Human Rights Tribunal Ruling Raises Tough Questions in Canada

by Staff
May 9, 2008

(christiansunite.com) - In a ruling released last week, The Ontario Human Rights Commission declared that Christian Horizons, an evangelical Christian organization, was wrong to make its employees sign a morality pledge as a condition of employment.

The ruling stems from a complaint brought by Connie Heintz (39), who willingly signed Christian Horizons' "lifestyle and morality" employee code when she joined the organization. In 2008, however, she made it known to the organization that she was a lesbian, leading to her loss of employment with Christian Horizons.

Contrary to what many are claiming, the Human Rights Tribunal ruled against Christian Horizons not on the grounds that the agency receives virtually all of its funding from the Ontario government but because Christian Horizons' primary mission is to serve the public need for group homes for people with developmental difficulties. As such, the tribunal ruled that there was no need for the staff to sign a morality code that is explicitly Christian.

Pray for the leadership of Christian Horizons as they consider appealing this ruling. Pray for other Christian organizations who continue to set morality standards for their staff in light of their Christian faith.