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cbayer

(146,218 posts)
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 11:33 AM Dec 2014

5 Silliest Religious Exemptions Cases in 2014

http://religiondispatches.org/5-silliest-religious-exemptions-cases-in-2014/

BY KARA LOEWENTHEIL DECEMBER 25, 2014

2014 was the year that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) made a comeback, and now religious exemptions are the talk of the (policy wonk) town. As Hobby Lobby emboldened those seeking religious exemptions, we saw more and more outlandish claims being advanced disguised as religious rights. Here are the top five bizarre religious exemption claims of the past year—although I’m sure 2015 will find a way top them.

1. The nurse who told a family planning clinic she wouldn’t prescribe birth control and then sued the clinic for not hiring her. Yes, you read that right. Enough said.

2. The woman arrested for crystal meth who claimed she needed it for her Wiccan religious practices. That’s how far we’ve come from the Native Americans who were penalized for using peyote in the landmark Smith case that brought us RFRA to begin with.

3. The Satanic Temple’s print-and-sign web form for claiming a religious exemption to get out of having to listen to state-required biased counseling laws before obtaining an abortion. If only it were that easy.

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5 Silliest Religious Exemptions Cases in 2014 (Original Post) cbayer Dec 2014 OP
Actually that nurse's lawsuit makes sense....kinda sorta.. dixiegrrrrl Dec 2014 #1
How does that make sense? Sweeney Dec 2014 #2
It makes sense, in a legal sense. dixiegrrrrl Dec 2014 #5
While I agree that you can't discriminate based on religion, you cbayer Dec 2014 #7
I don't agree about the nurse. cbayer Dec 2014 #3
see my reply above, pls. n/t dixiegrrrrl Dec 2014 #6
To think religion should have protection from the law, Sweeney Dec 2014 #4

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
1. Actually that nurse's lawsuit makes sense....kinda sorta..
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 01:38 PM
Dec 2014

If she is saying she was discriminated against for her religious beliefs.
sometimes the intention behind our civil rights laws can be a 2 edged sword.

Sweeney

(505 posts)
2. How does that make sense?
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 02:01 PM
Dec 2014

I never applied for a job in my life I didn't think I could do.

Maybe I had it all wrong. I should have told them I want the job; but I don't want the work.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
5. It makes sense, in a legal sense.
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 02:42 PM
Dec 2014

The law says you cannot discriminate because of religion.

She is testing the law.

I am not saying she is right.
I am not saying she should be hired.

I AM saying, from a legal perspective, that blanket laws often appear to make sense, until they are tested in cases like this and re-defined.
It is up to the courts then to see if the broad definition of the law applies in this situation.

Better hope any court that does hear the case is not a Bush appointee.

“If the law supposes that,” said Mr. Bumble,… “the law is a ass—a idiot."
from Oliver Twist

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
7. While I agree that you can't discriminate based on religion, you
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 03:20 PM
Dec 2014

can refuse to hire is someone is unable to do the job.

Whether that refusal is religiously based or not is not at issue, imo.

If she could do the job, but wanted to wear a cross or a headscarf or get home before dark on Fridays or have specific prayer breaks during the day, then she might have a case, as long as her religion did not interfere with her ability to do the job.

IIRC, a woman recently won a case against Abercrombie and Fitch because they did not hire her because she wears a hijab. She is perfectly capable of doing the job and her dress doesn't interfere with anything in the job description. She had a case, imo.

Nice to see you, dixiegrrrrl.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
3. I don't agree about the nurse.
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 02:01 PM
Dec 2014

She was applying for a job in a place whose purpose is to provide birth control and she says up front that she won't do it.

It's like someone with an peanut allergy applying for a job at a planters factory then saying they can't be exposed to peanuts.

That's fine, you don't get the job. But suing the employer is ludicrous, imo.

Sweeney

(505 posts)
4. To think religion should have protection from the law,
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 02:03 PM
Dec 2014

and the religious should have the protection of law is a bit of a contradiction.

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