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Fair Work Australia says dismissed priest can make claim

Published: June 11, 2010

Fair Work Australia has ruled that Melkite Catholic priest Andrea Bellia can claim unfair dismissal after his job at Melbourne's Assisi Centre was terminated.

Fr Bellia lost the job at the aged-care centre at Rosanna in Melbourne, after the president of Assisi wrote that it was "deemed in the best interests of all concerned that the post of chaplain be vacated with immediate effect", reports The Age.

Fr Bellia was employed by Assisi after an arrangement between the aged-care home and the Melkite Catholic Eparchy, one of the Eastern-Rite arms of the Catholic Church. He was employed to provide pastoral care and perform some priestly duties including saying Mass for the 120 residents.

Fair Work Australia deputy president Reg Hamilton dismissed arguments from Assisi that Father Bellia's services were provided through the deal with the Melkite Catholic Eparchy and that there was no relationship of employer and employee between them.

Mr Hamilton said Father Bellia was paid a $30,000 a year stipend, was provided with accommodation for his family, and utilities, as well as a mobile phone, car and health insurance.

FULL STORY

Priest can make claim for unfair dismissal (The Age)

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Fair Work Australia

 

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Recent Comments

  1. So, even a priest's good work is not valued now? Fr Andrea, we will find a way to support you, your wife Therese, and your children. God is with you and will not overlook the good work that you've done. Justice will be served and your reward will be great. - A fellow Melkite,
    Collin in Perth, Australia

    Posted By: Collin Michael Nunis

  2. CathNews: Please correct The Age's notion that the Melkite Catholic Eparchy is an 'Eastern-Rite arm of the Catholic Church'. This does not in anyway make any sense.
    The Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand is a Catholic diocese and must accorded the dignity as such, as the Archdiocese of the Armed Forces is. Like the Archdiocese of the Armed Forces, the Melkite Catholic Eparchy is a part of the Province of Sydney.
    A diocese is in no way, an arm of the Church. It is the Catholic Church, and it is a part of the larger Catholic Church. Eparchy is merely a term used by the Holy See to describe dioceses erected for the Eastern Catholic Churches.

    Posted By: Collin Michael Nunis

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