Ward v. Hengle

Slaby, Judge.

Appellants, Father John Hengle, Our Lady of Victory Church, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland (collectively, “the church”), appeal from a judgment of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas in favor of appellee, Brother Gabriel Ward, on his religious-discrimination claim. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

Brother Gabriel Ward, a.k.a. Edward Ward, was employed by Our Lady of Victory Church from 1984 until June 1994 in a clerical position. Since 1979, Ward has belonged to a community of monks, known as The Brothers of Annunciation of Mary, and has worn a monk’s habit…