The Washington State Attorney General’s Office sent the letter “in keeping with its duty to enforce the non-discrimination provisions of the (Washington Law Against Discrimination),” according to Ferguson’s filing.
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Becket senior counsel Lori Windham said Ferguson singled out the university “because of its Christian beliefs, demanding information about the school’s religious hiring practices and employees.”
She said the university is asking a federal court to stop him from “interfering in the religious decisions of a Christian university seeking to remain true to its faith and mission.”
In his filing, Ferguson said a “fact-specific look” is necessary to determine whether SPU’s conduct is protected under ministerial exception, which shields religious employers from federal discrimination laws.
This article originally appeared on ReligionNews.com.
