Appeals Court Shields Chicago Church From Gay Minister’s Harassment Case
The en banc Seventh Circuit found a doctrine known as the ministerial exception protects churches from hostile work environment claims.
(Image by analogicus from Pixabay via Courthouse News)
CHICAGO (CN) The full Seventh Circuit ruled that the Chicago archdiocese cannot be sued by a former minister who claims he was discriminated against and fired because he is gay.
In an opinion issued late Friday, the en banc Chicago-based appeals court found that Sandor Demkovich cannot pursue hostile work environments claims against St. Andrew the Apostle Parish and the Archdiocese of Chicago because of a First Amendment legal doctrine known as the ministerial exception.