WRC finds monastery admission was not a service in discrimination complaint

The Workplace Relations Commission found John Malone’s complaint against The Prior of Silverstream Priory not well founded after deciding that admission to the monastery’s religious community was not a service covered by the Equal Status Act. The decision was dated 17 October 2024. Malone alleged that his application to continue exploring a monastic vocation was rejected because of his age and because he told the Prior his father was a Traveller. The respondent denied discrimination, saying admission depended on a mutual discernment process and that concerns about Malone’s conduct during a retreat and his age informed the decision. The adjudication officer held that the Act’s definition of a service requires it to be available to the public or a section of the public. Admission to the monastery was by invitation, so the officer concluded the WRC had no jurisdiction to investigate the substance of the allegations. The merits were not decided.