A MOVE by Roman Catholic Church leaders in Scotland to defend the Church's position over teachers rejected for jobs because they are not Catholics has been rejected by the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

David McNab, a maths teacher at St Paul's Secondary, Glasgow, won his religious discrimination claim at an employment tribunal last year when he complained he was not considered for a promoted post because he is an atheist.

Glasgow City Council has appealed the ruling on the grounds it was a genuine occupational requirement for the job.

Church representatives applied to join the appeal so they could put forward the position of the church.

But the tribunal has refused the application by the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, the permanently constituted assembly of Roman Catholic Bishops in Scotland.

The appeal will be heard on January 17.

Mr McNab, who moved to a non-denominational school in the city after the tribunal's ruling, said: "It is right the Church has nothing to do with a court case in which it is not financially involved.

"It does not own the schools or pay teachers' salaries. My employer is Glasgow City Council, not the Church."