A divided 7 th Circuit Court of Appeals has held that the “ministerial exception” preventing a variety of employment claims against churches and other religious organizations also prevents a minister from bringing a claim for a hostile work environment. In a 7-3 decision of the full Court, it has affirmed a District Court dismissal of a claim for wrongful termination, and reversed the District Court’s decision that would have allowed the employee to proceed on a hostile work environment claim. Sandor Demkovich was employed by a Roman Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Chicago as its music director, choir director and organist, which all agreed was a ministerial position. He claimed that...