Lawyers: Former Atlanta fire chief fired for religious views

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Kate Brumback, Associated Press

 Updated 4:46 pm, Friday, November 17, 2017

ATLANTA (AP) — An attorney for a former Atlanta fire chief argued in court Friday that his client was let go for his religious beliefs, but lawyers for the city disputed that.

Kelvin Cochran wrote a book called "Who Told You That You Were Naked?" for a men's Bible study and self-published it in late 2013. He gave copies to about a dozen subordinates who he said had requested copies or who he knew shared his religious beliefs.

He was fired in January 2015 and filed a federal lawsuit against the city and Mayor Kasim Reed, saying his free speech and due-process rights had been violated. U.S. District Judge Leigh May on Friday heard arguments in the case.

The book lumps together gay people, those who have sex outside of marriage and non-Christians with murderers, rapists, pedophiles and those who engage in bestiality, city lawyer David Gevertz said Friday. The book calls such people wicked and ungodly, he said.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Lawyers-Former-Atlanta-fire-chief-fired-for-12366283.php

[AllaN01Bear]

1. but didnt mr former fire chief swear to up hold and defend the constituiton ?

and didnt he read about the part where jesus worshiped and talked to tax collectors and whores ? and what does it say about love thy neighbor.

[jl_theprofessor]

4. Not sure how that applies here.

Jesus talked to the tax collectors and whores and told them they had to seek forgiveness and not sin again.

[keithbvadu2]

2. "and non-Christians" - such as Jews?

"and non-Christians" - such as Jews?

Some Catholics/Protestants believe that the other is not a Christian.

Billy and Franklin Graham believe that Catholics and Mormons are not Christians.

Where does he put the dividing line for his own employees?

[jl_theprofessor]

3. The strict interpretation

is whether a person believe eternal salvation is achievable by the mercy of Christ alone through an act of forgiveness.

[keithbvadu2]

5. Sounds good but has little to do with Christianity in America.

Sounds good but has little to do with Christianity in America.

[paleotn]

6. These people will never learn.....

This is the problem.....

An assistant chief who had been given a copy of the book raised concerns in October 2014 about some of the book's statements on homosexuality, especially since Cochran clearly identified himself in the book as Atlanta's fire chief.

-snip-

Reed suspended Cochran for 30 days without pay to discipline him for selling his book without providing proper notice or getting written approval, Gevertz said. The city law department also opened an investigation into whether Cochran had improperly imposed his views in the workplace.

Anything you say or do, while identifying as an employee...public or private..., reflects on who you work for and could be damaging to them. If Joe Blow wants to write even a mildly inflammatory book without identifying with the City of Atlanta, that's better, but not great. Even then, subordinates who don't believe the same as Joe Blow, when disciplined can argue it's religiously motivated, whether it is or not. A best it causes a stink, damaging to who Joe works for...at worst it's true. That's why employers have rules that require notice and approval of such things. Sorry, but in positions of authority, particularly within a public entity, you can't just go shooting off your damn mouth.

Rights are a matter of give and take and they are restricted by the rights of others.

[dalton99a]

7. Jesus said to let the heathens die when their houses burn down

And this asshole was a fire chief???

[maxrandb]

8. Bet he thinks Roy Moore is

The cat's meow.