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View Full Version : Is Government funding of Anti-Semitism/anti-Judaism legal?


Toto
October 11, 2002, 11:43 AM
Why are we even arguing about this?

A Right to Bias Is Put to the Test (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/11/national/11CHUR.html)

A lawsuit filed in Georgia recently may help answer this open legal question: Do religious institutions that are ordinarily free to discriminate in hiring on the basis of religion lose that freedom by accepting government money?

. . .

Sherri Rawsthorn, a supervisor at the home, later conceded in court papers that Mr. Yorker had been "one of the top candidates for the position." On learning he was Jewish, though, she ended the interview. "We don't hire people of your faith," Mr. Yorker said she told him.

The home, which is an affiliate of the United Methodist Church and receives about 40 percent of its financing from the government, says it was entitled to reject Mr. Yorker.
. . .

Mr. Yorker is joined in his lawsuit by another therapist, Aimee R. Bellmore, who was fired when the home learned that she is a lesbian. Her claim adds a twist to the debate.

In papers submitted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the home said Ms. Bellmore had been fired because "her religious beliefs were not in conformity with those required" and because she did not subscribe to the home's religious doctrines, including one that does not "condone the practice of homosexuality."


edited to change title

[ October 11, 2002: Message edited by: Toto ]

theyeti
October 11, 2002, 11:51 AM
Just to be fair, I don't think this should be called "anti-semitism". I've usually understood anti-semitism to mean hatred against Jews as an ethnic group, and not mere religious descrimination. But of course it's stupid either way.

theyeti

Shadowy Man
October 11, 2002, 12:13 PM
This will be interesting to watch. It is a good example of why even the religious majority should be for the separation of church and state. If Mr. Yorker wins the lawsuit then effectively the government has decided what the religious institution's hiring policies should be.

Toto
November 6, 2003, 01:22 PM
I hit the quote button instead of the edit button. Oh well, this case is back in the news.