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Education

Christian School Sparks Unprecedented Religious Liberty Battle After Firing Teachers for Refusing to Prove Their Faith

Jan. 29, 2013 11:57am Billy Hallowell

A Christian school in Thousand Oaks, Calif., is locked in a heated legal battle with former teachers who are claiming that they were unfairly dismissed for failing to provide proof of their faith. The trouble began last summer when Lynda Serrano and Mary Ellen Guevara were asked to submit documentation affirming their Christian views — something they refused to do.

The two were subsequently fired, with Little Oaks School officials claiming that their decision was protected under employment provisions reserved for religious entities. The former preschool teachers then threatened the school with legal action and the Ventura County Star reports that the Christian institution responded by filing a lawsuit of its own. What has resulted is a complicated and unique legal conundrum.

To begin: Little Oaks is a for-profit entity that is owned by Calvary Chapel of Thousand Oaks, a local church. With school leaders citing the U.S. Constitution as well as the California constitution as corroborating their religious freedom to hire at will, Serrano and Guevara base their argument upon the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. Contrary to non-profit institutions’ rights, the law does not allow religious discrimination at the hands of for-profit faith groups.

NBC has more about this complex case:

Richard Kahdeman, a lawyer for the church and school, sums up this discrepancy by noting that the real questions focuses upon whether “the nondiscrimination rights of the teachers under state law trump the religious rights of the school under federal law.” Despite the contention that federal law does, indeed, protect Little Oaks from discrimination claims, the law firm representing Serrana and Guevara obviously has a different view.

Attorneys for Epps, Yong & Coulson claim that the church is suing in an effort to hold up “illegal and discriminatory practices” and that past cases surrounding the California Fair Employment and Housing Act corroborate the teachers’ stance.

The Star reports about the differences between state and federal law that are at play:

The state Fair Employment and Housing Act allows exemptions to religious discrimination only for nonprofit religious groups, said Annmarie Billotti, chief of dispute resolution for the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

“For-profit businesses, if you will, have to play by nondiscrimination rules,” said Joe Conn, spokesman for Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

But the Constitution and a series of Supreme Court decisions protect the rights of religious organizations to practice their beliefs, said Alan Reinach, a constitutional lawyer and leader of the Church State Council affiliated with the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

“Under federal law, you can’t sue the school because religious schools are exempt,” said Reinach. “Religious schools have to be allowed to make faith-based decisions. That’s basic to religious freedom.”

According to Calvary Chapel, the church that purchased the school in 2009, tight deadlines didn’t allow for the Little Oaks to become tax-exempt — a common feature of religiously-affiliated schools in America. Rather than a business created to churn in income, the church argues that the school is a spiritual outreach that works within the community. Currently, the school has 130 children in grades preschool through fifth.

Lynda Serrano and Mary Ellen Guevara in Legal Battle Over Christian Faith With Thousand Oaks School

A copy of the document that teachers were asked to fill out (Photo Credit: NBC News)

“We’re a Christian school. We were coming to the point where we were establishing a Christian curriculum,” explained the Rev. Rob McCoy, pastor at Calvary Chapel and the school’s headmaster. “We wanted to make sure teachers subscribed to that faith.”

As stated, problems with Serrano and Guevara began last year after educators were asked to provide evidence of their faith in order to renew their teaching contracts. According to court documents and the Ventura County Star, the women refused to provide the requested information. Considering that at least one of the educators was teaching at the school before the church purchased it, the case becomes even more complicated.

Little Oaks decided to take legal action after the women sent a letter through their attorney, Dawn Coulson, telling the school that they would potentially sue for $150,000 each following their dismissal. The church’s lawsuit was then launched in an effort to secure an injunction that would ensure that any litigation takes place inside of a federal court (after all, federal law favors the church’s case, while state law might not).

The case carries with it uncertainty and the potential to set precedent, particularly when it comes to the hiring practices of for-profit organizations that are owned by religious groups.

(H/T: Ventura County Star)

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Comments (100)

Harold B
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 5:01pm
It is certianly considered good to fire Christians for their beliefs in government run schools

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- The Third Archon
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 6:18pm
  If you’re “Christian beliefs” include refusing to teach scientifically established fact that is incorporated into the curriculum you are hired to teach, then yes, “It is [sic] certianly considered good to fire Christians for their beliefs in government run schools.” I would go so far as to say not only good, but necessary.
  
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- qualityrkc
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 7:16pm
  Fired for not doing their job but nobody in america has ever been fired solely bc of their christian belief system. If they chose not to teach scientific theory in the schools designated and approved curriculum then they would be failing at doing what they were hired for. A better analogy would be if christians were asked their religion in an interview and was not hired back bc of their answer. Unfortunately for your argument this doesn’t happen bc its illegal to even ask those questions in a for profit privately owned business. The irony is this law was meant to protect all people especially religious people. In 100 years you will be thankful for these laws once christianity is a minority religion and atheism is the majorty beleif system bc every poll shows society moving in that direction. Kids born today are the least likely generation to join an organized religion due to the internet, modern scientific data, etc. Christians shouldn’t be so shortsighted to try and fight this very good principle that employers can’t discriminate on the basis of religion.
  
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- Oldmantex
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 8:12pm
  This is a case of people not understanding the Christian faith. Christians believe that you cannot understand the faith fully until you submit to Christ. You cannot teach in a faith based institution, if you do not share the faith. A Christian believes their greatest example or teaching tool is their own life. If that is not Christian, then they cannot be a teacher in a Christian school.
  It is not based on their religion, its based on them not being qualified to teach fellow Christians in an environment that requires them to live a Christian life style as as example.
  Finally their rush to sue, is proof they are NOT Christian and are simply there not to be a teacher and witness of Christ, but for a pay check.
  Their response alone should be enough for any judge to realize they are not qualified to teach in a Christian school.
  
  Report this comment
- termyt
  Posted on January 30, 2013 at 2:43pm
  Which facts would those be Ar-chan?
  
  The only thing about this story that makes me wonder is what exactly were the teachers required to do to prove they were Christian? Walk on water? Turn water into wine? Make 2 hours of oil burn for 3 hours?
  
  Report this comment
- Sparky77
  Posted on January 30, 2013 at 11:20pm
  termyt, the teachers were probably just asked to give their Christian testimony. That is how such a thing is usually done. This is a pretty simple thing to do.
  
  Report this comment
SharonIsCaring
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 3:49pm
Christian school’s, should have Christian teachers. Simple.

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- JRook
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 5:33pm
  Any and all organizations suffer when they don’t hire and promote the best talent available. In the case of a teacher such measurement should rest on their command of the subject matter and ability to convey it to students. So long as they are not speaking in contrast or opposition to the religious tenants of the school then the employer is off base. Their personal degree or manifestation of faith is just that, personal. In fact since so many born agains speak of their faith as being a personal relationship with JC, why don’t they keep it that way.
  
  Report this comment
- Hmschlmom
  Posted on January 30, 2013 at 5:42am
  @Jrook… When a parent chooses a religious education for their child, they are also paying for that child to have the example and supervision of adults who share their faith, their values, and beliefs. It is not JUST about the the academic subject matter. These people are just as (possibly even more so) concerned with their children’s CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
  Anyone involved in education knows…teachers don’t just teach academics. They MENTOR. These parents are paying (twice over, in fact…since there is no school tax break) for the privilege of being selective as to who those mentors may be…
  
  Report this comment
Jadedfate
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 3:42pm
Yeah, can’t have teachers that teach facts and reality working for you…

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- hillbillyinny
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 4:00pm
  I guess your “fate” has really been “jaded”! Sad. . .
  
  Come to faith, you may be surprised what you learn in faith is really truth!
  
  Report this comment
- Sparky77
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 5:08pm
  Jadedfate,
  
  What does being a full-time jackass pay these days?
  
  Report this comment
- encinom
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 5:16pm
  Either teach that the earth is 6,000 years old or be fired.
  
  Interesting case, what is important, but the journalists fails to report is what type of teachers these are. The Supreme Court ruled that Christian schools can fire for religious grounds those in a position of ministry and teaching faith. This would be a hard argument to make to justify firing a math or science teacher.
  
  Report this comment
- The Big Mick
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 5:27pm
  So, JD, are you arguing that the Local Madrasa should have to hire Jewish Atheists to Teach Islam?
  Or the Local Ultra Orthodox Hebrew School JihadiNazi symps?
  Or is it only Christians you want to withold the right to Practice their Religion from?
  
  Report this comment
- mycomet123
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 5:29pm
  @ENCINOM, No where in the Bible does it state how old the earth is! There could have been millions of years (as we know it) between days 3,4,5,6 IN THE BEGINNING!
  
  Report this comment
- ModerationIsBest
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 11:57pm
  @MYCOMET123
  
  The Bible is just a book, like any other book.
  
  The only problem is that people say “The Bible says this” and then back it up with an appeal to an all knowing, all powerful supernatural being.
  
  So therefore, if someone comes to me and says, “The Bible says the Earth was created in six days and God rested on the seventh” then that is WHAT the Bible says. It means nothing to then come back later and say “oh well my interpretation is wrong, but the Bible still hasn’t been proven wrong!”
  
  For years, people used the Bible to defend that the Sun revolved around the Earth.
  
  Report this comment
- termyt
  Posted on January 30, 2013 at 2:48pm
  Yes, the Bible is just a book – a book that inspired Western Culture to free its slaves, educate the masses, use science and logic over superstition, and build a republican form of government that respects not only the will of the majority but the rights of the minorities.
  
  Report this comment
donaldchar
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 3:36pm
Evidently, when teachers insist on teaching something they don’t believe, they’ll do a poor job at best. The end result will be seducing their students away from the faith intended to be instilled by the parents who send them there. A good agenda might be: close the school and re-start it with the currently missing requirements spelled out.

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palerider54
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 3:03pm
These two teachers represent what is really wrong with America today.

They want all the blessings and benefits that come from ALL MIGHTY GOD THE FATHER, SON & HOLY SPIRIT, while refusing to acknowledge that he even exists.

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- DeathRattle
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 3:49pm
  Amen, amazing how America demands to continue in it’s former glory all the while pushing God from it’s collective consciousness. Sorry it does not and will not work that way. God is will remove any remnants of His protection, grace and peace from this nation and we have no one to blame but ourselves. I say we because I and millions of other Christians did not speak out loud enough to keep this nation from falling this far, well that is about to change.
  
  The time of middle ground is done and the time to call sin a sin and evil evil has come, we are nearing the end of this age. It is time to talk to God and confess your sins, let go of all the baggage and embrace forgiveness. Eternity is a long time to suffer for not making the choice for Jesus.
  
  Report this comment
- qualityrkc
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 7:24pm
  You may be right or wrong but don’t you think atheists should still be afforded the same workers rights as every1 else? I know christians would be mad if their employer asked them if they were christian on their resume and rightfully so. I think the law should protect all equally.
  
  Report this comment
wopette
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:55pm
The onus on the teachers should not be whether they are Christian or not, the question is, do these teachers have understanding of the Christian faith to be able to teach it? Whether they are secular or not should not be a part of the equation. While of course it’s preferrable to have teachers that are of the Christian faith, no teacher should be dismissed for not being a Christian. Jesus Himself rebuked His own followers for shooing people away that we’re not of them. Mark 9….

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- blarman
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 3:28pm
  How can you truly understand something without identifying with it? Because Christian religions are based on faith, there is no way you can say that you “understand” faith without trying it! You can in nowise “understand” Christianity by observation – only by trying the tenets for yourself can you evaluate them. And let’s not forget that if you want to teach Christianity, there is only one proscribed method: example. It is entirely within the rights of the Christian school to demand that the teachers practice what they preach and it would actually be quite hypocritical not to.
  
  There are plenty of other places the teachers can go to teach.
  
  Report this comment
- hillbillyinny
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 4:09pm
  Most Christians are passing on a belief system that is based in a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus, also known as The Word, both of whom are in communion with the Holy Spirit of God. Passing on this reality is such much more than teaching a bunch of facts about “religion”!
  
  If you are not in a relationship with someone, and do not know anything about that someone, how do you share intimate details about whom you love and what it can mean to him or her that you are trying to lead to a similar relationship?
  
  And, keep your mind out of the gutter!
  
  Report this comment
- wopette
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 4:18pm
  Sorry, but I disagree.. You don’t have to belong to xyz church to declare your faith as a Christian..Nor do you have to be a Christian to understand the concept..I’m not Muslim, but I understand Islamic theology just fine..
  
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- hillbillyinny
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 4:18pm
  Jesus also let a large group of followers leave when they could not accept His teaching on the Real Presence of His body and blood in the bread and the wine. Read John chapter 6, verses 47 to 69. He let them go and didn’t run after them and explain, “I just meant it as a ‘memorial’”!
  
  Jesus truth was much deeper than it appeared on the surface. . .
  
  Report this comment
- hillbillyinny
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 4:37pm
  Sorry, Wopette, we’re talking RELATIONSHIP, not theology!
  
  I have a degree in religious studies and theology, but when I share the saving knowledge of Christ, and the relationship available with the Father and the concept of the Holy Spirit living within a person and guiding a person I’m sharing a relationship, not just a theology!
  
  Report this comment
Locked
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:04pm
This is actually a pretty interesting case. Since the school is NOT listed as a religious non-profit, I would think that the non-discrimination federal laws apply to them as well. I’ll be interested in seeing where it goes.

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- lwoot
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 5:10pm
  I know a church that does not claim religious exemption. They believe if you are willing to submit as a church to the state in order to obtain exemption then you have placed the state before God.
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 10:22pm
  @Lwoot
  
  That’s their prerogative. It doesn’t change that I’ll be interested to see how the case turns out. Folks who don’t register as churches… shockingly… aren’t considered as such.
  
  Report this comment
jman-6
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 1:15pm
I’m waiting on The Jerk [thats so rich] to show up blaming this on the evil Zionist Jews! If it wasn’t for that damn Judiasm then we would’ve never had Christianity and them evil religious institutions! Must be a conspiracy of the first order perpetrated by the evil Zionist Jews trying to take over America n the World! LOL!! I’m sorry I couldn’t help myself! LOL!! Please forgive me as I shouldn’t publicly chastise The Jerk even if the chastisement is outta love! LOL!! I hope you understand the humor!

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- jman-6
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 1:25pm
  That should read: hope you understand the humor in the satire Jerk an stop being obnoxious as your anti-semitism overshadows your post making it pointless! Everyone with brains knows that everyone who says there a Jew doesn’t mean there a real Jew!
  
  Report this comment
- jman-6
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 1:30pm
  What’s so extreme or wrong with a Christian school asking for a statement of faith of their employees? All Christians know this is all part of the spiritual war Satan is waging against the Saints! We shall overcome for Jesus overcame the World! Amen
  
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Dan_o
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:59pm
Why is a Christian school just now coming up with a Christian curriculum?

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- jman-6
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 1:16pm
  Sounds like a little over zealousness caused a lack of proper planning!
  
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- hillbillyinny
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 4:33pm
  From the article it sounds like a Church bought a school that was already in session. They are now developing the type of curriculum they prefer to present. Maybe it’s minor doctrinal changes, maybe it a complete change of orientation and the two teachers in question were not challenged in the past as to their commitment to Faith.
  
  Report this comment
BikerMickAG
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:54pm
Ingrates! They don’t appreciate that they weren’t dismissed when the school changed hands, they have/had employment contracts with the school, & now they pull this crap!? Contracts up, go’-bye!!! Federal court precedent would seem to be against them.

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- qualityrkc
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:23pm
  As a for-profit entity, the school is bound by the same laws that apply to all for-profit employers. Their “religious right” to discriminate against employees who don’t share their beliefs does not apply, and the court must find in favor of the plaintiffs (the teachers).
  
  Report this comment
RestoreCapitalism
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:49pm
If an employer cannot determine who they will employ to do their work, they lose any ability to control the quality of the work performed. If however they have that power to determine who they employ, then they can be expected to deliver the standard of quality expected by their clients. This is another reason why government services perform so poorly. The standard of who they hire is based upon political correctness rather than common sense.

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MoDem
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:35pm
I though all you Blazers were for states rights. California says for profit businesses cannot discreminate their hiring/firing practices on the basis of religion. States Rights!

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:43pm
  Individual liberty trumps states rights. If the state passed a law permitting me to live in your house, would you respond the same? Private school, private business, private house; the government should stay out. When they do not that is usurpation .
  
  Report this comment
- jman-6
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:47pm
  modem- Nice try but even as a supporter of states rights no ONE, NO State, NO Fed Govt. law[s] shall trump or violate Article 1 of the Constitution or any of the others 2-10 for that matter! Good try though but remember there are many conservative Spirit Filled Christians who are on guard against the assault on our GOD given rights & liberties by people of your persuasion and never forget that! NEVER!
  
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- theBru
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:59pm
  State’s rights is right…I cannot argue that, but what I do argue is that it is a “private” school…is the school funded by the state, I dunno, in that case, they would have the law behind them…but you are right about what is right, and I am a true believer in state’s rights, even if it is californica…
  
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- mcsledge
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 1:42pm
  You cannot create a state law that trumps a federal law if the power is not given to the state. Freedom of Religion is not suppose to be infringed by either the federal or state governments. I question whether the state hasn’t already violated the US Constitution with their law.
  
  Report this comment
- piper22
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 3:00pm
  @mcsledge
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 1:42pm
  You cannot create a state law that trumps a federal law if the power is not given to the state
  —-
  
  Rights are not “given to the state”. They are reserved by the states unless specifically granted to the federal government.
  
  Report this comment
IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:34pm
Neither should anyone have to pay for contraception and abortions when against their religion through “Obamacare” or any insurance co.

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caleejr
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:34pm
The contract was up – new contract, new requirements – it’s no different with Unions.

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- qualityrkc
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:29pm
  Private for profit institutions cannot fire employees based on religious affiliations. End of story. The church is going to lose.
  
  Report this comment
Cavallo
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:30pm
It will all depend on the judge. We live in a nation ruled by men, not laws.

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- oldguy49
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:37pm
  lets see ………………so run all the business and people that have money and religion and guns out of california and whats left ……oh yea……..early release criminals
  
  Report this comment
- ibanrfknm
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:39pm
  That is unfortunately true.
  
  Report this comment
- NachtundNebel
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 1:19pm
  That is true… for now.
  
  Report this comment
Hatcher
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:29pm
Is obtaining and keeping a job a right? Your boss should be able to fire you if you look at him/her funny. Is it nice or good business to fire employees for such reasons?- probably not. But in this case it is more than just a funny look – If you’re a Christian school teacher and you think Christianity is not important to you, then maybe should be released. I’m not a Christian, therefore I’m someone this school should not hire to be a teacher. Just Saying.

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- jman-6
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:37pm
  Well stated and kudos to you for your honesty that as a non-believer you should not be hired as a teacher by a Christian school!
  
  Report this comment
- qualityrkc
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:00pm
  If this ruling goes in favor of the school it would mean private companies can fire you for being a Christian. Remember the law goes both ways. If you can fire someone for not proving they are a christian then you can fire someone for not proving they aren’t. Christians always want to have their cake and eat it too. You treat everyone else like second class citizens.
  
  Report this comment
- REALID 239823749828-HIF
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 3:11pm
  @ QUALITYRKC
  
  I don’t think that’s true. Most of us here believe in personal responsibility, hard work, and the grace of God. We don’t need laws to help us keep our jobs.
  
  I, for one, believe that if I was hiring people, I should be able to hire or fire anyone, for any reason, or for no reason. After all, it’s my company, my money that they’re being paid with, and no one should have a right to tell me I have to keep a person employed simply because they’re a member of a protected class. That being said, I’m a good person and wouldn’t fire anyone unfairly. I would realize that they are currently dependent on me for survival, and I shouldn’t take that lightly.
  
  Would I fire someone for having different religious or political beliefs than myself? No, of course not, unless it somehow interfered with their job performance. Which is the case with these two teachers. If they are not Christians themselves, they have no business teaching a Christian curriculum as their employers cannot be assured that they can teach the material and answer the questions properly.
  
  Racism sucks, and discrimination sucks, but you know what? Mean people suck, and so do stupid people. Mean and/or stupid people are always going to discriminate against others for something. It’s a fact of life. Like many other things in this country, the existing laws don’t really help solve the problem. Bringing responsibility, morality, and conscience back to the country will.
  
  Report this comment
walnutportconservative
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:25pm
Hey Boy Scouts…. take notes

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- love the kids
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:39pm
  Actually, I think the name “Boy Scouts” will now be more fitting than ever!
  
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barber2
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:18pm
” The first thing we do, is we kill all of the lawyers…” W. Shakespeare

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- SquidVetOhio
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:34pm
  Awesome.
  
  Report this comment
- The_Jerk
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:38pm
  Boy, there are some things we do agree on.
  
  Report this comment
- Al J Zira
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 1:36pm
  If we didn’t have any lawyers, we wouldn’t need them.
  
  Report this comment
walnutportconservative
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:18pm
Hey Boy Scouts of America… get ready for this very same kind of legal battle.

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- BetterNTexas
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:34pm
  Well, probably not the BSA. If their new proposed policy becomes fait accompli, it will be each individual troop setting the rules which means that each group that sponsors a scout troop is left wide open for lawsuits. Why sponsor a troop if it means you’re going to be sued? If the BSA actually goes with their proposed plan, I predict the end of the BSA. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to sponsor a troop with that kind of baggage.
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:49pm
  Nor would you want your young 12 year old out in the woods with an unsupervised admitted homosexual. They have enough problems with the closeted homosexuals abusing children. I wouldn’t allow my daughter to go out in the woods with an adult man, either. If the BSA caves, my son will never be a Boy Scout.
  
  Report this comment
- walnutportconservative
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 1:10pm
  for a very short period, I was a member of a troop (back in the 70s) who had as a leader, a predator. He had his boys scouted out before I hit the troop, but thinking back, what we suspected was true. Funny, but the church that this troop met at, had no accountability. The pastor would meet with his secretary in the church grave yard. This demise of proper male leadership definatly had it’s effects on many of us young men, of that I am sure. Truth is, this so called pastor even hit on my mom. You quessed it… she has not been to a church since those days. As a matter of fact, they all look at me as being strange, you see, just ten years ago, I was influenced by a good church, and now I am born again.
  Praise God
  
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Carrie3570
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:11pm
People should be able to hire and fire who they want.

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- girlnurse
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 1:24pm
  Right! And it shouldn’t matter whether they are church OR secular. Nobody has RIGHTS to a job OR a permenant job. If I own a business and I no longer want to pay for your services, the overnment shouldn’t have a rght to MAKE me retain you. I understand workers rights but in the end…a JOB is not a right
  
  Report this comment
Rowgue
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:10pm
The author of the article keeps saying it’s complicated. No it isn’t. You’ve got teachers that want to teach at a christian school. The laws are cut and dry on religious protection and the employment practices of religious organizations.

The only thing that makes things in any way complicated is the fact that it’s technically listed as a for profit business. But that’s a technicality due entirely to the fact that it USED to be a for profit business and hasn’t yet been fully converted since being purchased by the church.

Frivolous lawsuit that should be thrown out before it even gets to court.

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- MoDem
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:33pm
  The Church filed the lawsuit.
  
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- Rowgue
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 11:06pm
  The church filed a counter suit moron.
  
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SamIamTwo
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:09pm
Yep all tied up over the IRS bureaucracy would be my bet. There is a war on…as we all well know.

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- BODYBAG
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:29pm
  Yep. The country is now dividing up and taking sides.
  Constitutional Liberty vs Communism
  
  Crackheads like John Edwards used to bloviate about 2 Americas.
  Now it is literally true.
  
  Better pick a side now and think really long and hard about the choice.
  Everyone that matters already knows who is going to lose and it wont
  be pretty.
  
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Holger Danske
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:07pm
The Constitution says that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. It says nothing about “unless it is for profit.”

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walnutportconservative
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:06pm
The actual battle brought on by these two in rebellion might make me think they are not following Jesus. Why would you not just conform with such a small request? Now they are going to bring suit? I know the bible suggests we settle these matters outside of the courts (among bretheran).
Fire them.

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- circleDwagons
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:30pm
  If they where true Christians they would not be suing. Why wouldthey want to work for someone they donot agree with? I am a Christian if someone questions my faith and will not listento me i would just dust the dust off my feet and walk away.
  
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DougHuffman
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:06pm
That’s quite amusing that the teachers have already eaten their cake and now they want it too. To be sure, some union goons will chime in.

“Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” (Ἀπόδοτε οὖν τὰ Καίσαρος Καίσαρι καὶ τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ τῷ Θεῷ Matthew 22:21).

Good people are armed with wits, guns and the Truth. God Bless Bitter Clingers, damn progressives, know-nothings.

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