Supreme Court Issues Decision In Religious Freedom Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously decided in favor of a postal worker from Pennsylvania in a significant religious liberty case involving the appropriateness of employers’ accommodation of religious preferences in the workplace.

Christian mailman Gerald Groff of Pennsylvania requested the court rule on whether the U.S. Postal Service may make him deliver parcels from Amazon on Sundays, which he observes as the Sabbath. His lawyer, Aaron Streett, argued in April that the court needed to review a decision from 50 years ago that set a standard for figuring out when companies have to make allowances for their workers’ religious practices.

In a 9-0 decision, the Supreme Court rejected a ruling from 1977 that mandated that businesses must “reasonably accommodate” an employee’s religious practices as long as doing so does not put an “undue hardship” on the company.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires employers to accommodate employees’ religious practices unless doing so would be an “undue hardship” for the business. A 1977 Supreme Court case, Trans World Airlines v. Hardison, said employers could deny religious accommodations to employees when they impose “more than a de minimis cost” on the business.

Streett said the court should get rid of the “de minimus” test because lower courts have used it wrongly to deny religious accommodations. Instead, he said, the court should use the plain language of Title VII, which would define “undue burden” the same way it is in other federal laws, like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

F M

Related Posts

Trump Signs C0ntr0versial Order Addressing Political Prosecutions

In a striking and polarizing move, former President Donald Trump signed several executive orders on Thursday, including one granting clemency to pro-life activists imprisoned during President Biden’s…

What Is That Weird Toothed Part on Kitchen Scissors For?

Ever notice the random jagged section between the handles of your kitchen scissors—the little metal teeth housed behind your fingers? You have likely also thought, what the…

Dem Sen. Warren Makes Big Announcement About Her Political Future

Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced Monday that she will seek re-election in 2024. Warren, who has served in the Senate since 2012, released a video on…

People are losing it over Donald Trump’s reaction to Melania’s speech

Several viewers on social media commented that Trump appeared to be fighting to keep his eyes open. “Despite standing, Trump seems to be having trouble keeping his…

Alain Delon: From Heartthrob to Timeless Legend – A Daughter’s Tribute

Once celebrated as the most handsome man in the world, Alain Delon captivated audiences across decades. Known for his piercing blue eyes and magnetic screen presence, Delon…

In a devastating tragedy, former U.S. President Joe Biden, his wife

Dr. Jill Biden, and their grandson died today in a plane crash near the U.S.-Canadian border. The small private aircraft reportedly lost contact with air traffic control…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *