Dec 27 2008
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Volunteer sacked for not being Catholic
The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Queensland (Australia) has been ordered to pay damages to a voluntary president it “sacked” because she was not Catholic.
Ms Walsh had been doing unpaid work for the society for 10 years, working, for up to 7 days a week.
Objections were raised about her being non-Catholic in 2004.
The society gave her 3 options, become a Catholic, resign her position and stay only as a member, or leave the society.
Instead Ms Walsh took her case to the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal. Ms Walsh was awarded AUD$27,500 for “offence, hurt, embarrassment and intimidation”.
