A new code of professional conduct for teachers could lead to religion teachers being found guilty of “professional misconduct” for teaching core parts of their faith such as sexual morality and the truth of their own religion.

According to a report in the Irish Catholic, the code suggests that such teaching could be held to discriminate against those living in non-marital families and pupils from other religions and none.

Number four of a new Code of Professional Conduct drawn up by the Teaching Council of Ireland says teachers must “interact” with students in a manner that does not “discriminate” on the basis such categories as “marital status”, “family status”, “sexual orientation” and “religion”.

The Teaching Council is a statutory body established in 2006 to register teachers, vet training courses for teachers and establish professional standards for them.

The Council was asked by the Irish Catholic if a teacher would be in breach of the the Code of Professional Conduct if they taught that heterosexual marriage was “morally normative” or that the religion of the school “contains more of the truth than other religions”.

In response, a spokesperson for the Council said that while the ethos of the school would be taken into account, it would have to evaluate a complaint that that the teacher was “discriminating” on one of the above grounds in light of part 4 of the code.

“Any evaluation of the question you pose in your query would have to be done in the context of both the Code of Professional Practice and the Code of Professional Conduct.

“In particular, I would draw your attention to number 4 in the Code of Professional Conduct,” the spokesperson said.

“If a complaint was made to the council in relation to the matter you raise, it would be considered under Part 5 of The Teaching Council Act, 2001, which deals with fitness to teach.”

Part five of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 has not yet been signed into law by Education Minister Mary Coughlan, but, according to the council, this is to happen in the next few months.

When Part five becomes law, a teacher found guilty of professional misconduct by the council could be struck off the register of teachers, in the same way that doctors or solicitors can be disciplined.

A lesser penalty would involve sending the teacher for further “professional development”.