Supreme Court Refuses to Take Controversial Religious Discrimination Case

The U.S. Supreme Court elected Monday not to take up a controversial case revolving around allegations of religious discrimination. The case involves World Vision, a non-profit organization which asserts that it has the right to hire or dismiss employees based on their religious affiliation. Last August, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco agreed with World Vision.

Federal Way-based World Vision Inc. is one of the largest Christian humanitarian organizations in the world, employing a work force of 40,000 employees and screens job applicants to ensure they are practicing Christians.

By electing not to take up the case, the Supreme Court leaves the lower court decision untouched.

Richard Stearns, U.S. President of World Vision released a statement today saying, in part, "our Christian faith has been the foundation of your work since the organization was established in 1950, and our hiring policy is vital to the integrity of our mission to serve the poor as followers of Jesus Christ."