EmploymentThe Becket Fund protects the First Amendment right of religious employers to make employment decisions based on religion, and of religious employees to be free from religious discrimination and burdens on religious exercise in government workplaces. Religious employers. Religious institutions -- and especially religious schools -- have the right to hire and fire employees based on whether they adhere to the principles that the religious institution exists to serve. This is nothing more than the application of free association and church autonomy principles in the particular area of employment. Importantly, these fundamental, constitutional rights do not simply disappear once a religious institution -- such as a religious social services provider -- accepts some government money. Government employers. By sharp contrast, the First Amendment prohibits actual government employers from hiring or firing employees because of their religion. In addition, government employers are generally free to accommodate -- and sometimes must accommodate -- the religious observances of their employees, such as by allowing time off on religious holidays. Litigation
Our CasesMedia ReleasesMedia Coverage
| 
