cmotherofpirl Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Counselor suspended after teens hear Christian music Accused of 'exposing children to unapproved religious activities' A Southern California counselor with nearly two decades of experience with foster children is challenging a decision that she be punished after four teens she took on an approved day-long outing encountered a beach festival – and heard Christian music. The 18-year employee, according to the lawsuit, took four teen girls from the Orangewood Children's Home, which was launched as a private facility but now is owned and run by Orange County. (Story continues below) "What happened to this counselor was insane and unjust," said Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, who is defending the counselor. "Allowing teenagers to overhear a few minutes of Christian music while at the beach should not result in a six-week suspension," insisted Dacus, who said the counselor's name is not being released. A county spokeswoman said officials had not seen the complaint. But it was a personnel issue, they said, so there would be no comment. Pacific Justice said the lawsuit was filed after an extensive course of "administrative remedies" proved fruitless. The complaint explains the counselor took the four teen girls on the field trip during the summer of 2006, first to a 5 kilometer run and then to the beach. "At the beach, the group encountered a 'Surf Jam' taking place at the Huntington Beach Pier. The group also overheard Christian music for about 10 minutes while they were eating," the institute said. After the outing, the counselor was ordered into a "disciplinary meeting" that focused on the inappropriateness of Christian music. No punishment was imposed immediately, but weeks later after another meeting at which the same subject was reviewed, the counselor was suspended six weeks for "exposing children to unapproved religious activities." The lawsuit was filed in Orange County Superior Court seeking to recover the financial losses from the suspension and vindicate her constitutional rights, the institute said. Dacus told WND the circumstances were disturbing. "It just goes to show how anti-faith some [people] are," he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 We are going to be a hate group soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hassan Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 [quote name='cmotherofpirl' post='1787079' date='Feb 21 2009, 01:19 AM']Counselor suspended after teens hear Christian music Accused of 'exposing children to unapproved religious activities' A Southern California counselor with nearly two decades of experience with foster children is challenging a decision that she be punished after four teens she took on an approved day-long outing encountered a beach festival – and heard Christian music. The 18-year employee, according to the lawsuit, took four teen girls from the Orangewood Children's Home, which was launched as a private facility but now is owned and run by Orange County. (Story continues below) "What happened to this counselor was insane and unjust," said Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, who is defending the counselor. "Allowing teenagers to overhear a few minutes of Christian music while at the beach should not result in a six-week suspension," insisted Dacus, who said the counselor's name is not being released. A county spokeswoman said officials had not seen the complaint. But it was a personnel issue, they said, so there would be no comment. Pacific Justice said the lawsuit was filed after an extensive course of "administrative remedies" proved fruitless. The complaint explains the counselor took the four teen girls on the field trip during the summer of 2006, first to a 5 kilometer run and then to the beach. "At the beach, the group encountered a 'Surf Jam' taking place at the Huntington Beach Pier. The group also overheard Christian music for about 10 minutes while they were eating," the institute said. After the outing, the counselor was ordered into a "disciplinary meeting" that focused on the inappropriateness of Christian music. No punishment was imposed immediately, but weeks later after another meeting at which the same subject was reviewed, the counselor was suspended six weeks for "exposing children to unapproved religious activities." The lawsuit was filed in Orange County Superior Court seeking to recover the financial losses from the suspension and vindicate her constitutional rights, the institute said. Dacus told WND the circumstances were disturbing. "It just goes to show how anti-faith some [people] are," he said.[/quote] If WND has described this correctly, a big if, then that is absurd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mari Therese Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 (edited) Dude. I really hope that the person wins in court. People seem to really freak out over anything that is even loosely associated with Christianity, as if its poisonous and harmful to us Edited February 21, 2009 by Mari Therese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior1027 Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 So now it is a crime to encounter religion in one's day to day life? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hassan Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 [quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1787278' date='Feb 21 2009, 12:16 PM']So now it is a crime to encounter religion in one's day to day life?[/quote] Even if the WND article were exactly true that still would not be a valid conclusion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slappo Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Well... considering freedom of speech, if an outdoor approved public activity encounters SOMEONE ELSES free speech at a beach... what the heck thats all I have to say... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I wonder how long until it's considered hate speech/hate activities to do anything vaguely religious in public... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatsup Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 (edited) there is something in this article that dosn't sit right to me. as if there is MUCH more going on in this story than 10 minutes of music. It seems as if thats a point on which both parties "agreed" to quarrel on over something much bigger and much more serious. That or the real possibility the employee is making this accusation into something its not for attention and drama. I really don't trust the system, nor many of their employees, especally the long term ones becuase they are often in it for the wrong reasons. Edited February 22, 2009 by whatsup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share Posted February 22, 2009 [quote name='whatsup' post='1788119' date='Feb 22 2009, 11:10 AM']there is something in this article that dosn't sit right to me. as if there is MUCH more going on in this story than 10 minutes of music. It seems as if thats a point on which both parties "agreed" to quarrel on over something much bigger and much more serious. That or the real possibility the employee is making this accusation into something its not for attention and drama. I really don't trust the system, nor many of their employees, especally the long term ones becuase they are often in it for the wrong reasons.[/quote] What do you define as a "wrong reason"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share Posted February 22, 2009 The original article is from here: [url="http://pacificjustice.org/resources/news/focusdetails.cfm?ID=PR090218a"]http://pacificjustice.org/resources/news/f...fm?ID=PR090218a[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffpugh Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 How did the institution find out? Did one of the kids complain? Was there a man wearing dark sunglasses and a suit following at a distance watching every one of their moves? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 and the Christians/Catholics are the ones practicing mind control? please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qfnol31 Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I believe the first amendment says we have freedom from religion. Oh wait, no it doesn't. Can't anyone in this country read anymore? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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