America
Macy's fires Catholic for his beliefs
Bill Donohue comments on a clear case of religious discrimination:
Macy's has fired an employee because he is a practicing Catholic. The case is
now before the New York State Division of Human Rights.
In May, Javier Chavez, Senior Store Detective at the Macy's store in
Chavez was subsequently told by an Assistant Store Manager that certain males
can use the ladies restroom. This was news to him. A few days later, an
Assistant Security Manager told him that transgender persons can use the
bathroom of their choice. He said he had just become aware of this policy,
stating that it was contrary to his religion and the Bible. But he hastened to
say that he would nonetheless enforce Macy's policy.
Macy's would not leave this alone, and this is where it crossed the line.
Chavez was then summoned to meet with the Human Resources Manager, who
suspended him. He was later terminated.
"After my employer learned that I was a practicing Catholic, with
religious concerns about this policy," Chavez says in his formal
complaint, "I was terminated because of my religion, in violation of the
New York State Human Rights Law."
The most basic religious right is the right to believe; if conscience rights
can be vitiated, the First Amendment means nothing. Macy's has no legal, or
moral, grounds to stand on. For merely holding beliefs that are contrary to the
store's policy, Chavez was fired. This is what totalitarian regimes do, not
American commercial establishments.
Contact Macy's Media Events chief, Holly Thomas: [email protected]