If this is an average day in America, three people will be fired from their jobs for no crime other than keeping their faith. It is hard to believe this is happening in America, but it is. And, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, this problem is only getting worse. They report that claims relating to religious discrimination in the workplace are up a staggering 82% over the last eleven years.
Take the example of Mary, a Seventh Day Adventist, who believes in keeping the 4th Commandment to keep the Sabbath Day holy as a day of rest. Her employer fired her because she chose to obey God rather than man. After being fired, she got part-time work as a substitute teacher but quickly fell behind in her mortgage payments. After struggling for months, she lost her home and she and her children ended up sleeping on the living room floor of a friend’s home.
Or how about the case of Teresa George, a Roman Catholic, who was fired by her employer, Home Depot, because of her religious conviction that she should not work on Sunday? In spite of Civil Rights Law, which states employers have a duty to accommodate an employee’s religious practices as long as they can “reasonably do so” without “undue hardship” on the employer’s business, Home Depot refused and would not consider such solutions as switching shifts with another employee or allowing Ms. George the option to switch to another position. When Ms. George stood up for the right to practice her faith, she was fired. A court upheld Home Depot’s right to fire her because Home Depot offered to allow her to attend Mass as long as she returned to work immediately afterward and this was viewed as a “reasonable accommodation” even though it still violated her faith.
The good news, however, is the North American Religious Liberty Association (NARLA) is working to do something about it. They are leading an effort to pass the Workplace Religious Freedom Act (WRFA); a bill designed to ensure that people of all faiths are treated with respect and dignity in the workplace. The Workplace Religious Freedom Act has excellent support in the U.S. Senate but, unfortunately, it has recently come under attack by organizations, including the ACLU, who are seeking to block the passage of this bill. We must stand strong against this attack and fight to get this bill passed. Our Freedom is on the line!
For more information on the Workplace Religious Freedom Act and information on how to support it, please visit www.religiousliberty.info. While there, be sure to add your voice in support of Religious Freedom by writing to your congressman and urging him or her to support this bill. I urge everyone to stand up right now and fight for your rights! Fight for the right to practice your faith without fear of losing your jobs and homes! Fight for the FREEDOM that America stands for!
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