The school was represented by Becket Law, a nonprofit that provides pro bono legal assistance in defense of religious liberty.
Joseph Davis, who serves as legal counsel at Becket, said in a statement that the ruling was “common sense” and that “decisions about who conveys the Catholic faith to Catholic school children are for the Church, not the government.”
“Religious schools exist to pass on the faith to the next generation and to do that, they need the freedom to choose leaders who are fully committed to their religious mission,” Davis added. “The precedent keeps piling up: Catholic schools can ask Catholic school teachers and administrators to be fully supportive of Catholic teaching.”
The court explained that the exception is grounded in the First Amendment of the Constitution, which states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
The ruling cited Supreme Court precedent, which states that “requiring a church to accept or retain an unwanted minister, or punishing a church for failing to do so, intrudes upon more than a mere employment decision” and is in violation of the First Amendment.
According to the court ruling, Fitzgerald’s role included assistance in students’ faith formation and attending church services. She also served on the school’s administrative council, which engages in religious planning and discussion, the court found. The ruling noted that Fitzgerald participated in the council’s discussion on some religious matters, which included the school’s policies related to students who identify as transgender.