Christianity Today focuses on perhaps the number one unanswered question in church-state law today: can religious organizations that receive federal funding discriminate in hiring? A federal court has already ruled in favor of World Vision, a humanitarian aid organization that now hires only Christians, a decision that ha been appealed to the Ninth Circuit. Experts interviewed for the story indicate World Vision may lose the appellate battle, but win the war.
Attorney [Judith] Lonnquist said she's confident that the plaintiffs can prevail in the Ninth Circuit. She's less certain of how the high court might rule.
Church-state scholar Lupu said the Ninth Circuit sometimes produces liberal panels and liberal results, but not always. "If World Vision loses in the Ninth Circuit, the chances of Supreme Court review are high," he said, "and I think World Vision would win if the case goes that far."
As the piece points out, the Baptist Joint Committee is part of a broad coalition of groups opposed to the practice of hiring discrimination with federal money. For more background and legal concerns, read the whole thing.
