CV NEWS FEED // St. Joseph Parish in Michigan has asked a federal appeals court to protect its ability to hire employees who abide by Catholic moral teachings, contrary to what the state wants to impose.
“Constitutional rights don’t come with permission slips. Michigan cannot tell St. Joseph and every other religious organization in the state that they are breaking the law by staying true to their religious beliefs,” said William Haun, senior counsel at Becket, a leading organization fighting for religious liberty currently defending the Catholic institution. “We are asking the court to step in and ensure that religious groups across the state can live out their faith and not be sued simply because they open their doors to everyone.”
The case, St. Joseph Parish v. Nessel, first began in December 2022, but a lower court dismissed the lawsuit earlier this year. St. Joseph’s is now asking the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to let the parish align its operations with Catholic beliefs on sexuality and marriage.
“Thanks to a change in Michigan law, all of St. Joseph’s employment, educational, and publicly open activities are subject to liability whenever they uphold the Catholic understanding of human sexuality, gender, or marriage,” St. Joseph’s said in its appeal.
The parish is concerned about a state law signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and does not allow any religious exemptions.
St. Joseph’s is the only Catholic church in Saint John’s, Michigan.
“Like many religious schools, St. Joseph hires teachers and staff who support and advance the Catholic faith,” read the November 29 press release from Becket. “Like many Catholic churches around the country, St. Joseph asks all staff—from kindergarten teachers to part-time bookkeepers—to be practicing Catholics and to uphold the faith. St. Joseph also follows Catholic teaching on issues like pronouns for staff and children and separate girls’ and boys’ bathrooms and locker rooms.”
Oral arguments are expected by spring 2024.
“For over a century, St. Joseph has existed to serve its local community and help its parish and school grow deeper in the faith,” Haun said. “St. Joseph must have the freedom to foster an environment that is faithful to its Catholic identity to continue that mission,” Becket says.