Opinion ID: 2191676
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Sincerely Held Religious Belief

Text: The education of children within a Catholic school system is a significant factor in the propagation of the Catholic faith. See Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602, 615, 91 S.Ct. 2105, 2112, 29 L.Ed.2d 745 (1971). The issue, however, is not whether Catholic education is an integral element of the Catholic mission, but rather, whether application of the MLRA interferes with religious beliefs. We do not believe that Hill-Murray is arguing that the application of the MLRA will infringe on the rights of individual parents to educate their children in a religious school. It is not the province of the court to examine the reason of religious beliefs or to resolve purely religious disputes. See Serbian & Orthodox Diocese v. Milivojevich, 426 U.S. 696, 96 S.Ct. 2372, 49 L.Ed.2d 151 (1976). It is, however, proper for the courts to inquire as to whether a belief is held in good faith. In re Jenison, 267 Minn. 136, 125 N.W.2d 588 (1963). With this caveat in mind, we take note that the Catholic Church has a long history of support for labor unions and the right of workers to organize for the purposes of collective bargaining. [3] We do not believe that Hill-Murray is arguing that recognition of labor unions is against Catholic doctrine. What Hill-Murray is essentially arguing is that the separation of church and state prohibits the state, via the Bureau, from telling Hill-Murray what to do vis-à-vis their employees. The separation of church and state is a constitutional liberty that is subject to balancing by compelling state interests; the liberty of conscience    shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the state. Minn. Const. art. I., § 16. Because we believe judicial intervention into the determination and interpretation of religious beliefs warrants caution, we will recognize the presence of a sincerely held religious belief.