Dallas, USA - Two former employees of the University of Texas at Arlington said they were fired after praying over another staff member's cubicle and anointing it with olive oil.
Evelyne M. Shatkin, an administrative assistant, and Linda Shifflett, a development funds assistant, claimed in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court that their termination constitutes religious discrimination. The suit was filed by the Liberty Legal Institute of Plano.
"UTA should be ashamed for punishing these two women for simply praying after work on their own time," said Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for the firm, which files lawsuits over religious issues.
The university released a statement saying its decision had been upheld by the Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
"UT Arlington respects our employee's rights to their religious beliefs and does not discriminate on the basis of religion," the statement said. "We cannot comment on personnel matters or cases in litigation. However, the accusations presented in this lawsuit are a gross distortion of the truth."
The suit claims that a male worker was having problems with another employee and shared the information with Shifflett. Shifflett, Shatkin and the man stayed after work on March 3 to pray for the woman, who was on vacation. The three met at the woman's cubicle about 5:30 p.m., believing no one else was there.
Shatkin prayed for the situation, and according to her religious tradition, dabbed olive oil on the door frame of the cubicle. The oil left no mark and did not damage the cubicle, according to the suit.
The university dismissed Shifflett and Shatkin and denied their internal appeal. Amy J. Schultz, assistant vice president for development, said in a March 24 letter that the women's behavior was unbecoming for a UTA staff member.
"More specifically, praying, shouting and/or chanting over a co-workers personal and professional belongings without her knowledge and consent constitutes harassment of a fellow co-worker," she wrote. "In addition, rubbing this co-worker's cubicle with oil is blatant disregard for university property, both of which are identified as behavior that is grounds for dismissal..."
The suit also alleges age and sex discrimination, saying that the university took no action against the other employee involved in the prayer, "a male under the age of 40."