<\/p>\n
Two preschool teachers employed by Little Oaks School were fired for not “proving” their faith.<\/p>\n
A Christian school in Thousand Oaks, Calif., is facing a legal battle against two former teachers who were fired for failing to prove their faith.<\/p>\n
Preschool teachers Lynda Serrano<\/a> and Mary Ellen Guevara<\/a> threatened the school with a lawsuit after being fired for refusing to sign a statement of faith and providing a reference from a pastor.<\/p>\n
The Little Oaks School<\/a> then filed its own lawsuit in federal court Jan.<\/a> 25, citing civil rights laws that protect their freedom to hire teachers who share their religious beliefs, the Venture County Star reports.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Also, the school failed to renew their nonprofit status so they can be sued under the California Fair Employment and Housing act.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe question is ultimately, do the nondiscrimination rights of the teachers under state law trump the religious rights of the school<\/a> under federal law?\u201d Richard Kahdeman, a lawyer representing the church and school, told the Star<\/a>.<\/p>\n
In their statement, the teachers expressed surprise that the school<\/a> contends California law is unconstitutional yet did not include the state as a defendant. They said they won\u2019t stop fighting for the teachers\u2019 rights, The Star<\/a> reports.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
This will be an interesting court case.<\/p>\n