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Minnesota Supreme Court hears case over former employee’s challenge to Catholic school gender policy
Confirmed
In Short: The Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral arguments on September 1 in a case brought by Reyzl Grace MoChridhe, a former employee of the Academy of Holy Angels and the Archdiocese of St.
The Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral arguments on September 1 in a case brought by Reyzl Grace MoChridhe, a former employee of the Academy of Holy Angels and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who alleged that her employment contract was not renewed due to her intention to undergo a gender transition.
The Catholic institutions argued that the Minnesota Human Rights Act has exceptions to protect church autonomy, allowing them to hire individuals who adhere to their policies. In 2020, the bishops issued guiding principles for Catholic schools on human sexuality and gender identity, stating that schools should relate to each student in a way that is respectful of and consistent with their God-given sexual identity and biological sex.
U.S. bishops and the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission filed an amicus brief supporting MoChridhe, arguing that lower courts erred by misapplying certain finality standards to her case. The federal district court dismissed her case on the grounds of a legal concept known as 'finality,' requiring property owners to obtain a land-use decision from local officials before bringing certain federal court challenges.
The case is significant as it hinges on whether civil rights protections apply to Minnesotans who work in secular roles within religiously affiliated organizations, such as schools. The Supreme Court justices expressed that the matter would be taken under advisement after the hearing.
What's confirmed
- The Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral arguments on September 1 in a case brought by Reyzl Grace MoChridhe, a former employee of the Academy of Holy Angels and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who alleged that her employment contract was not renewed due to her intention to undergo a gender transition.
- The Catholic institutions argued that the Minnesota Human Rights Act has exceptions to protect church autonomy, allowing them to hire individuals who adhere to their policies. In 2020, the bishops issued guiding principles for Catholic schools on human sexuality and gender identity, stating that schools should relate to each student in a way that is respectful of and consistent with their God-given sexual identity and biological sex.
- U.S. bishops and the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission filed an amicus brief supporting MoChridhe, arguing that lower courts erred by misapplying certain finality standards to her case. The federal district court dismissed her case on the grounds of a legal concept known as 'finality,' requiring property owners to obtain a land-use decision from local officials before bringing certain federal court challenges.
- The case is significant as it hinges on whether civil rights protections apply to Minnesotans who work in secular roles within religiously affiliated organizations, such as schools. The Supreme Court justices expressed that the matter would be taken under advisement after the hearing.
What's still developing
- Daniel Grand, a Jewish resident of Ohio, is asking the Supreme Court to allow him to pursue a religious liberty claim without administrative hurdles.
- The U.S. Supreme Court should reject the broad application of a long-standing administrative rule that can prevent religious liberty lawsuits from progressing through the courts, U.S. bishops argued this week.
- A federal appeals court also ruled against Grand in the dispute.
- In June the Supreme Court said it would consider the finality question.
- Goodrich said MoChridhe, who identified as a biological male when hired in 2021, later announced their intention to undergo a gender transition, prompting the school to not renew the employment contract in 2022.