religious bodies can dismiss or refuse to employ people in their schools or hospitals who, they believe, do not share their ethos has provoked a strong reaction.

The Congress of Trade Unions and the teachers’ unions have consistently expressed their opposition to the principle over a number of years. Others fear that such rulings facilitate improper discrimination and have no place in a progressive society.

But, is it not illogical to expect someone who hasestablished a school or a hospital to advance a set of beliefs to employ a person who would actively oppose those beliefs?

After all no one is obliged to use private faith schools or hospitals. If non-denominational education or health provision is required a range of options are available that could not have been imagined even a few decades ago.

Tolerance and inclusion means that everyone be allowed to celebrate and live according to their beliefs. If they choose to animate those beliefs — choose to make their Word flesh — by providing belief-based education or healthcare for those who would avail of it then they must be allowed to do so.

The caveats are obligatory and simple enough.

These facilities must comply with all of the laws of the land and, in civil matters, recognise or promote no other code.

They must do nothing to undermine the state and cannot, as has happened in some instances in Britain, be allowed to become places where pupils are taught to hate and destroy the country they live in.

They cannot be allowed discriminate on the basis of race, gender or sexual orientation and can only object to employees who are unable to accept that they must not actively undermine the corporate ethos of the institution that employs or would employ them.

Belief is, after all, a matter of choice and choice always has implications for employer and employee.

The European Commission ruling is designed to be a shield not a sword and if it used in a way not intended it can always be revoked.

The scars of intolerance run deep in this country and any ruling that might, albeit unintentionally, offer comfort to the bitter divisions of the past will fail.