KPLU Local News
(2010-08-23)
Outside the Federal Way, WA headquarters of World Vision.
AP photo.
(KPLU) -
It's okay for a religious charity to fire workers who don't observe the organization's faith. That comes from a case involving Federal Way-based World Vision. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed that World Vision is exempt from provisions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act because it is a religious organization.
Two women and one man were fired in 2006 after co-workers noticed they were not attending daily prayer sessions. The ex-employees say they don't believe in the Christian concept of the Trinity.
World Vision says a shared Christian faith is central to its mission. In a news release, the organization wrote, "Our Christian faith has been the foundation of our work since the organization was established in 1950, and our hiring policy is vital to the integrity of our mission to serve the poor as followers of Jesus Christ."
The ruling focuses on whether non-profits such as World Vision qualify for an exemption that normally applies to churches. A dissenting member of the Court, in the 2-1 ruling, argues the exemption should not apply to non-profits whose primary mission is similar to secular organizations.
Web Extras:
Read the entire 77-page ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals.
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