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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!smb
From: smb@ulysses.UUCP (Steven Bellovin)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Freedom of religion, private sector
Message-ID: <1092@ulysses.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Sep-85 21:04:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: ulysses.1092
Posted: Tue Sep 10 21:04:27 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 11-Sep-85 07:55:18 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 11

A group of self-described fundamentalist Christians has been told by the
Minnesota Supreme Court that they cannot use religious criteria when
hiring employees for their chain of health clubs.  They had made a practice
of questioning prospective employees about their religious beliefs, con-
ducting daily Bible study classes for employees, and using religious grounds
in hiring, firing, and promoting employees.  Last May, they were told that
this violates Minnesota's Human Rights Act.  Today, Justice Blackmun of the
U.S. Supreme Court turned down a request to block enforcement of the law on
the grounds that it violates *their* religious freedom to hire non-believers.
Their lawyers say they will either shut down the business or defy the court
order.