AUSTRALIA, April 9, 2007 (theaustralian.news.com.au): Michael McKenna writes in The Australian this morning – The ruling Catholic leadership of the St Vincent de Paul Society faces trial over alleged religious discrimination after telling one of its leaders to convert or resign as an office-holder.
The welfare organisation, founded in Paris in 1833, may be forced to change its constitution in Australia because of the looming case in Queensland’s Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, brought by former volunteer and local area president Linda Walsh, a Presbyterian. Ms Walsh was a leading light in the organisation for more than six years, working full-time – as one of the 5000 non-Catholics in the society’s 8000-strong volunteer force in Queensland – with refugees and migrants, and holding the elected position of president of three local conferences, or area groups, in Brisbane.
But in 2004, despite being previously open about her religious status, the State Council of the society allegedly informed her that her “non-Catholic” status had become a “point of contention for some members” of the organisation.
Reference found on the site of the Australian Congregation of the Mission
