Theorists of democratic multiculturalism have long defended individuals' religious exemptions from generally applicable laws. Examples include Sikhs being exempt from motorcycle helmet laws, or Jews and Muslims being exempt from humane animal slaughter laws. This essay investigates religious exemptions for organizations. Should organizations ever be granted exemptions from generally applicable laws in democratic societies, where those exemptions are justified by the organization's religion? This essay considers four arguments for such exemptions, which respectively rely on the “transferring up” to organizations of individuals' claims to autonomy or recognition; organizations' own claims to autonomy or recognition; organizations' status in the accountability community; and organizations' procedural constraints. The essay concludes that only the last argument holds up – and then, only with caveats.

中文翻译：

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组织的宗教豁免是否可以民主辩护？

长期以来，民主多元文化主义的理论家为个人的宗教豁免免于普遍适用的法律辩护。例如锡克教徒不受摩托车头盔法的约束，或者犹太人和穆斯林不受人道动物屠杀法的约束。本文调查了组织的宗教豁免。在民主社会以组织的宗教理由为理由豁免组织的情况下，是否应授予组织豁免普遍适用的法律的权利？本文考虑了关于这种豁免的四个论点，它们分别依赖于“转移”到个人对自治或承认的主张的组织。组织自身对自治或认可的主张；组织在问责制社区中的地位；以及组织的程序约束。