Dentist ordered to pay penalty

Oregon officials fined a dentist nearly $348,000 for pressuring an employee to attend a Scientology seminar. He allegedly threatened to fire his dental assistant when she said the three-day conference would conflict with her Christian beliefs. She quit and moved out of state to find another job, filing a complaint with the Bureau of Labor and Industry's civil rights division. Religious discrimination cases are rare, comprising 3 percent of the agency's annual workload. The penalty reportedly covered the woman's lost wages, damages, moving expenses and emotional distress.