European Lawmakers Battle Church Over Employment Rights

British and European legislators have backed a former clergyman in his fight to change rules that exempt the Church of England from employment and unfair dismissal laws.

Eighty U.K. legislators signed a motion this week calling for clergy to be granted full employment rights. The move came after the European Parliament voted to back Rev. Ray Owen and urged the Anglican church to change the way it handles employment issues.

The clash between the lawmakers and England's established religion stems from a 1912 law under which ministers are "employed by God." Their salaries are considered gifts given by the church so that they can perform their spiritual duties instead of wages earned in exchange for work.

The law means that when it comes to clergy, organized religious groups in Britain are not required to follow employment legislation, including unfair dismissal laws, anti-sex discrimination rules and the national minimum wage.

Legal bid unsuccessful

Owen contends he was dismissed without explanation from his post as a rector in the parish of Hanley in 1999. He had since fought a mostly unsuccessful legal battle against the church and has refused to move out of his rectory.

Neither the motion signed by U.K. legislators nor the European Parliament resolution has the force of law, but the gestures come as the British government is re-evaluating the legal status of religious workers.

The British motion calls for the introduction of a bill to end the religious exemption from employment rules.

"By virtue of being ministers of religion, clergy are consequently denied employment rights and have no redress against sex, disability or racial discrimination at work," the motion said. "(We) call on the government to amend all relevant employment legislation so as to address these inequalities."

Owen welcomed both resolutions.

"I hope this will give a strong push to the U.K. government to recognise the position of the clergy," he told reporters. "We are now subject to many of the normal employment requirements, with contracts, and review procedures and so on and we need the protection of the rest of the employment laws."

In addition to the support of the European Parliament and the British MPs, Owen has the backing of British unions.

No laws broken

But the Church of England said Friday that lawmakers backing the vicar were basing their arguments on a "fundamental error."

Church spokesman Arun Kataria said that the length of clergy postings is set by church laws that are also approved by the British Parliament.

Owen's position had a seven-year limit, Kataria said, and thus instead of the vicar being fired, his contract simply ran out.

The church says Owen refused to take up offers of other posts and that he was not fired.

Kataria also pointed out that European officials had made it clear that no laws had been broken by the church. Citing Owen's ongoing legal challenge, Kataria refused to comment on the details of the case.

Religious officials are currently in talks with the U.K. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) about whether to include clergy under existing employment laws.

DTI officials said the discussions would "explore the case for employment protection more thoroughly and hear all sides of the argument."