A lawsuit brought by religious and faith-based organizations against Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares was settled on Monday, with the parties forming a settlement that drops a requirement for the groups to hire non-Christians.
The conclusion of Cavalry Road Baptist Church v. Miyares was announced by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), whose attorneys represented two Virginia churches, three Christian schools and a pregnancy center network.
Miyares (pictured here) and the group reached a settlement that enshrines the right for faith-based organizations to hire only “individuals who profess and live according to religious beliefs held by [the ministries], including beliefs on abortion, marriage, sexuality, sex, and gender,” according to an ADF press release.
The group also explained, “Further, Virginia officials agreed that commonwealth law protects the ministries from having to pay for or facilitate any gender dysphoria treatment that violates their religious teachings. Examples include puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, so-called ‘sex reassignment’ surgeries, or any other ‘gender transition’ procedures.”
ADF filed the lawsuit on behalf of the religious organizations and churches in 2020 after the Virginia Values Act became law in 2020. The law prohibited faith-based organizations from hiring based on religious beliefs, and ADF argues companion legislation required Christian groups to pay for “sex reassignment” and “gender affirming” surgeries despite their religious objections.
Those who run afoul of the legislation could face a $100,000 fine per violation.
Kevin Theriot, who is senior counsel for ADF, said as a result of the settlement, “Religious organizations are free to operate their ministries without fear of government punishment, and Virginia’s law protects that foundational right.”
He explained, “Our clients are motivated by their faith to offer spiritual guidance, education, pregnancy support, and athletic opportunities to their communities. The commonwealth must respect their right—just like anyone else’s—to continue operating by their own internal policies and codes of conduct about life, marriage, and sexuality.”
ADF also sued to prevent the Virginia Values Act from remaining an active law, but the Loudoun County Circuit Court dismissed their case in 2021.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Calvary Road Church” by Alliance Defending Freedom.
