July 29, 2008
It’s one of
those cases. The kind that leaves you with your mouth open thinking, “
What?” A counselor in Georgia is fired after doing the right thing. And what’s more…a government agency was apparently behind the firing. But sadly, these cases are becoming more and more common as the homosexual legal agenda cuts a swath across America.
Marcia Walden is strong Christian and was a counselor at a company which contracted with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Last summer, a woman who worked for the CDC sought counsel from Marcia regarding a same-sex relationship. Marcia explained that her religious beliefs conflicted with the client’s needs. She could not counsel someone who sought to continue in a relationship that the Bible and her faith teach is sinful. So, she referred the client to a colleague, who met with the woman 10 minutes later.
The client called her counseling experience with Marcia’s colleague “exemplary.” Still, she filed a complaint against Marcia for refusing to counsel her. The situation was investigated, and Marcia was questioned about her religious beliefs. Her supervisors pressured her to hide her beliefs from future clients, something Marcia refused to do. Later, at the CDC’s direction, she was fired.
“
A woman shouldn’t lose her job for merely upholding the highest professional standards,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Brian Raum. “
It is unconstitutional to punish Marcia for following her Christian faith, particularly when she made every effort to accommodate the needs of a potential client.”
ADF attorneys have filed a lawsuit on Marcia’s behalf. You can read a copy of the complaint at
www.telladf.org/UserDocs/WaldenComplaint.pdf.
Marcia should not be reprimanded for doing what she did. She recognized immediately that her new client’s situation was one she could not in good faith counsel. She was honest and upfront with the woman who sought her services, clearly explained her religious conflict, and provided an alternative within a timely manner. In her role as a counselor, Marcia has not refused to advise those who engage in homosexual behavior on a variety of issues, but could not offer advice to someone specifically seeking to continue in a relationship of which God does not approve. By God’s grace, we pray that the courts will see the truth: that the “discrimination” in this case was her job termination, not her actions.
This is not the only “
What?” case we are fighting right now. An adjunct biology professor at San Jose City College in California was also
fired for doing the right thing. In that case, June Sheldon answered a student’s question about heredity and homosexual behavior. Another student, however, did not “appreciate” the answer – even though the professor’s comments were supported by the class textbook – and filed a complaint, which resulted in June losing her job. ADF, along with our ally the Pacific Justice Institute, is representing June in a suit against the college.
Read more by clicking here. Remember Marcia and June in your prayers as they continue to seek God’s will in their professional capacities. Also pray for the ADF attorneys representing them in their cases. In a culture where those involved in homosexual behavior demand their agenda trample on the rights of Christians, ADF will not give in. Defending Marcia Walden and June Sheldon are important battles in the war for religious liberty. Together, with God’s favor, we will continue to fight and win!