The Human Rights Tribunal has dismissed a complaint against the Anglican Diocese of Auckland over their decision to deny a gay man from becoming a priest.
Bishop Ross Bay made a decision not to admit the man through the discernment process because he was in an unmarried relationship.
One of the requirements to be a priest in the Anglican Church is that a person must either be single and celibate or in a heterosexual marriage.
The plaintiff, the Gay and Lesbian Clergy Anti-Discrimination Society [Inc.], claimed the man was discriminated against due to his marital status, and also because he was in a same-sex relationship.
But the tribunal’s decision, which has been released today, ruled the Bishop didn’t breach the Human Rights Act because the church was complying with their own rules which wouldn’t allow the man to be ordained.
As a result, the complaint was dismissed.
Story by Edward Swift. Thursday October 17, 2013
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