The Supreme Court on Wednesday broadened the ability of religious organizations to hire and fire employees without offending federal anti-discrimination laws, affirming that the Constitution provides freedom to choose who teaches the faith.

In a 7-to-2 decision, the court strengthened the “ministerial exception” it found in 2012 that protects religious organizations from some employment lawsuits. It said two teachers at parochial schools who wanted to contest their firings in court were the kinds of employees who were covered by the exception and thus unable to sue.

It indicated that those involved in almost any kind of religious instruction would be considered “ministers” of the faith, no matter their official title or even if they practiced the faith themselves.

Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented, saying the decision gave religious employers “free rein to discriminate.” Read more via Washington Post