Category: Employee Rights
The U.S. Supreme Court recently held that a town can open its board meetings with a Christian prayer without violating the First Amendment
In Town of Greece, New York v. Galloway, 134 Supreme Court 1811 (2014), the U.S. Supreme Court decided whether the town of Greece, New York, imposes an impermissible establishment of religion by opening its monthly board meetings with a Christian prayer. The Court held that no violation of the U.S. Constitution was shown. In Greece, a town of 94,000 in upstate New York, monthly town board meetings begin with an invocation by a local clergyman…
WHEN CAN AN OREGON CHURCH OR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL BE HELD LIABLE FOR DEFAMATION CONCERNING THE FIRING OF AN EMPLOYEE?
Oregon churches and religious schools are sometimes faced with the dilemma of having to terminate a priest, pastor, teacher, or other employee and then answer questions from the congregation or other employees about why the person was let go. Churches and religious schools can feel torn between wanting to explain what happened and fearing civil liability for defamation to a person who is upset that they were fired. The Oregon Court of Appeals stated…