Gay Swiss pastoral workers face job insecurity under church policies
Gay pastoral workers in Switzerland face ongoing job uncertainty due to conflicting church policies. Bruno Fluder, a gay pastoral counsellor in St. Gallen, could lose his position if a new bishop decides to enforce stricter rules. The Swiss bishops maintain that private relationships still influence hiring, despite calls for change from some church groups.
Bruno Fluder works as a pastoral counsellor for the Roman Catholic Cityseelsorge in St. Gallen. His role, like others in Switzerland, depends on both parish hiring and a bishop’s approval—known as a missio. Yet his job remains at risk, as a new bishop could revoke his position based on his sexual orientation.
Fluder and others in similar roles must navigate an unstable employment landscape. The Swiss bishops’ refusal to reform hiring policies means personal relationships will keep influencing job security. Without broader changes, pastoral workers who do not conform to church guidelines will remain vulnerable to dismissal.
