Court okays fire chief’s lawsuit after he was fired for Christian views on marriage
Terminated Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran's lawsuit for
discrimination can go forward, a federal court ruled Wednesday.
The news comes in a press release issued by the Alliance
Defending Freedom, which is representing Cochran. ADF says the court's decision
was based upon the orthodox Christian's "primary claims of retaliation,
discrimination based on his viewpoint, and the violation of his
constitutionally protected freedoms of religion, association, and due process
(firing without following proper procedure)."
Cochran lost his
job in January after
publishing a book about Christianity in which he upheld Christian teachings on
marriage and sexuality. The city's mayor suspended Cochran without pay for 30
days and ordered him to take "sensitivity training." Cochran was
eventually fired despite a city investigation that found the fire chief had not
engaged in discrimination.
“A religious or ideological test cannot be used to fire a public
servant, but the city did exactly that, as the evidence and facts of this case
clearly demonstrate,” ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot told the court in
October. “We look forward to proceeding with this case because of the injustice
against Chief Cochran, one of the most accomplished fire chiefs in the nation,
but also because the city’s actions place every city employee in jeopardy who
may hold to a belief that city officials don’t like.”
“Tolerance must apply to people of different viewpoints, not
just those who agree with the beliefs the government prefers,” added ADF Senior
Counsel David Cortman. “Americans don’t surrender their constitutionally
protected freedoms when they become public servants.”
