A Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Sinn Féin’s Carál Ní Chuilín, has clashed with representatives from the Christian Institute as they urged the Northern Ireland Assembly to ensure new equality laws allow churches to remove individuals from positions if they do not adhere to church teachings, including on sexuality.  

The discussion took place before the Assembly’s Executive Committee, which is examining proposals for a single equality bill for Northern Ireland. During the debate in the Assembly, Sam Webster, solicitor advocate for the Christian Institute, argued that religious organisations should have the right to ensure that those in church roles live in accordance with their doctrinal beliefs.  

“It is about conduct consistent with the doctrinal teaching of a Church,” Mr Webster explained.  

However, Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín interrupted, challenging his stance. “‘Gays don’t apply’ is basically what you are saying,” she asserted.  

As Mr Webster attempted to continue his argument, saying “It is about…”, Ms Ní Chuilín repeated, “Gays not applying,” highlighting her concern that such a policy would exclude LGBTQ+ individuals from church positions.  

Under existing law, religious institutions are permitted to require individuals in certain positions to abide by the teachings of their faith. Mr Webster emphasised that the Christian Institute was advocating for the preservation of these protections.  

“If there were to be an issue whereby a particular employee was not abiding by the church’s teaching in that area, those protections for the church would give it the right to remove someone,” he stated.  

While Ms Ní Chuilín strongly opposed this perspective, another MLA at the meeting supported the Christian Institute’s stance.  

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston defended the principle that faith-based organisations should be able to hold employees and volunteers to their religious standards.  

“I would be strong on the point that faith-based organisations that, day by day, use the Bible as their navigation tool should have the protections in place to say to somebody, whether an employee or a volunteer, who was not living that way, ‘You know what? You’re not in keeping with the organisation,’ and bringing that to an end,” Mr Gaston argued.