British Catholic School Cannot Fire Headteacher Who Entered Civil Union

Articles today in London's Daily Telegraph and yesterday in Britain's Pink News report that lawyers for the Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool have advised it that it cannot legally fire Charles Coyne, the head of St. Cecilia's primary school, who has entered into a same-sex civil union with a man who is believed to also teach at another school nearby. The archdiocese said that Coyne's personal life had not interfered with his management of the school. Britain's Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations provide only narrow exemptions for some religious positions outside the clergy. (See prior related posting.)