Catholic defends Catholics’ “right” to discriminate

LABOUR’s chief whip in the Scottish Parliament seems afraid about something – something that might just stir up a religious hornets’ nest (are there religious hornets?).

Michael McMahon doesn’t want an inquiry into Catholic Schools and possible discrimination therein. But, then, he’s a Catholic, as can be seen from his profile on the Parliament’s website. Even so, you might think he’d want it all out in the open so as to prove that his beloved church is whiter than white.

According to the Sunday Herald, “He said he was ‘robustly defending the Church’ against attempts to chip away at its rights.” Er, “rights” to do what, exactly?

Members of the Equal Opportunities Committee were discussing a list of possible inquiries. Once concerned possible discrimination in the hiring of teachers. The Herald says,

The idea was said to have been motivated by last year’s tribunal involving Glasgow City Council and maths teacher David McNab, who claimed he was prevented from applying for promotion at a Catholic school because he was an atheist. He challenged the decision on the grounds of religious discrimination and won the case.

However, discussion of the subject at the committee, which was held in private, turned ugly after McMahon objected to a probe into Catholic schools.

One wonders what Mr McMahon’s attitude would be if there were perceived discrimination against a Catholic applicant for a job in a secular organisation because of his or her religion.

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UPDATE: Not strictly an update, but added (11.09 a.m., 12.11.07) after the original post. It’s worth noting that Mr McMahon’s profile (linked to above) has the heading “Religious affiliation” on it (not all members’ profiles do), and it’s interesting that the affiliation is given not as “Roman Catholic Church” but “ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH”. Nothing else on his profile qualifies for the capitals, not even his political party. There may be nothing in it. On the other hand . . .