Employment Rights and Church Discipline: Obst and Schüth

Abstract

The Equal Treatment Directive ‘respects and does not prejudice the status under national law of churches and religious associations or communities in the member states and … of philosophical and non-confessional organisations’ and empowers member states to make ‘specific provisions on genuine, legitimate and justified occupational requirements which might be required for carrying out an occupational activity’. Specifically, Article 4 permits member states to make such provision taking account of their ‘constitutional provisions and principles, as well as the general principles of Community law’. Crucially, Article 4 concludes as follows: … this Directive shall thus not prejudice the right of churches and other public or private organisations, the ethos of which is based on religion or belief, acting in conformity with national constitutions and laws, to require individuals working for them to act in good faith and with loyalty to the organisation's ethos.