Supreme Court Decision in Hosanna-Tabor V. Eeoc

U.S. Supreme Court
January 11, 2012

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/legal/Hosanna_Tabor_v_EEOC/2012_01_11_US_Supreme_Court_Decision_Hosanna_Tabor_v_EEOC_10_553.pdf

[with pdf]



The case before us is an employment discrimination suit brought on behalf of a minister, challenging her church’s decision to fire her. Today we hold only that the ministerial exception bars such a suit. We express no view on whether the exception bars other types of suits, including actions by employees alleging breach of contract or tortious conduct by their religious employers. There will be time enough to address the applicability of the exception to other circumstances if and when they arise.

* * *

The interest of society in the enforcement of employment discrimination statutes is undoubtedly important. But so too is the interest of religious groups in choosing who will preach their beliefs, teach their faith, and carry out their mission. When a minister who has been fired sues her church alleging that her termination was discriminatory, the First Amendment has struck the balance for us. The church must be free to choose those who will guide it on its way.

The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is reversed.

It is so ordered.

[pp. 21-22]