Salvation Army can use faith as factor in hiring

NEW YORK — Addressing a key aspect of President George W. Bush’s faith-based initiative, a federal judge has ruled the Salvation Army has the right to hire employees according to its faith principles, even when the charity receives government funding. “The notion that the Constitution would compel a religious organization contracting with the state to secularize its ranks is untenable in light of the Supreme Court’s recognition that the government may contract with religious organizations for the provision of social services,” said U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein in a Sept. 30 opinion. “Nothing in the Constitution precludes Congress from accommodating the Salvation Army’s residual free exercise interest in selecting and managing its employees with reference to religion.”

The opinion dismisses parts of a case filed against the Salvation Army and New York officials in 2004 by current and former employees of the Salvation Army who alleged they were victims of religious discrimination.