Vatican Bank Fires Couple for Marrying, Citing New Ban on Workplace Relationships
The Vatican Bank has sparked controversy by firing two employees for getting married, citing a new ban on workplace relationships, The Associated Press reports.
The Institute for Religious Works (IOR), the Vatican’s bank, claimed the decision was necessary to avoid conflicts of interest within its small workforce.
The couple, who have three children, met and fell in love while working in different departments at the IOR. They informed the bank of their wedding plans in February, only to be met with a new personnel regulation banning workplace marriages, which took effect in May.
The couple, represented by attorney Laura Sgro, appealed to Pope Francis for a dispensation from the regulation. However, they received no reply. Sgro described the firing as “null, illegitimate and gravely harmful of the fundamental rights of people and employees” and has vowed to challenge the decision in Vatican civil court.
The bank has saod that the ban is not intended to discourage marriage, but to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure impartiality in its operations. With only 100 employees, the IOR believes workplace relationships could create a potential for favoritism or bias.
The news has sparked criticism from some who see the firing as a harsh and unnecessary measure, particularly given the couple’s commitment to their faith and their three children. Some have pointed out the irony of the Vatican, which promotes marriage as a sacrament, punishing employees for getting married.
