News that makes them gay

The gay community in England and Wales should be happy at the guidelines of their bishops stating that gays must not be denied employment in Catholic organisations simply because of their orientation.

The guidelines, "Diversity and Equality Guidelines", were published by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales to bring working practices in the church's educational, social work and charitable institutions into line with the demands of recent European and British legislation on discrimination in the workplace.

They state that "subject to limited and narrow exceptions, Catholic organisations must ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment than another on the grounds of race, gender, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age."

Richard Zipfel, policy adviser to Archbishop Peter Smith of Cardiff, Wales, chairman of the English and Welsh bishops' Department for Christian Responsibility and Citizenship, said the guidelines were "above all a positive statement of the church's belief in the fundamental dignity and equality of all human beings".

The bishops also said people of all sexual orientations have a right to take a full and active part in the life of the Catholic community. The guidelines are built on the distinction between sexual orientation and sexual activity. The first is not sinful but the second can be if not practised in "respect" for church teaching on chastity and fidelity.

The document acknowledges the reality of a society "in which relationships are increasingly fractured and complicated". It says that it is "only to be expected that this may at times be reflected in the lifestyles of those who serve the Church", and it encourages leaders of Catholic organisations to seek advice from the Church if tension arises between "discrimination law and the right of a Catholic institution to safeguard its ethos".

It said such instances could include those in which Catholic schoolchildren may be scandalised or led away from their faith by a teacher's behaviour, but the guidelines warn school officials to be "extremely careful not to make hasty judgments about conduct which is seemingly at odds with church teaching".