This modification of the Civil Rights Act failed to define what was meant by "financially detrimental." This issue was left for the courts to decide and there was wide variability in case law.

In 1977, Title VII was modified to include widespread employer exemption, even in cases where the cost was minimal or caused little difficult to the employer (Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, n.d.). This modification shifted the balance of power, almost entirely to the employer. They could allow or disallow as they wished, and an employee could be terminated for failing to follow the rules governing the company. Religion was essentially wiped out of the workplace by this act. In July of 1997, congress failed to pass a bill that would change the wording of Title VII back to something similar to the original 1972 wording (Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, n.d.).

In August of 1997, the Clinton...
[ View Full Essay]