Two Texas-based religious organizations recently won in court. This was after they fought for their right against the employment discrimination law. 

Bear Creek Bible Church & Braidwood Management Inc. v Equal Employment Opportunity Commission et al.

At the beginning of November, two Christian groups from Texas received the good news of winning their case. 

As reported via Baptist Press, Bear Creek Bible Church and Braidwood Management Inc. protested in court against the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In federal law, the Title VII represents the rights of employees to fight against employment discrimination. 

Based on the current law, employers in the United States are prohibited by Title VII to discriminate against employees regarding their sex, religion, color, race, or national origin. 

Unfortunately, the two Texas religious groups believed otherwise. As reported, the plaintiffs filed a complaint against the Title VII after seeing the result of the Bostock v. Clayton County (Ga.) case. 

Bostock v. Clayton County (Ga.)

The controversial Bostock v. Clayton County (Ga.) case was tackled by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2019. As per Ballot Pedia, the case presented the lapses in the Title VII discrimination law. 

At the time, a man named Gerald Bostock sued his employer for terminating him from his work. He claimed that he was fired due to his sexual orientation as a gay man. 

As the SC started to take over the case, the initial ruling of the 11th District to dismiss the case was halted. The court then concluded that the employer violated the Title VII by firing Bostock because he is gay. 

Texas Groups Won Trial

As the plaintiffs found out about the Bostock case result, the Keller-based church and the Katy-based Christian company immediately asked about their position in the Title VII. 

According to the Business Insurance report, both groups do not identify same-sex marriages nor support same-sex partners. 

Surprisingly, Texas judge Reed O’Connor ruled that both groups are exempted by the Title VII, as per Baptist Press. 

As explained, the Braidwood company already established that the law could be a burden to practice their belief as Christians. Meanwhile, the Bear Creek church was noted as exempted by the LGBT discrimination law.

According to the judge, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution allow the church to practice their belief in employment. 

Also, Judge O’Connor pointed out that the Defendants did not show a compelling case to argue against both groups. 

Why Is Title VII Not Clear?

In his interview with the Business Insurance, Eric B. Meyer, a partner with Fisher/Broyles LLP in Philadelphia, shared his point of view about the case. 

Meyer said that the Bostock ruling ‘left as an open issue.’ In the 2019 ruling, the Title VII was reportedly not defined well, especially for religious employers. 

He also thought that the SC made that ruling because the specific law still has ‘questions of its applicability.’ As clarified, Meyer was not part of the 2019 nor latest hearing about the Title VII. 
 

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