State high court: Catholic hospital may be sued for discrimination in firing
February 10, 2014
Washington’s state supreme court has ruled that religious nonprofits may be sued for job discrimination on the basis of race, disability, or sexual orientation “if an employee's work was unrelated to religion,” the Associated Press reported.
State anti-discrimination legislation had previously exempted religious nonprofits.
The state high court’s decision came after St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Tacoma dismissed an unarmed security guard who had suffered a stroke; the guard has alleged discrimination on the basis of race and disability.
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Further information:
- Court: Guard can sue religious hospital for firing (AP)
- In Fragmented Decision, Washington Supreme Court Finds Discrimination Exemption For Religious Non-Profits Unconstitutional As Applied (Religion Clause)
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Posted by: unum -
Feb. 11, 2014 9:19 AM ET USA
Is it not the job of all employees of a church organization to show the love of god to those they serve? Is that not a "religious purpose"? Secular courts have shown a significant lack of understanding of the constitutional meaning of "religion" in their rulings. It may be through ignorance of intent, but our Constitutional rights are not being upheld by the secular justice system.
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Posted by: [email protected] -
Feb. 10, 2014 10:10 PM ET USA
Without the facts in the case, hard to comment whether it was poor performance or race and disability issues. The stroke may have limited severely from doing his job. I am sure it will come out.
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Posted by: FredC -
Feb. 10, 2014 8:16 PM ET USA
Make every job related to religion! Start each employee's day with the Morning Offering.
