Supreme Court Offers Victory to World Vision in Religious Discrimination Lawsuit
- Posted on October 5, 2011 at 10:59am by
Billy Hallowell
- Print »
- Email »
On Tuesday, we reported on “Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,” the church and state case that many are calling one of the most important of its kind in recent years.
While this legal battle is far from over, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a separate but related instance, has offered up a major victory to the faith community.
The Court let stand a 9th Circuit ruling that affirmed World Vision, a Christian aid organization’s, right to fire employees who don‘t share the humanitarian group’s religious beliefs. This, much like the Hosanna-Tabor case, involves the “ministerial exception,” which is a legal doctrine that provides protection to churches and religious institutions, alike, from government intervention in employment decisions.
In describing how faith plays into the organization’s hiring process, World Vision’s U.S. president, Richard Stearns, said in a statement on Monday that it is “…vital to the integrity of our mission to serve the poor as followers of Jesus Christ.”
In this particular case, the former employees who were suing the organization had initially signed a statement of faith (a document that reaffirms that they believe in Jesus Christ and the elements embraced by the organization). But when they could no longer claim that they adhered to these values, they were terminated.
The argument here, as in the Hosanna-Tabor case is that the organization, which involves itself in economic development and disaster relief activities, isn’t entirely a religious organization. Thus, in the eyes of the terminated employees and their legal team, the organization wouldn’t be exempt from Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act (which forbids religious discrimination). By not hearing the case, though, the Supreme Court offered up a victory to World Vision.
First Things’ Joseph Knippenberg covers the significance of the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case. He writes, ”For my money, this is an important tea leaf to read before the Court takes up the Hosanna-Tabor case.”
Typically, courts side with the religious institutions in employment cases. Thus, Knippenberg highlights analysis conducted by Christianity Today, which explains the issues surrounding this case:
The majority opinion refused to address certain thorny questions, such as whether or not World Vision’s humanitarian work is an inherently religious activity. Judge O’Scannlain’s opinion said that it would be “constitutionally troublesome” for the court to attempt to decide what sort of activity is religious and what is not. When the employees alleged that World Vision is not a religious group because it offers aid to people regardless of their own religion, O’Scannalin chose to accept World Vision’s own assertion that “providing humanitarian aid to all in need, regardless of religious belief, is a tenet of its faith.”
By declining to hear the case, the Court avoided delving into the faith business. Stearns had the following to say about the decision not to hear the case:
“I am pleased, relieved and gratified with the court’s action. After four years of litigation, we at World Vision U.S. may now put this matter behind us, and continue our policy of hiring only Christians.”
While this case certainly mirrors Hosanna-Tabor, there are some differences. The individuals who were let go in the World Vision case purportedly had conflicting religious view. In the Hosanna-Tabor case, though, the woman who was terminated was cut loose after an illness. The similarity between the two, though, is the aforementioned ministerial exception.
In the Hosanna case, it seems the court will need to determine if the woman’s role fit the parameters presented within the exception. This, it seems, was what the court was attempting to avoid by hearing World Vision in the first place.
Comments (29)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 586 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 413 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 375 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 372 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 413 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 372 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
spinelessdave
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 5:48pmYou can’t cross the CROSS fool!
Report Post »Timely Renewed
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 7:39pmThe fundamental problem here is the modern misinterpretation of the first amendment’s Establishment clause. “Separation of church and state” does not appear in the Constitution, nor is it a correct interpretation of the Establishment clause. The sole meaning of the Establishment clause was to prohibit the federal government from preferring one faith as a national religion. The 20th century Supreme Court rulings expanding that clause to incorporate the bigoted 19th century anti-Catholic concept of “separation of church and state” are an unconstitutional exercise of judicial overreach, as well as creating a jurisprudence which even pro-separationists acknowledge is incoherent. We need to amend the first amendment to restore the original meaning of its establishment clause, which is non-preference among denominations, not secular hostility to faith in general. See http://www.timelyrenewed.com.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 7:19pmYAY!! One for the good guys!
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:56pmWell…SCOTUS got one right. This whole episode shows the radicalism and the hatefullness of the obama regime. Would obama do the same thing to the muslims or his Black Panthers? Obama and Holder or NOT RACE NEUTRAL. They are anti-white RACISTS.
Report Post »dianeehs
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:40pmIt Would be interesting if someone would try to join the Black Panthers while being white. Outside of the religious exemption, equal application of the employment discrimination laws are beyond the ability of the Left to conceive. They also encourage business to refuse Christians and Jews the ability to practice their religious beliefs while Muslims, as we saw in the Iowa Meat Packing decision (I think it was Iowa), are allowed to have separate rooms for prayer and to take the breaks needed to pray five times a day. IF you don‘t believe me try getting off for Easter or Yom Kippur in most of today’s businesses.
Report Post »gwssacredcause
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 2:06pmJudge O’Scannlan saying “it would be ”Constitutionally Trouiblesome” for the court to decide what sort of activity is religious and what is not.” I find this very hard to understand when the court has already said when a person bows their head in a moment of silence they are praying, which is a religious activity.
Report Post »AZGodGoldGuns
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 1:23pmI feel this is a positive step to keep the separation of Church and State but this was an easy “no hear case” for the Supreme Court. The employees fired signed a “Letter of Faith” which would be considered a contract. When they decided that they no long wanted to be considered Christians then they broke a written contract.
Report Post »The Supreme Court does not want to rule on contracts and the other claim about because this organization World Visions helps Non-Christians in crisis situations, then it is a public company rather than a religious entity is ridiculous.
loriann12
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 1:28pmI agree that they violated their contract. BUT, that said, this is still dangerous ground. In order to qualify for the exemption for the new Health Care Bill (ObamaCare), a religious organization can only hire of it‘s own faith and can only help members of it’s own faith. In otherwords, you aren’t considered for an exemption if you help everyone indiscrimately, like, say Catholic Charities? Or other Christian organizations. This will turn all the Churches into what appears bigots (or Islamic) because every other faith will disqualify you for this exception. I expect once they have that firmly established, they’ll do something to get rid of all religions but Islam, then in order to get help, you have to convert. problem solved.
Report Post »Harold B
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 10:27pmActually the seperation of church and state is article 52 of the former USSR America’s antagonist during the cold war. Many treacherous people that adopted the Marxist beliefs are still alive and well and working for a political victory for their now defunct natoin. These same treacherous people will soon be demonstrating for Shirah law to be obeyed.
Report Post »faithfullistener
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 1:22pmThank you, Supreme Court!
Report Post »Constructionist
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:37pmDoubtlessly the 9th District only supported ‘World Vision’ because it mistakenly thought it was a global socialist organization.
Report Post »CCRYDER
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 1:18pmNo doubt! LOL :))
Report Post »Dontbefooled
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 2:28pmIt pretty much is, check out who Richard Stearns calls friends and who he associates with, Jim Wallis and all kinds of socialist red letter Christians!
Report Post »sister1_rm
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:21pmThe Supreme refuses to hear the case. Maybe it’s a victory, but something doesn’t feel right. Watch the other hand. It’s not over…
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:33pmWith this administration it never is over; they willl try to make the churches that do not support the admin via preaching social justice conform or be destroyed.
Report Post »Carborendum
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:20pmSCOTUS allows a 9th Circuit decision. Wouldn’t you know it.
Wait a minute… A decision by the 9th Circuit actually SUPPORTED the religious organization OVER the atheists??? Now I know the world is turning upside-down.
Let me go look outside to see if there is a giant comet coming to destroy the earth.
Report Post »LimoDavid
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:05pmHallelujah! Way to go Supremes!
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:05pmGet ready for the protesters to move from Wall Street to the US Supreme Court ha ha ha……first time I can recall that an appeals sent from the 9 th circuit actually was not overturned!!!
Report Post »The10thAmendment
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:01pmI chuckle every time a “rights” advocacy group who stands tall declaring separation of Church and State gets slapped down by the proper reading of the separation intended, which was entirely that GOVERNMENT has no business in ruling on religious cases.
Report Post »shackero
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:09pmGood insight——I always marvel at the inconsistencies of the far-left……………..
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:21pmWell Said!!
Report Post »Charybdis
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:00pmWow! The 9th Circuit actually got one right! I’ll have to remember to check the color of the moon tonight.
Report Post »JoeBtfsplk
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 11:58amSeems fair to me.
Report Post »NewLife56
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 11:56amWHAT???? We won one???? shocking
Report Post »drphil69
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 11:56amAre the New Black Panthers racist for not hiring or allowing whites in their organization?
Report Post »NewLife56
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 11:57amWho would want to be hired by them? :-)
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:13pmI was unaware that the New Black Panthers was a religious group. Keep the apples and oranges separate.
Report Post »dianeehs
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:33pmIt WOULD be interesting if some fool would try to join while being white. Equal employment law application is beyond the ability of the Left to conceive.
Report Post »