Recent judgment: C-258/24 Katholische Schwangerschaftsberatung

On 17 March 2026, the Court of Justice gave a judgment in Case C-258/24 Katholische Schwangerschaftsberatung.

In this case, the Court examined whether a Catholic association can dismiss an employee solely because she has left the Catholic Church.

Katholische Schwangerschaftsberatung, a Catholic association in Germany providing counselling to pregnant women, dismissed one of its employees after she formally withdrew from the Catholic Church. Under canon law, such withdrawal is considered a serious breach of the duty of loyalty.

The employee challenged her dismissal before the German courts. Considering that the case raised questions about possible discrimination based on religion, the German Federal Labour Court asked the Court of Justice to interpret EU law.

In the short video below, Judge François Biltgen explains the key elements of the case and the legal issues raised. Subtitles are available in all EU languages and may be activated by clicking the “Subtitles” icon.

You can also consult the press release for more information.