4TH CIR.Court order
Fourth Circuit rules Catholic Relief Services violated Title VII by ending same-sex spouse's coverage
A divided Fourth Circuit on October 16, 2026, affirmed that Catholic Relief Services violated Title VII and Maryland law by terminating a gay employee's husband's health coverage. The 2-1 panel held Title VII's religious-organization exemption covers only religion-based employment decisions, not sex discrimination motivated by religious belief, and rejected the group's RFRA, church autonomy and Free Exercise defenses.
Order (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit) → · Bloomberg Law, Law360 Employment Authority
Key points
- Senior Judge Henry Floyd wrote for the majority, joined by Judge James Wynn, who also concurred; Judge Marvin Quattlebaum dissented.U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- The court held RFRA does not apply in suits between private parties, joining circuits that have limited it to government action.U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- Religious organizations may require adherence to doctrine so long as the requirements do not discriminate on sex, race or national origin, the majority said.U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth CircuitBloomberg Law
- The panel dismissed the Equal Pay Act portion as having no practical effect, given the parties' stipulated $60,000 in compensatory damages.U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- The appeal came from the District of Maryland, where Judge Julie Rubin ruled for Doe.U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth CircuitLaw360 Employment Authority
Sources3 articles across 3 outlets
Bloomberg Law
Law360 Employment Authority
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit