Supreme Court Shields Religious Schools From Bias Suits (1)

The U.S. Supreme Court gave religious organizations a broader exemption from discrimination suits, throwing out bias claims filed by teachers who were fired from their jobs at two Roman Catholic grade schools in California.

The justices, voting 7-2, said the Constitution gives faith-based groups broad power to hire and fire employees who carry out important religious functions, including teaching religion to children. The decision extends earlier Supreme Court rulings that shielded religious organizations from employment-discrimination claims by ministers.

The ruling comes weeks after the court ruled that gay and transgender workers can sue for job discrimination under federal law. The ...