Agudath Israel of America has joined a coalition of religious organizations in filing a friend-of-the-court brief in a closely watched case before the Minnesota Supreme Court that could have significant implications for religious schools across the country.

The case centers on whether a religious institution has the constitutional right to decline to renew the contract of an employee whose conduct conflicts with the institution’s religious beliefs, without government or judicial interference.

The dispute arose after a Catholic school in Minnesota chose not to renew the contract of a school librarian who announced plans to publicly engage in conduct that the school said was inconsistent with its religious principles. A lower court ruled in favor of the school, finding that the First Amendment protects religious institutions from government intrusion into such decisions. The employee subsequently appealed, bringing the matter before the state’s highest court.

In its brief, Agudath Israel argues that the outcome of the case could affect the ability of religious schools of all faiths to maintain their religious identity and mission.

The submission contends that faith-based schools do more than provide academic instruction. Rather, they serve as institutions that transmit religious beliefs, values, and traditions to future generations. According to the brief, fulfilling that mission requires the freedom to make employment decisions consistent with the school’s religious character.

“Schools for Catholics, Jews, Protestants, and Muslims alike could not survive without the autonomy necessary to carry out their religious missions,” the brief states. “If courts were to intrude on the employment decisions of religious schools for such personnel, religious schools would be faced with the choice of violating their religious convictions, or else shutting down entirely.”

Daniel Kaminetsky, General Counsel of Agudath Israel, said the case strikes at the heart of religious liberty protections.

“Religious schools must be able to operate by the faith they teach,” Kaminetsky said. “For yeshivos and other faith-based schools, the right to hire and retain employees who support the school’s religious mission is essential to religious liberty. Courts should not undermine a religious school’s understanding of its own beliefs or mission.”

Agudath Israel’s brief urges the Minnesota Supreme Court to uphold the lower court’s ruling and affirm the constitutional protections that allow religious schools to educate students in an environment consistent with their faith.

Agudah also thanked attorneys Haley Denler, Nicholas J. Nelson, Russell B. Balikian, Andrew G.I. Kilberg, Michael P. Corcoran, and Aly Cox of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP for their work preparing the brief.