Dutch faith school
A Christian school in the Netherlands that dismissed a teacher who ‘came out’ as a practising homosexual had its action upheld by the Council of State.
The Council, the highest advisory body in the Netherlands, declared that although the Government was committed to equal opportunities across all walks of life, the primary school, in the town of Emst, had a right to practise its beliefs.
When the teacher was dismissed, the Government appealed to the Council, citing Article 1 of the Dutch Constitution which grants liberty and equality to all, regardless of sex, ethnicity, colour, faith or political orientation. It claimed the school had broken the law by dismissing him and should be taken to task.
Jewish, Islamic and Christian organisations backed the dismissal in the face of strong opposition from liberal political groups and gay rights campaigners.
