SCOTUS Exempts Churches From Job Laws

Religious groups let out a collective “Hallelujah!” In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court said there is a “ministerial exception” to federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. The court ruled that religious groups should have the ability to hire and fire certain employees without government interference. Those who perform religious work—including theology teachers—do not fall under employment-discrimination laws, the court ruled. Religious groups heralded the decision, saying the case Hosanna-Tabor Church v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was a threat to their First Amendment rights. Critics charged that the decision could make it harder to combat discrimination.