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Justice Department OKs Christian-only hiring by World Vision: Nondiscrimination would "substantially burden" religious practice

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.

World Vision successfully sought an exemption from a statute that requires grant recipients to refrain from hiring discrimination on the basis of religion. The grant was for a program aimed at reducing youth involvement in gangs.

World Vision’s Web site notes under its employment qualifications that U.S. applicants will be “screened for Christian commitment.”