Hostile Work Environment Claims Against Illinois Church Revived

Religious organizations aren’t entirely exempt from hostile work environment claims by ministerial employees, the Seventh Circuit ruled Monday, reviving a hostile work environment suit against an Illinois church.

The First Amendment’s protection of churches hiring or firing ministerial employees doesn’t bar hostile work employment claims when the claim doesn’t challenge the employment action itself, the panel held.

Sandor Demkovich sued St. Andrew the Apostle Parish and the Archdioceses of Chicago, alleging his supervisor, a reverend, subjected him to a hostile work environment based on his sexual orientation and disabilities including diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Demkovich’s complaint asserts hostile environment claims ...