|
01-12-2012, 10:12 PM
|
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by buggyone
A totally bogus decision. This did not have to do with church freedom but with an teacher of secular subjects (that means non-church related, to you Republicans) with a disability who was fired.
What did this decison have to do with, "It shows the creepy agenda of the Obama administration, arguing for government control even in church and religious administrations."?
|
She was a teacher of religion "and was designated a commissioned minister". From the Supreme Court Opinion published at NYTimes:
"The Synod classifies its school teachers into two categories: "called" and "lay." "Called" teachers are regarded as having been called to their vocation by God. To be eligible to be considered "called," a teacher must complete certain academic requirements, including a course of theological study.
Once called, a teacher receives the formal title "Minister of Religion, Commissioned." "Lay" teachers, by contrast, are not required to be trained by the Synod or even to be Lutheran. Although lay and called teachers at Hosanna-Tabor generally performed the same duties, lay teachers were hired only when called teachers were unavailable.
After respondent Cheryl Perich completed the required training, Hosanna-Tabor asked her to become a called teacher. Perich accepted the call and was designated a commissioned minister. In addition to teaching secular subjects, Perich taught a religion class, led her students in daily prayer and devotional exercises, and took her students to a weekly school-wide chapel service. Perich led the chapel service herself about twice a year.
Perich developed narcolepsy and began the 2004-2005 school year on disability leave. In January 2005, she notified the school principal that she would be able to report to work in February. The principal responded that the school had already contracted with a lay teacher to fill Perich's position for the remainder of the school year. The principal also expressed concern that Perich was not yet ready to return to the classroom. The congregation subsequently offered to pay......
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...otus-text.html
How could any thinking person think the federal government should over-ride the decisions of church ministers over their "ministers" and religion teachers????
|