Ecuador’s Highest Court Upholds the Rights of “One” Seventh-day Adventist Student Who Refused to Compromise Her Faith

The University of Guayaquil has been ordered by the highest court in the country, the Constitutional Court of Ecuador, to make accommodations for its “one” Seventh-day Adventist student by moving its classes to a day other than Saturdays. A Seventh-day Adventist medical student had requested an exemption from Saturday classes, but the university had refused, citing that it would be an “excessive burden for the university to accommodate one single student.” [1]

BitterWinter reported the following on December 11, 2023:

• “The plaintiff was a Seventh-day Adventist who was a first-year medical student in the Oncohematology postgraduate program at the University of Guayaquil. She claimed that, because of her religious beliefs, she practices the “observance” of the Sabbath day, which implies that from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday she dedicates herself to worship and community assistance to her neighbors, to the exclusion of study, work, and other secular activities.” [1]

•”She requested an alternative from the authorities of the University since, as a Seventh-Day Adventist, attending classes at these times was forbidden by her religion. The University refused to accommodate the student.” [1]

• “On September 11, 2018, she sued the University of Guayaquil. On November 6, 2018, the Judicial Unit 1 North for Family, Women, Children and Adolescents, located in Guayaquil, ruled against her stating that freedom of religion or belief does not include a right to have a school or university modify its lesson calendars to accommodate a single student’s religious beliefs.” [1]

• “The Adventist student appealed, and by a decision of a January 10, 2019, and a supplemental ruling of February 1, 2019, the Labor Section of the Provincial Court of Justice of Guayas reversed the first-degree decision. It ordered the University to … reschedule outside of what Adventists regard as Sabbath.” [1]

• “On February 28, 2019, the University filed a recourse to the Constitutional Court, claiming that the Provincial Court appeal decision had violated the constitutional principles of proportionality and coherence between the legal analysis and the order. It argued that what had been ordered had created an excessive burden for the University to accommodate one single student.” [1]

• “On November 15, 2023, the Constitutional Court found no grounds to intervene based on alleged violations of the Constitution by the appeal judges.” [1]

Praise the Lord! This is what just “one” faithful soul can do. Standing up for one’s religious rights to worship is a fundamental freedom and the cornerstone of a just society. The right to practice one’s religion freely is enshrined in most constitutions. This is defending religious liberty, ensuring that all individuals can worship without fear of consequence.

Faithfulness opens up the opportunity for the truth to be shared. Thanks to this “one” student, the truth about the Sabbath made its way to the nation’s highest court. Many others, especially those in government, have had the opportunity to hear the arguments about how Saturday is the Lord’s Day.

This is what God calls us to be: faithful. How many other students have compromised? How many other Adventists just decided to go along and take the classes on the Lord’s Sabbath? It is only when God’s people remain true to their beliefs that He can protect them and open doors for others. Without a doubt, Seventh-day Adventists and other students will benefit from this precedent. Praise God! Please pray for our youth that they will have the strength to stay faithful during these extremely difficult times.

Sources

[1] https://bitterwinter.org/ecuador-seventh-day-adventist-university-students-may-skip-classes-on-sabbath/