Vatican Bank Dismisses Employees Over Workplace Marriage Ban

The Vatican bank fired two employees for marrying, citing a new regulation against workplace marriages. Despite their appeal to Pope Francis, the couple were dismissed and their attorney plans to challenge the decision in court. The regulation aims to avoid conflicts of interest in the small institution.

The Vatican bank confirmed on Wednesday that it has terminated the employment of two staff members due to their recent marriage, which violates a new rule against workplace matrimony.

The Institute for Religious Works revealed that the 'difficult decision' to fire the couple, who have three children, was made after both individuals refused to resign to allow the other to keep their job.

The couple's lawyer, Laura Sgro, contested the dismissals in a letter to the bank's leadership, threatening to take the case to the Vatican civil court within 30 days. Sgro argued that the termination was 'null, illegitimate, and gravely harmful of the fundamental rights of people and employees,' especially as the couple had received no response to their appeal to Pope Francis for a dispensation.

(With inputs from agencies.)