Update: Supreme Court sides with church on decision to fire employee on religious grounds
I got this article from Fox News. There were stories about this on many blogs, but I decided to just go straight to a news source. I think what amazes me the most is that the vote was unanimous.
Supreme Court sides with church on decision to fire employee on religious grounds
Published January 11, 2012| FoxNews.com
The Supreme Court has sided unanimously with a church sued for firing an employee on religious grounds, issuing an opinion on Wednesday that religious employers can keep the government out of hiring and firing decisions.
In the case of Hosanna-Tabor v. EEOC, Cheryl Perich, a “called” teacher, argued that the Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School of Redford, Mich., had discriminated against her under the Americans With Disabilities Act by refusing to reinstate her to her job after she took leave for narcolepsy.
But the high court found that Perich’s was properly classified as a “minister,” meaning she falls within the “ministerial exemption” from many employment laws.
“Because Perich was a minister within the meaning of the exception, the First Amendment requires dismissal of this employment discrimination suit against her religious employer,” reads the ruling written by Chief Justice John Roberts. “The EEOC and Perich originally sought an order reinstating Perich to her former position as a called teacher. By requiring the Church to accept a minister it did not want, such an order would have plainly violated the Church’s freedom under the Religion Clauses to select its own ministers. …
“The exception … ensures that the authority to select and control who will minister to the faithful is the church’s alone,” the ruling reads.
Roberts added that this particular case is based on the ministerial exception’s use in dismissing the discrimination claim but does not bar other types of suits alleging breach of contract or “tortious conduct” by religious employers. The applicability of the exception to other circumstances would be dealt with separately “if and when they arise,” he wrote.
The high court’s decision overturned an earlier decision by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Rule of Law » Holder’s Quiet Court Attack on Religious Freedom
Rule of Law » Holder’s Quiet Court Attack on Religious Freedom
While I was searching for a picture for this post I was appalled at how far some groups had gone to disparage religion. What’s worse is the things we held most to be true are now being challenged by people in the government like that weasel Eric Holder and his whole corrupt DOJ. If the Supreme Court of the United States decides to step into even one case, it opens the door for them to step in and tell ALL churches what they can and can’t do. Am I the only one that sees a problem with this?
The following is an article I got from PJ Media and was written by J. Christian Adams. This court case is a big deal and all people of faith should know about it. I have heard about it at various times while it was making its way to the Supreme Court. We need to wake up and see what’s happening to religion in our country before it’s no longer protected and the government decides which teachings from the bible churches can to teach and which ones are forbidden, or “hate speech”.
Please read Mr. Adams article here:
Eric Holder’s Department of Justice has quietly advanced legal arguments in direct conflict with Catholic teaching and the teaching of other Christian denominations. If the Department of Justice prevails, the Catholic Church and other churches will have a difficult time preserving doctrinal traditions central to church teaching, particularly in church schools. The quiet and radical legal attack comes with perilous political risk, because active Catholics may determine Obama’s fate in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Mexico, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Like so much from this Justice Department, Holder’s radical legal positions are at odds with long American traditions. This latest species of Holder’s radicalism is a frontal attack on faith communities.
In the case of Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Holder’s DOJ argued that a church cannot fire an employee for acting contrary to church teaching, and contrary to an employment contract that incorporates that teaching. A teacher filed a complaint to the government about how the school handled her narcolepsy, which presumably would involve sleeping at work. The church school then fired the teacher because the church forbids lawsuits among believers based on 1 Corinthians 6:1-8. (“But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!”)
Holder’s Justice Department believes that religious schools should not be able to enjoy a longstanding exemption to various employment laws which conflict with church teaching, or, the “ministerial exception.”
Assistant to the Solicitor General Leondra R. Kruger (photo below) argued that the religious school could not fire the teacher for filing a complaint to the government even if church teaching forbids it. (Some background on Kruger here, here, and here). At oral argument, Kruger advocated positions so extreme that even Justice Elena Kagan appeared to reject them.
It’s not hard to see where this slippery slope slides. What if a teacher in a Catholic school does something directly contrary to Catholic teaching? Or, consider this possibility offered by American Catholic:
Then, too, what also about Catholic women using this principle to sue the Catholic Church in the United States because they are excluded from the priesthood? There’s absolutely no doubt that when it comes to ordination, the Catholic Church discriminates in favor of males. Should SCOTUS be able to tell the Catholic Church in the United States that it must redress the imbalance?
Yes…if, as an organization, the Catholic Church is bound by federal employment discrimination statutes.
No…if, as an organization, the U.S. Catholic Church is exempt from federal employment discrimination statutes.
Far fetched? Not to Kruger.
At oral argument, she wouldn’t categorically preclude the possibility. Instead, she told the Court that the government interest isn’t currently sufficient to justify an assault on the male priesthood. Kruger said “the government does have a compelling and indeed overriding interest in ensuring that individuals are not prevented from coming to the government with information about illegal conduct.” In other words, even if church doctrine prohibits you from settling disputes with the church through the government, the Obama administration cares not. Holder wants informants, or as the DOJ prefers to call them, complainants.
You can read the transcript of the argument with details of Kruger’s assault on religious independence.
Sometimes the radicalism of Obama’s Justice Department is on full display, like when it sues Arizona or blocksSouth Carolina voter ID. Other times, the radicalism creeps along the margins, as Kruger did at the Supreme Court, arguing that the long respected ministerial exception to church doctrine is no longer respected by this president and his Justice Department.
Expect a decision very soon in the case. Let’s hope if Kruger gets her way, the voters notice in November.
Thanks pjmedia.com
What is Agenda 21?
(If this seems like too much for you, after you watch the videos go back down the blog to the videos of people singing. Ahhh…relaxing!)
I’ve heard about Agenda 21 for a while now, but I didn’t know what it was. I was pretty sure by the bits I had read and heard about it that it wasn’t good, but I was afraid to read more. I have enough problems sleeping already. I just didn’t want one more thing to worry about, especially one I didn’t know how to change. I’m just starting to stand up about the things I already know about. I was sure I couldn’t do anything about this.
Well, I changed my mind. I decided the least I could do was watch this video and then make sure I tell as many people as possible. Please watch this video and wake up to what’s happening in our country to slowly erode our rights and freedoms.
I’ve tried as much as possible to stay away from sites that might be considered conspiracy sites, but with Agenda 21 it all sounds like one big conspiracy theory. Study it for yourself. I’m sure if you think about it and look around your city and local community you will see where this is happening where you live. Stand up! Get involved! Do something! Make your voice heard a community meetings and town halls. Show up and be heard. Don’t let them fool you with the pretty talk about Social Justice, Sustainability, or any of the other fluffy, lighthearted words they use to distract you. I have found some sites that will give you some helpful information. I got the following two, EXCELLENT, videos from Freedom Advocates. I found lots of helpful information there.
There are plenty of websites if you just google ‘Agenda 21’. I tried to stay away from any that seemed too crazy. The problem is that Agenda 21 does sound too crazy to be true, but it’s not.
This is wrong. Wrong for us and wrong for our country. Look around you. When the video mentions certain types of neighborhoods where you both live and work in the same building, I immediately thought of three different complexes of this type near me. They even look similar. Watch these two videos and please share them with your friends and co-workers. We need to wake up! After all, did we ever think there would be an actual socialist who surrounds himself with communists in the White House?
The first video is called “Agenda 21 – Part 1” and the second is called, “The Philosophy fo Liberty”. I found both videos extremely interesting and helpful. I was a little nervous about “The Philosophy of Liberty”, because the article mentions Ron Paul. So, let me just say while I don’t support Ron Paul politically and I think he’s a bit loony, he has many ideas I agree with. Apparently this is one of them. There is a website called The Philosophy of Liberty where you can get more information about this.
Now the videos:
1. Uploaded by UNATwentyOne on Aug 22, 2011
Agenda 21 – PartOne–Introduction and Property Rights – How Agenda 21 affects or will affect every living human; and its three pronged offensive: Strip Property Rights, (mis)Education, and Depopulation.
2. The philosophy of liberty is based on self-ownership. This simple but elegant and hard-hitting animation will explain exactly what that means. It’s a great tool anyone can use to educate children and adults about our right to life, liberty, and the property we create – and our responsibility to think, speak and act.
For more info and/or to download a free DVD version of this video, see: http://www.philosophyofliberty.blogspot.com
This is for anyone who just needs a pick-me-up.
This is for anyone who just needs a pick-me-up.
I think everyone should watch these videos at least once a week. No matter what’s been going on in life, these videos always make me feel better.
They also remind us that we can achieve our dreams if we just try, and don’t give up.
If you need a feel good moment now give these a listen. The one from Korea’s Got Talent really gets me, every time.
Gotta love Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. He’s awesome and ended up winning it all!
What if each household handled their debt the way the government handles theirs?
What if each household handled their debt the way the government handles theirs?
I’m guessing this video was made around the time of the “Great Debt Ceiling Debate”, but I think it still applies now. The government is still doing this type of thing with our money. How long are we going to take this? How long are we going to let the Republicans play their games and give in. It’s time to vote out anyone who has chosen to still play this game with our money.
Here’s a video that shows how this would look if it was you or me handling our money this way. It’s definitely worth watching.
Uploaded by debtlimitusa on Nov 4, 2011
A satirical short film taking a look at the national debt and how it applies to just one family. Starring Brian Stepanek & Eddie Jemison, Produced by Seth William Meier, DP/Edited by Craig Evans, 1st AC Brian Andrews, Sound Mixer Gus Salazar, Written and Directed by Brian Stepanek.
Obamas Cordray Appointment A Tyrannical Abuse of Power
Obamas Cordray Appointment A Tyrannical Abuse of Power
I’m speechless, so I’ll just put Mike Brownfield’s article here. This is the scariest thing I think the president has said. He’s even said it before. The scary part is that he’s got so many sycophants ready to follow him and applaud his every word. We MUST stand up!! We need to be heard. No matter what name they hurl at you, no matter what crazy argument they use, be strong. Stand up for what’s right. This isn’t right!!
Here’s Mike Brownfield’s article:
Morning Bell: Obama’s Tyrannical Abuse of Power
Mike Brownfield January 5, 2012 at 9:41 am
Standing behind a podium on a stage just outside Cleveland, President Barack Obama delivered a speech yesterday that will reverberate throughout history. No, its lasting impact will not come because of its soaring rhetoric. Instead, it will make its mark because it was at that moment on a Wednesday afternoon in Ohio that the President announced his plans to act in total and utter disregard of the U.S. Constitution with his illegal appointment of Richard Cordray to serve as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
It’s an astonishingly reckless exercise of executive authority that Heritage’s Todd Gaziano described as a “tyrannical abuse of power.” Never before in the 100-plus years of precedent on the recess appointment power has a President taken such an action while the Senate was still in session. Yet notwithstanding that fact, President Obama yesterday decided that he would be the first.
Here’s why the President finds himself so far outside of constitutional bounds. Under Article II, section 2, clause 2 of the Constitution, the President has the power to fill vacancies that may happen during Senate recesses, as Gaziano writes. In this case, President Obama was seeking to fill the vacancy in the CFPB, a new agency that has come under significant criticism given its unparalleled powers to issue expansive regulations with virtually no accountability. Republicans in the Senate, to date, have refused to confirm the President’s nominees to head up the CFPB, vowing to block Senate approval until reforms are made to the agency. So President Obama has decided to act without their approval by attempting to make a recess appointment. The trouble is that Congress is not in a recess because the House of Representatives never consented, as required under the Constitution, Article I, section 5. That means that the President simply does not have the power to make this appointment. Gaziano explains the implications of the President’s actions:[The recess appointment] power has been interpreted by scores of attorneys general and their designees in the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel for over 100 years to require an official, legal Senate recess of at least 10-25 days of duration. (There are a few outlier opinions, never sanctioned by the courts, that suggest a recess of six to seven days might be enough–but never less than that.)
The President’s purported recess appointment of Cordray would render the Senate’s advice and consent role to normal appointments almost meaningless. It is a grave constitutional wrong that Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has already denounced. But it fits a pattern of extra-constitutional abuse by the White House that seems more interested in energizing a liberal base than safeguarding the office of the presidency.
Why take such action? The President says it’s because he can’t wait for Congress to act on behalf of the American people. The truth is that the President is hell bent on ramming through his agenda, and he is entirely unwilling to compromise with the duly elected representatives who sit in the House and Senate. By circumventing the Senate and appointing Cordray, the President can ensure that his big-government regulatory agenda is enacted without the reforms that Congress is demanding. Unfortunately, the Cordray appointment is not the only example of the President’s wanton, unilateral actions.
Apart from Cordray, the President also plans to make three appointments to the National Labor Relations Board without Senate approval, which will fundamentally alter the makeup of the board and enable the President to realize his Big Labor agenda. That means an unrestrained push to unionize businesses at all costs and punish companies that seek to grow in non-union states (as was attempted in the Boeing case) — even if it means harming both workers and the economy. And in the case of environmental regulations, immigration law, No Child Left Behind, the auto bailout, the selective enforcement of voting rights laws, and the regulation of the Internet (among others), the Obama Administration has in fact enacted its agenda via legislative fiat time and time again.
king obama | The Gateway Pundit
king obama | The Gateway Pundit.
Judge for yourself. I know how I feel about this. How do you feel? Do we think HE has TOO MUCH power yet? He has to go. Share your thoughts.
Here’s Jim’s article from GP:
King Obama Takes Control – Breaks Rules On Recess Appointments… Just Because …Update: McConnell Issues Statement
Posted by Jim Hoft on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, 4:06 PM
Barack Obama used his recess powers to appoint a head for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and three new radical members of the NLRB today despite the fact that the senate was in session yesterday.
The Washington Times reported:President Obama used his recess appointment powers Wednesday to name a head for the controversial Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and three new members to the National Labor Relations Board — moves Republican lawmakers said amounted to an unconstitutional power grab.
The president acted just a day after the Senate held a session — breaking with at least three different precedents that said the Senate must be in recess for at least three days for the president to exercise his appointment power. Mr. Obama himself was part of two of those precedents, both during his time in the Senate and again in 2010 when one of his administration’s top constitutional lawyers made the argument for the three-day waiting period to the Supreme Court.
Mr. Obama tapped former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to head the CFPB, and named three others to the labor board — all of which had been stymied by congressional Republicans who said Mr. Obama is accruing too much power to himself through those two agencies.
Of course, the democrat-media complex will ignore this violation of justice as if it never happened. Being a far left socialist has its perks.
The recess appointments are almost certain to be challenged in court.
A VOTERS’ GUIDE TO REPUBLICANS
Okay, I’ll admit it. I love this guy. Please watch this video. He’s awesome.
Uploaded by BillWhittleChannel on Dec 13, 2011
EVERYBODY knows that Republicans are EVIL! What kind of Evil? Greedy, Fascist, Racist evil — the worst kind! Bill Whittle unravels the facts behind this perfect storm of evil in a breezy fashion that provides a hurricane of historical data to lift the white robes of even the most stalwart Democrats.
To support these messages go to http://www.declarationentertainment.com/
Here’s the video:
Three Years Under Obama
Please, please watch this video from Pajamas Media. It’s been around for a couple of weeks, but I hadn’t had time to watch it until now. Wow! Bill Whittle explains things in a way that is completely understandable about what’s happened to our country the last three years under Obama. I’m sure I couldn’t explain it this well, so I’ve decided it’s my job to find people who can. Bill Whittle is certainly one of them.
Please watch this video.
Uploaded by Pajamasmedia on Dec 21, 2011
In his last Afterburner of 2011, Bill Whittle takes a look at the state of this country three years into Obama’s rule and has amassed a list of breathtaking failures bound to stun and/or depress champions of smaller government. Solyndra, Fast & Furious, the Keystone Pipeline and the deficit are just a handful of the scandals that make Bill’s blood boil. So what do we need to do in 2012 to counteract Obama’s policies? Take a look.
Here it is:
Santorum Only Loses First Place in Iowa by Eight Votes!!
Well I said this would happen if we put our faith in the Lord instead of just choosing who we thought could win this election. I truly believe if we stand by our principles and values the right person (Rick Santorum) can and will go all the way. As I watched his speech tonight, there was still no final vote count. Most of the time it showed Santorum in the lead, and I truly believe now that eight votes behind is basically the same as winning. He’s shown America that he can do it. I do believe he’s the true conservative in this race, (besides Michelle Bachman) and I compare him to Silent Cal. That’s silent Calvin Coolidge who was the best president of the 20th century, until Ronald Regan. For me, I’ve really prayed about this. For you, you may have different criteria you pray on and your answer may be different than mine. Either way, we have to have faith and not just settle with our votes on who we think has the best chance of winning. If we pray, and put our faith in the person who most resembles our principles and values, then they will have the best chance of winning. Especially if we really want to change our country for the better.
For the first time, I’m not afraid to stand up and tell people exactly how I feel. Now I know people in my family may think I’ve always done that, but it’s only been with them. I believe we need to have the courage to STAND UP and be heard. If we want real change in this country, we can’t just sit back and hope it will change. Faith alone won’t do it either. WORK!! Work is what we need to do to accomplish the change we seek. Look how Rick Santorum worked. He was in last place just a few weeks ago, but he went to 99 counties in Iowa and over 300 town meetings. He didn’t just sit back and hope people would just understand his message. He got out and personally told people his message. The eight vote loss was only after two lost precincts were found.
The first words of his speech were: “Game On“. With these votes the game really is on. It may not be as easy a victory for Mitt Romney as everyone thought it would be. Either everyone’s work paid off or Iowa is more sick of Obama than people realize, because Iowa had the largest turnout for a Republican Caucus.
According to what I saw on Atlas Shrugs the vote was:
Percentage Reporting 98%
Candidate Votes %
Santorum 29,662 25%
Romney 29,657 25%
Paul 25,926 22%
Gingrich 16,002 14%
Perry 12,442 11%
Bachmann 6,031 5%
Huntsman 734 <1%
Cain
This seems sort of miraculous to me after all the news I watched and heard all day. Everyone said Santorum would probably take third place, which was still a miracle considering he had been at the bottom just a couple of weeks ago, but to nearly tie with first place is a testament to his faith and hard work. He didn’t spend as much money as others spent, but he got the word out.
We CAN be the difference in this election. We just need to STAND! And maybe like me, be LOUD!! That’s what makes me LaMar’s Loud Daughter.
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soapmama99
LaMar's Loud Daughter 