NJ Supreme Court Allows Catholic School to Fire Teacher for Out-of-Wedlock Pregnancy

The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a Catholic school that fired a teacher for engaging in premarital sex. The court held that religious entities can use religious tenet exceptions of state employment law as an "affirmative defense" in facing claims of employment discrimination. The teacher had alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, arguing that her firing was a pretext for pregnancy and marital-status discrimination. The court's decision has drawn criticism from the state attorney general and the ACLU.