Church Must Issue New Guidelines on Gay Discrimination After Bishop Loses Case

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 18th Jul 2007

Responding to the news that the Bishop of Hereford has been found guilty of discrimination by an employment tribunal when he blocked the appointment of a gay man to a youth work position, Dr Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat MP and Parliamentary campaigner for equality, said:

"This is a damning judgment for the Church, which not only directly discriminated unfairly against an innocent person, but was also warned that they can not impose celibacy requirements on their unmarried lay employees without being caught out again on discrimination grounds."

"The church was warned by MPs when the Sexual Orientation Discrimination in Employment Regulations were passed in 2003 that they could not hide behind a narrow exemption for proselytising roles based on religious doctrine, in order to single out gay employees for unfair treatment - whether secretaries, teachers, caretakers or youth workers."

"The Church of England must now issue new guidelines to prevent prejudice-based employment practices to protect all those unable to take their case publicly to the courts."