A Nebraska law banning teachers from wearing religious garb in public schools is forcing people like Sister Madeline Miller to violate their religious beliefs. Learn more at FirstLiberty.org/Briefing.

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Religious Garb Banned In Nebraska Public Schools
Image: Tim Hynds, Sioux City Journal

Sister Madeline Miller is a 37-year old teacher. She’s also a nun who dons a habit wherever she goes, and that includes work.

But, when she applied for a job in a Nebraska public school, she was told she would have to lose the habit.

Evidently there is a Nebraska law that prevents teachers from wearing any sort of religious garb at work.  That means that, despite her credentials, Sister Madeline could not work in the Nebraska public schools.

You see, the church teaches that she is to wear her habit at all times, except when cleaning with harsh chemicals that could damage the blessed garments or when ministering in a communist country.

Does that mean Nebraska is worse than harsh chemicals or communist countries?

Probably not, but one Nebraska lawmaker is working to repeal the antiquated and vague law. If it is not repealed, nuns could be defrocked of their habits, Jewish teachers may have to remove their yarmulkes, Catholic teachers would need to leave their rosary at home, and Mennonite teachers could not wear their plan cap.

I suspect the Nebraska legislature will have little trouble removing this law from the books.  But, we should learn a lesson from Sister Miller’s experience: in a free society, we ought to welcome the appearance of religious garb, rather than ban them from our sight.

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First Liberty Institute is the largest organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to protecting religious freedom for all Americans. Find out more here.

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