Christian Seattle homeless mission turns to Supreme Court after ruling strips away employment discretion

Fox News ^ | 2021-08-15 | Ronn Blitzer

[E. Pluribus Unum]

While homelessness plagues the city of Seattle, one Christian group that looks to help those in need is fighting for the ability to hire those who share its faith and message.

Seattle's Union Gospel Homeless Mission declined to hire an applicant for a staff attorney position who was bisexual and in a relationship with a man – going against the mission's religious lifestyle requirements. It is now turning to the U.S. Supreme Court after the Washington Supreme Court ruled that it violated Washington’s Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), claiming the mission is protected by the law's religious exemption.

"Even though Washington’s Title VII analogue expressly excludes non-profit religious organizations from its definition of ‘employer’ and has done so since the law was passed over 50 years ago, the court held the statutory exemption unconstitutional as applied to a nonprofit that seeks to hire coreligionists—effectively rewriting the law," the mission argued in a petition to Supreme Court filed earlier this month.

The Washington Supreme Court's ruling had narrowed the applicability of the exception for religious nonprofits to a "ministerial exemption," ruling that this does not apply to attorneys. As a result, the mission would not be legally allowed to discriminate against someone for being in a homosexual relationship (the mission also prohibits employees from having premarital sex or engaging in extramarital affairs). The mission argued that it is important even for attorneys who work for it to adhere to and represent its religious message.

"Staff attorneys are the primary contact and form ongoing relationships with Mission clients, collaborating with Mission caseworkers," the petition said. "Like all employees, staff attorneys talk about their faith, often pray with clients, and tell them about Jesus. … They also participate in regular Mission worship services, prayer meetings, staff meetings (including prayer and devotionals), trainings, and other..."

[Steve_Seattle]

The Washington State Supreme Court is a bunch of smelly old leftist activists. On the rare occasions when Washington voters pass a law that conservatives support, the Court ALWAYS overturns it on some legal technicality like the voter’s pamphlet description of the law was “misleading.”

[DesertRhino]

Close the mission down. Clearly they don’t want it in their town. Use the money for something better.

[dfwgator]

Burn down the mission!

[escapefromboston]

Business and/or charities aren’t allowed to discriminate against special protected classes but are allowed to discriminate against people the government dislikes.

[Steve_Seattle]

Forcing religious organizations to hire people who do not share their core values or moral principles is a direct threat to their very existence and mission. It facilitates subversion from within, and is the best way to destroy an organization and turn it away from its original purpose. That is what happened to the YWCA, which is now Christian in name only.

[mikelets456]

This is all done by design and the Marxists have been wanting to do this all along. This is the end goal

[MercyFlush]

Close the mission and to hell with Seattle.

[Steve_Seattle]

I’ve been saying for years that the left would use the LGBTQ issue to subvert the First Amendment and foster legal discrimination against traditional Christians.

[ducttape45]

America is burning...... But I wonder, will the SC refuse to hear this case as well, just as Barrett in Indiana?

[ducttape45]

It’s because of things like this that I maintain that all the left coast needs to be walled off and left to their own idiocy. They’ll implode rather quickly and realize the errors of their ways.

[Ban Draoi Marbh Draoi]

Your point is valid: this is where the missions need to do what the Lord said to do when people do not want to hear the Word: shake the dust off your feet and go elsewhere.

But on the other hand, He is not willing that anyone should perish so they should stay and bear witness of His love for the lost, hurting and oppressed.

[newfreep]

Elton, is that you?

[Steve_Seattle]

"Your point is valid: this is where the missions need to do what the Lord said to do when people do not want to hear the Word: shake the dust off your feet and go elsewhere."

I disagree. The mission is not serving the state Supreme Court or Seattle's elected officials, but the city's homeless, unemployed, and drug-addicted.

I contribute to that mission, and it runs a tight ship, requiring those seeking help to abide by its rules. It is a free choice - take it, or leave it. You may get some satisfaction by petulantly shutting down the mission, but that will only hurt the people it serves.

[fireman15]

My wife and I are life long residents of Washington. It is one of the most beautiful and pleasant states in the nation. We are currently doing everything in our power to get out. We give up! Washington was invaded. In the Puget Sound region maybe 1 out of 3 people in our age group (over 60) was actually born and raised here. At Costco near our home last week my wife pointed out that 3 out of 4 people waiting in line appeared to be from South of the Border or from the Middle East. We have the largest Muslim Cemetery in the state a couple miles from our home. And our new next door neighbors are from the Middle East. They seem agreeable enough but obviously have a completely different set of values.

[lewislynn]

I hope they don’t think they’re going to get any sympathy from the leftist appointed by “W”, John Roberts.

[lewislynn]

Sorry to see Bongino gone to the darkside

Tucker will selectively report what's happening now, a month or more from now. Election fraud, never if he wants to keep his job...Just ask Lou Dobbs and Trish Regan

Crime stories? How about how Fox News is complicit in the crime of the century AKA election fraud. The betrayal of a sitting President and betrayal of a nation. Throw in some electioneering with their early call of Arizona for Biden

What made America is a little late. A pathetic attempt at distraction and pretending to be patriotic. Too late for even Tucker to report. They should be reporting on what's destroying America and Fox News roll in it.

Lara Logan? If she has no agenda she isn't working at Fox.

Sadly a pathetic display of Fox dupes.

Bongino in there really is disappointing.

[21twelve]

“This is all done by design...”

Note that this is an attorney that was turned away. I’m guessing the homosexual attorney is an atheist and had no desire to get a job with UGM, but only to bring a lawsuit against them.

Help to tear down a great Christian organization AND make a bunch of money.

[Ban Draoi Marbh Draoi]

I was trying to say that there are two ways of dealing with this situation.

I am in agreement with you.

[NurdlyPeon]

The Union Gospel Mission is the only charity in Seattle that I will contribute to.