World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization, can fire employees who disagree with its theological tenets, a federal appeals court has ruled. In a 2-1 decision, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said on August 23 that World Vision is a "religious corporation" and therefore exempt from a federal law that bars faith-based discrimination.
A Michigan-based Christian relief group, International Aid, has closed its doors amid financial struggles, and World Vision, one of the largest evangelical relief agencies, has eliminated about 75 positions.
Nondiscrimination would "substantially burden" religious practice
Dec 02, 2008
The U.S. Justice Department recently disclosed a 2007 ruling by its Office of Legal Counsel that permitted the relief agency World Vision to keep a $1.5 million grant despite its policy of hiring only Christians.
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