Ones gut reaction is to side with religous freedom, but in this case there is larger issue at play. As stated in a earlier comment, there are religous divisions already in this country, as in the case of pharmacists that will not fill certain perscriptions on religious grounds. Those religous divisions are intolerable because they trample on the liberty of others by imposing ones religous ideal on another by denying a service based on that ideal. If they are not able to give rides to all people reguardless of their religous beliefs, they would do well to look for other employement that does not challenge those beleifs. A religuous pacifist would not voluntarily become a police officer, and expect to not ever have to engage anyone. I beleive the same principle applies here.

Try getting a taxi in Minneapolis while wearing a turban and beard.

Some Christian colleges and many religious private schools legally practice racial segregation. Some synagogues legally seat women and men separately. The Catholic church legally refuses to ordain women priests. Either nondiscrimination trumps religious expression or it doesn't. I am not sure what side I would take, but I know for sure that it's unfair to expect members of a vulnerable religious minority to live up to a higher standard than we would apply to Christians.

Try getting a taxi in Minneapolis while wearing a turban and beard.

Some Christian colleges and many religious private schools legally practice racial segregation. Some synagogues legally seat women and men separately. The Catholic church legally refuses to ordain women priests. Either nondiscrimination trumps religious expression or it doesn't. I am not sure what side I would take, but I know for sure that it's unfair to expect members of a vulnerable religious minority to live up to a higher standard than we would apply to Christians.

I don't think the comparison is valid. Jewish women choose to attend synagogue. Catholic women choose to be part of the Catholic church. People seeking transportation are not members of such a group; rather, they are the public, just trying to get a taxi.

By the way, this doesn't mean that I support religious colleges discriminating racially. I do not. Nor do I support they way they often treat girls and women. But permitting this kind of pick-and-choose in a public arena is even more dangerous, I think.

I agree with Andrew. If I were to limit my own business to serving people whose values I approve of, I would be out of money.

If you want to a job working with the public you have to put up with the public. Surprise!

I don't think I should pay taxes to a country which I disagree regarding the war in Iraq, come on people, get a grip, if you won't do the job basised on religious grounds, find a new job. The constitution says everyone is created equal, if you want to employ your moslem, catholic, or jews, or athestic practice, move to a country that katers to you personal prejudices which are rooted in your religious beliefs.

Its hard to believe this could be true but does it give any merit to that sign i sometimes see in a restaurant, "we reserve the right to refuse service...." granted this articles point of view is religious and the restaurant sign is more of a business owner right?? .. It is hard to believe I would be denied a ride to my destination because I had a pierced ear.

Additionally, there has to be the start of a joke in this.. I am waiting for taxi and i see a blind, half-dressed gay person wearing cowboy boots w/ spurs and holding a coffee cup that says "jesus died for his own sins, not mine". Does the taxi stop???

Tom lighten up on that "send" key!

My personal view is that public policy trumps religious faith-except in certain narrowly defined circumstances. In the UK we recently had a case in which a Muslim police officer refused to guard the Israeli Embassy in London because he disapproved of the country's
invasion of Lebanon.
Islam may consider dogs to be "unclean" but so what- it's not as if he was being asked to eat the(expletive deleted) thing. if someone feels in good conscience that doing something will violate the tenets of his/her faith then he or she has a moral responsibility to find alternative employment-otherwise let the"taxi-cab rule" prevail!