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NY Federal Court Say Insufficient Facts To Apply Ministerial Exception Doctrine

By Howard M. Friedman

In Rojas v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 40386 (WD NY, May 19, 2008), a New York federal district court held that at this point in the litigation it does not have enough facts to decide whether the "ministerial exception" calls for dismissal of a claim under Title VII and the New York Human Rights Law. Plaintiff Sandra Rojas-- an Hispanic Migrant Ministry coordinator-- claimed "hostile environment" employment discrimination on the basis of sex, and retaliation. The court said that at this stage it is unable to determine whether the dispute over Rojas' firing is religious in nature. Also, at this point there was no evidence that adjudication of Rojas' hostile environment claims would necessarily involve examination of religious doctrines. The court however dismissed plaintiff's retaliation claim on other grounds, with leave to replead that the retaliation involved was her dismissal.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on May 22, 2008 (boomark / email).