Employee Workplace Issue and Faith: Fulton v. City of Philadelphia

Employee Workplace Issue and Faith
Name
Institution
Due Date
Employee Workplace Issue and Faith
Fulton v. City of Philadelphia
Description of Case
Like every other city in the U.S., the city of Philadelphia has signed contracts with certain foster agencies in the region. The contracts simply allow the city of Philadelphia to find temporary homes for all the foster children under the care of the city. Upon signing these contracts, the foster agencies open their doors for the city to bring the children. Additionally, these contracts also commit the agencies to non-discriminative policies that the city has adopted. One particular policy that the foster homes agree with is that they will not discriminate against children on the basis of sexual orientation. However, one particular agency that had problems with this policy was known as Catholic Social Services or CSS. This agency, which was in contract with the city of Philadelphia, was not allowing children whose sexual orientation did not fit with their religious stand. Furthermore, CSS had also refused to acknowledge same-sex couples as foster parents. This was against the city’s contract, and upon learning of the above, the city took offense and dropped CSS as one of its foster agencies. The city wanted CSS to comply with the contract they signed and adopt the non-discrimination measures included in the contract.
CSS decided to sue the City of Philadelphia with claims that the city was violating their religious rights, which is the country’s First Amendment. The First Amendment allows everyone to practice their religion, and CSS felt that by discontinuing their contract because of their stand on sexual orientation, the city of Philadelphia was violating its religious rights. However, the city of Philadelphia was arguing that the contracts with the agencies were neutral and were adopted to help alleviate the scourge of discrimination in the city. The city also indicated that the prov...