Who's Winning the War on Religion?

Last week,the Supreme Court delivered a historic affirmation of religious liberty with its unanimous decision in Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC. The case involved a teacher (Cheryl Perich) at a Lutheran church's school in Michigan, who was dismissed when she threatened to sue the school for a purported violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In its decision in favor of the church, the court affirmed the long-established principle that the government cannot dictate ministerial employment practices to religious organizations, nor can ministerial employees sue religious organizations for discrimination. 

You can learn more about the case from my October editorial in USA Today, but reactions to the decision by religious conservatives and secular liberals have been fascinating to observe. The defenders of religious liberty have rejoiced at a verdict that was, in the words of University of St. Thomas law professor Michael Stokes Paulsen, "absolutely, completely right." Much-deserved congratulations have gone especially to the non-profit, non-sectarian Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, who led the case for the church. For advocates of religious liberty, this is a rare moment of unalloyed celebration.