Today, First Liberty and our friends at Baker Botts LLP, the Church State Council and the Independence Law Center filed a petition at the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of former mail carrier Gerald Groff. 

We’re asking the Court to reverse a decision that stated the United States Postal Service (USPS) is not required to provide a religious accommodation allowing Groff to observe the Sunday Sabbath. During this time of extreme “woke” corporatism, this will be a major case for every employed person of faith.

After being a missionary, Gerald Groff began his career with the USPS in 2012 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, as a mail carrier. When the post office started delivering packages on Sundays for Amazon, he asked for a religious accommodation to observe Sunday Sabbath.

The postmaster granted his request, as required under law, and allowed him to work additional shifts on other days of the week to make up for his absence on Sundays. Groff even switched posts and accepted a lower position in order to be able to abide by his faith.

But later the USPS changed its position and refused to accommodate him, offering only proposals that would require him to work on Sundays and violate his conscience.

Forced to choose between his faith and his career, Groff sued the USPS. The district court sided with the USPS, concluding that accommodating this postal worker would pose an undue hardship on USPS. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision. This issue of “undue hardship” is a major issue which will affect every person of faith in the workplace and what protection under the law they will get.

The actions of the USPS are not only discriminatory, but they are also illegal.

Gerald Groff has legal protection under Title VII from discrimination based on his religious beliefs and practices, and the USPS is required by law to offer a reasonable accommodation for him. They are refusing to do so.

The legal issues in this case could impact every person of faith and their protection in the workplace, whether that is you or your children and grandchildren.

With your support, we can continue to fight for people of faith like Gerald Groff when they face losing their career.

Together we can win the day for religious freedom at the Supreme Court to protect all people of faith.