A Big Win For Religious Liberty

In a huge win for faith-based organizations, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit affirmed that churches and religious ministries have autonomy to hire only those who share their faith. Yakima Union Gospel Mission exists to advance the gospel through its social welfare work—yet Washington state insisted that the religious organization abandon its religious identity at the hiring desk. In Union Gospel Mission of Yakima v. Brown, the 9th Circuit correctly held that government cannot force a Christian ministry to hire employees who reject its religious beliefs.