INDIANAPOLIS — The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that religious institutions are protected from civil anti-discrimination lawsuits.
The high court ruled in a 7-2 decision, churches are exempt from state and federal anti-discrimination lawsuits because of the Constitution’s protections for religious liberty in the first amendment.
The ruling has a grave impact on Shelly Fitzgerald’s current federal discrimination lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
“Today’s Supreme Court decision on ministerial exception must fuel us to work harder,” said Dominic Conover, national president of Shelly’s Voice Advocacy. “The Court’s ruling illustrated that historically and purposefully marginalized people are less than our heterosexual peers. But we know that is untrue, and it leaves us unwavering in our commitment to advocate for justice in our most sacred institutions.”
Fitzgerald, along with Lynn Starkey, both of whom are former guidance counselors at Roncalli High School, have sued the Archdiocese accusing them of discrimination when they were fired after the church leader found out about their same-sex marriages.
