The U.S. Supreme Court recently demonstrated a surprising degree of unity in expanding the freedom of religious institutions as employers, Professor聽Lisa McElroy said during an interview Jan. 13 on Oregon Public Radio鈥檚 Think Out Loud .
The court ruled unanimously on Jan. 11 that a Lutheran church had the right to fire a disabled teacher, because religious groups must be allowed to choose who can or cannot convey their messages about faith, McElroy said.
By affirming a 鈥渕inisterial exception鈥 to employment discrimination law in Hossanna-Tabor Church v. the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, McElroy said, the court greatly expanded religious freedom.
McElroy, whom program host Dave Miller called 鈥渙ur go-to Supreme Court watcher,鈥 also discussed a fresh ruling in a case involving eyewitness testimony and a pending decision concerning indecency on television.