Woman Sues for Being Fired for Piercing

http://apnews.myway.com ^ | Apr 20, 7:36 AM (ET) | ap

[RedBloodedAmerican]

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) - A woman who was fired by Costco in 2001 for refusing to remove her eyebrow ring has accused the company of religious discrimination, saying she is a member of the Church of Body Modification.

Kimberly M. Cloutier said she wears her eyebrow ring as a sign of faith. She has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to consider hearing the case.

The church, established in 1999, counts about 1,000 members who participate in practices such as piercing and tattooing, according to a December ruling by the First Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld a trial judge's finding in Costco's favor.

Lynn A. Kappelman, a lawyer for Costco, declined to comment. The company has argued that Cloutier's beliefs are political or social instead of religious.

Cloutier's lawyer, Michael O. Shea, filed a petition Monday asking the Supreme Court consider hearing the case.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

"Church of Body Modification"?

How many women have been honorary members of that one, unknowingly?

[massgopguy]

Not to be confused with the Church of What's Happening Now!

[dfwgator]

Is Cher their "patron saint?"

[gov_bean_ counter]

Please tell me this is out of Scrappleface.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I am a member of Universal Beer Drinkers United, UBDU. I am a Cardinal in the UBDU. DUI laws infringe on my right to practice my religion.

[BrooklynGOP]

When I got my first job out of college, I took my lip piericng out. No biggie.

[MikefromOhio]

What happened to the Church of Highly Modified Geo's?

[So Cal Rocket]

Perhaps the guy that got arrested for spitting on Jane Fonda should start a church called "The Church of Tabakky Spittin' on Commie Traitors".

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1387358/posts

[MeanWestTexan]

No, Pam Anderson.

[MikefromOhio]

LOL!!

[Koblenz]

Yeah, well I'm a member of the "Church of Casual Dress" and thus cannot wear a suit to work since it would violate my religion.

[Flyer]

So the folks that got fired for smoking should have started a church?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Man, they have a website with a forum on it

http://www.uscobm.com/index.asp

I wonder if they have non profit status

[RepoGirl]

She wears an eyebrow ring as a "sign of faith".

What a giant, steaming pant load.

[dfwgator]

Do they still have "The Church of Monday Night Football?" I wonder how they feel about the switch to ESPN?

[BibChr]

In bizarro USA, where we live, the SC won't "hear" the travesty of Terri Shiavo's legalized torture-death, but will take this case.

Dan
Biblical Christianity BLOG

[RedBloodedAmerican]

You may have started something here...

[MikefromOhio]

oh they are probably converting :)

and then there are those that will convert to foxsportsnet :)

[Phantom Lord]

Please tell me this church doesn't have tax exempt status.

[Laura Earl]

When I was reading your post, I thought, this sounds like my husband. ;)

[GSlob]

Actually, it gives one a thought. How about workplace worship of Bacchus (with sacrificial rights and frequent libations)?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

What the heck is that picture on their website of?

http://www.uscobm.com/doctrine.asp?title=Church%20doctrine

[Conspiracy Guy]

Want to join?

[Sax]

The railroad let Phineas Gage return to work after his piercing. (although his was unintentional)

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Thats what I am wondering.

[MikefromOhio]

yep!!

I'm (burp) in!!

[DM1]

" Bacchus"
Wasnt he like the God of Porn or something - fornicating and all that
schweet!

[TheBigB]

"How unfair!" sez Pastor Skippy.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

What about people who drink non alcoholic beer? Are they considered independants?

[John Will]

There is one Non Chrstian Religous law I can can live with, the Shik pratice of being armed at all times.

[Mr. K]

That is because you are not STOOPID.

I like body piercings and tattoos.

We probably couldn't force the stoopid people to wear a big red 'S' on their forehead, but the piercings and tattoos have the same notification effect and they do it voluntarily~!

[Skooz]

Probably an offshoot of Subgenius.

That would make Bob very unhappy.

[Teacher317]

That, my friend, is a man hanging, suspended in mid air, by two large hooks inserted into the flesh over his shoulder blades. Oh, the things we can do with our bodies!

[dfwgator]

"How unfair!" sez Pastor Skippy.

I think that's their "Pope."

[Lekker 1]

Been there...done that

[green iguana]

What the heck is that picture on their website of?

It appears to be a person being suspended by two hooks thru the skin of his back... Can't really imagine those being thru his front.

[MEGoody]

"Kimberly M. Cloutier said she wears her eyebrow ring as a sign of faith."

Faith in what?

[Fierce Allegiance]

Do you go by the name of Cardinal Puff? (a drinking ame I could never figure out)

[Landru]

I must admit to a fantasy regarding thie freakish behavior of piercings.

One day I'd like to walk up to someone out of the blue who's wearing a ring in their ( fill in the blank ) & using one of those spring loaded clasps the kind one finds on a dog's leash, hitch 'em up.
And as I do tell 'em matter of factly.

..."c'mere".

[spoiler2]

That gruesome picture is of one of the practices that these freaks like to inflict on each other.

That is supposedly a live person hanging from hooks imbedded in the flesh of their back.

Just another form of body mutilation, which shows how you can form a 'church' around any perverse activity.

[BibChr]

I... was happier before I began wondering.

Dan
/c8

[P-Chan Penny]

That is a pic of some... person... hanging from hooks that are in his (her?) back. I saw it on TV once and it just looks horrible. Apparently, it's so painful they achieve a "zen-like" state. I would think it's called unconscious from the pain!!!!

[Normal4me]

"Faith in what?"

Fishing tackle?

[evets]

I thought this was a joke...

... but it's a 'real' church! (/sarc)

[Fierce Allegiance]

[Moral Hazard]

My understanding is that as a private employer Costco can set up pretty much any policy for appearance provided they don't specifically target a religious belief (i.e. allowing necklaces but not crosses on the necklace). Since this policy is about piercings in general, and not targeted to this woman's "religion" I don't see how she can win.

[4thInfVet]

"Church of Body Modification"?

How many women have been honorary members of that one, unknowingly?


More like The Church of MASS STUPIDITY.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I am.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Memo to Kimberly:
You must first spend several years working your case through lower courts before you get the US Supreme Court. Perhaps you'll grow up by then.