The Labour Court disallowed FR. Donal Morris’s appeal against an Equality Officer decision on his religious discrimination complaint, finding that differences in his employment conditions arose from his role as a prison chaplain, not his religion. The determination was dated 28 February 2007.
Mr Morris, a priest employed as a chaplain by The Irish Prison Service, said his conditions were less favourable than those of other prison officers in access to criminal injuries compensation, promotion and the terms on which his appointment could be ended. The service argued that priesthood was a position within a religion, rather than a religious belief.
The Court interpreted “religious background” in the context of “belief” and “outlook”, finding that the Act’s protection did not extend to a person’s standing within a religious body. It concluded the difference in treatment arose from Mr Morris’s office as chaplain, not the religion he professed or practised, and disallowed his appeal, agreeing with the Equality Officer’s decision.