Appeals court upholds religious schools’ right to choose teachers

May 22, 2024

Religious schools have a right to choose teachers who uphold the school’s religious beliefs according to a ruling by a federal court.

WNG reports that the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a Roman Catholic school in North Carolina on Wednesday after determining that even substitute teachers serve a role similar to ministers.

The ruling stemmed from a case that arose after Charlotte Catholic High School dismissed substitute English and drama teacher Lonnie Billard in 2014. Billard had announced his plans to enter into a same-sex marriage shortly after the state had legalized it.

Billard had sued the school for sex discrimination and a U.S. District Court judge had ruled in favor of the teacher.

The Court of Appeals ruling reversed that order on the basis that Billard played a vital religious role at the school and that the school was protected in its decision to fire him based on the doctrine of “ministerial exception.”

The Court held that, even though he was a substitute teacher, Billard served a “vital role as a messenger of [the school’s] faith.” According to WGM, the school requires all of its teachers to “model and promote Catholic faith and ideals.”

The School was represented by Luke Goodrich, an attorney with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Goodrich said the ruling is “perhaps the broadest application of the ministerial exception by a court of appeals to date.”

According to Goodrich, the ministerial exception now extends to all teachers at religious schools and isn’t limited just to teachers who instruct religious courses.

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