House of Lords Today Debates Religious Hiring By Faith Schools

In Britain today the House of Lords will debate a series of amendments proposed by Baroness Turner of Camden to limit the extent to which voluntary-aided faith schools can hire teachers on the basis of religion. (Ekklesia, Accord Coalition). Under current law, these faith schools (which receive government support) can broadly discriminate in recruitment, pay and promotion on the basis of religion, and can dismiss teachers for conduct that is incompatible with the precepts of the school's religion. The amendments would require faith schools to show that discrimination on religious grounds is a "legitimate" and "proportionate" occupational requirement-- the same standard that currently applies to religious charities in Britain. The amendments would limit schools' present ability to apply religious criteria to those who teach only secular subjects and are not in leadership roles. (London Guardian op ed.) Today's debate follows a vote on Monday in which the Lords eliminated provisions in the Equality Bill that narrowed exemptions from the sexual orientation anti-discrimination provisions for religious organizations. (See prior posting.)