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A sex discrimination lawsuit filed against Moody Bible Institute can proceed after a federal appeals court ruled the litigation poses no threat to the Chicago school’s constitutionally protected religious autonomy. The evangelical institution said it fired communications instructor Janay Garrick in 2017 for openly criticizing its teachings that women should not hold ministry leadership positions. When she sued, Moody cited constitutionally based religious exemptions in a motion to dismiss that was rejected by the U.S. District Court for Northern Illinois. In March, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh District later upheld the lower court’s decision, concluding that Moody’s religious liberties are protected in a case focused not on theology, but on claims of sexual discrimination in the workplace. Janay Garrick “Moody’s argument that it will experience irreparable harm without immediate review and reversal of the district court’s order is unavailing. Religious autonomy to shape and control doctrine will not be threatened,” the appellate court ruled. The decision is a victory for the rule of law and represents a warning to powerful political and religious groups attempting to use religious liberty as a weapon, said Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The […]