WASHINGTON (AP) — In
a groundbreaking case, the Supreme Court on Wednesday held for the
first time that religious employees of a church cannot sue for
employment discrimination.
But
the court's unanimous decision in a case from Michigan did not specify
the distinction between a secular employee, who can take advantage of
the government's protection from discrimination and retaliation, and a religious employee, who can't.
It
was, nevertheless, the first time the high court has acknowledged the
existence of a "ministerial exception" to anti-discrimination laws — a
doctrine developed in lower court rulings. This doctrine says the First
Amendment's guarantee of freedom of religion shields churches and their
operations from the reach of such protective laws when the issue
involves employees of these institutions.
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