Key point 8-06. The civil courts have consistently ruled that the first amendment prevents the civil courts from applying civil rights laws to the relationship between a church and a minister.
* The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that it was barred by the first amendment guaranties of religious freedom and the nonestablishment of religion from resolving a sex discrimination lawsuit brought by a former minister to the deaf. An ordained Episcopal minister was hired by an Episcopal diocese as a minister to the deaf. Her responsibilities included developing a diocesan ministry for the deaf, educating the diocese about issues involving the deaf community, providing support to a deaf congregation, and acting as liaison between the deaf community and the diocese. During her eight years of employment, the minister claimed that she was subjected to discriminatory ...
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