TORONTO - A provincially funded Christian group is appealing part of a tribunal ruling that found it violated the rights of a worker who had to quit after revealing she was gay.
Ontario's Human Rights Tribunal ordered Kitchener-based Christian Horizons to compensate Connie Heintz and to end a code-of-conduct agreement for its 2,500 employees.
The contract, which all staff must sign, forbids workers from cheating on their spouses, having pre-marital sex or homosexual relationships, using pornography, and "endorsing" alcohol or tobacco.
The group says it will no longer require employees to sign the agreement, but it will be appealing the remainder of the tribunal's order.
The evangelical organization is funded almost entirely by the province and operates more than 180 residential homes in Ontario for people with developmental disabilities.
The tribunal ordered Christian Horizons to compensate the former worker, launch basic human rights training for all employees, and adopt anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies.
It was the second time the tribunal has had to deal with a complaint against the organization. In 1992, it was ordered to compensate two women who were fired for being in common-law relationships.
Opposition parties have called on the province to consider pulling funding from the group if it continues to impose its religious beliefs on its employees.
Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday he couldn't discuss the case because the matter is currently under appeal.
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