In Demkovich v. St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, the Seventh Circuit ruled in favor of a Roman Catholic church in Chicago after a former music director sued the church when he was fired for violating Catholic doctrine and his employment agreement by entering a same-sex union. The court ruled that the First Amendment protected the church's freedom to hire and fire the music director under the "ministerial exemption," and that the court had no business adjudicating claims regarding a "hostile environment."

The court's opinion stated, "Because a minister lies at the heart of a religious organization's work and workplace, deciding whether discrimination pervaded his employment impermissibly requires intrusion into a religious thicket ... The First Amendment outlaws such intrusion ... A religious organization should not be forced to choose between proffering a religious justification or risking legal liability ... In these sensitive areas, the state may no more require a minimum basis in doctrinal reasoning than it may supervise doctrinal content."

"Civil authorities have no say over matters of religious governance ... This invitation to turn the spiritual into the secular raises the concern of chilling religious-based speech in the religious workplace. Turning to Demkovich's allegations, what one minister says in supervision of another could constitute stern counsel to some or tread into bigotry to others. How is a court to determine discipline from discrimination? Or advice from animus? These questions and others like them cannot be answered without infringing upon a religious organization's rights," the court wrote.

St. Andrew the Apostle Parish has been serving a Polish immigrant neighborhood in the city of Chicago for over 120 years. St. Andrew Parish hired Demkovich in 2012 as the church music director and organist. He played a central role in planning and performing the liturgy, choosing the music for Masses and other important sacraments, and playing the organ during services. When Demkovich entered into a same-sex relationship, he violated his employment agreement and 2,000-year-old Catholic teaching.

Demkovich sued the Archdiocese after the pastor terminated his employment. A district court dismissed his lawsuit, citing the "ministerial exemption." Yet Demkovich filed an amended complaint, claiming the church had created a hostile work environment. The district court granted some of his claims, ruling that the church had created a hostile work environment based on Demkovich's disability status which included metabolic syndrome. After a three-judge panel against the Archdiocese, the case went to the entire court. In a 7-3 en banc ruling, the Seventh Circuit reversed the panel's previous ruling and declared that the "ministerial exception," a doctrine that protects against government intrusion into the employment relationships between churches and their ministers, protects the entire ministerial relationship.

"Religion permeates the ministerial workplace in ways it does not in other workplaces. Ministers, by their religious position and responsibilities, produce their employment environment. From giving a rabbinic sermon on a Jewish holy day to leading a mosque in a call to prayer, ministers imbue a religious organization with spirituality," the court ruled.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "This court decision upholds First Amendment ‘ministerial exception' that prevents the government from interfering with churches and religious organizations with respect to certain employment decisions. The Supreme Court also has held that these decisions regarding employment are protected under the ‘ministerial exception' in order to safeguard the autonomy of religious organizations." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

250 Reasons Why We Love America

Stories of Heroism and Miracles from the Devastation in Venezuela, Shared on Social Media

Enemies Within: The Threat of Communism to America

Man Taken into Custody in Somalia for Role in Huge MN Fraud Scheme

Supreme Court Decision Sparks Urgent Calls to Pass SAVE America Act

Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship in Blow to Trump Immigration Enforcement

Supreme Court Rules on State Laws Excluding Men From Women's Sports

America 250: Freedom Trucks Travel across US Celebrating American History

Lowest Gas Prices Are in States with Republican Governors, Legislatures: Report

MLB's Texas Rangers Shun 'Pride Night,' Host 'Faith and Family Night' Instead

Resolution to Preserve Daughters of the American Revolution for Women Only Is Defeated

Texas Institutes Bible Passages into Its Public School Reading List

US, Iran Skirmish Following Tehran's Ceasefire Violations; Israel, Lebanon Sign 'Historic Accomplishment'

Supreme Court Deals Massive Blow to the Deep State, Reversing 90-Year Precedent in Humphrey's Executor

Justice Alito Torches SCOTUS Ruling in Mail-in Ballot Case, Warns of Voter Fraud

SCOTUS Rules 5-4 to Permit Counting of Mail-In Ballots that Arrive AFTER Election Day

Breitbart's AMERICAN SOUNDTRACK: Firebrand Mary Kutter's Poignant Birthday Tribute; 'Through All the Hell and Glory Days You Stand Here With Amazing Grace'

America's Semiquincentennial Begins: Trump Launches Massive National Mall Expo

Woman Removed from Detroit Tigers Game for Wearing 'Jesus Over Pride' Shirt

Netherlands Does the Unthinkable: Euthanize a Young Child