Posted on 04/23/2014 9:55:02 AM PDT by lowbridge
Late yesterday afternoon, ACLJ filed a lawsuit on behalf of Brandon Jenkins against officials of The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) in Maryland for denying Brandon admission to its Radiation Therapy Program in part due to his expression of religious beliefs. As one faculty member explained to Brandon, on behalf of CCBC, the “field [of radiation therapy] is not the place for religion."
Brandon first applied for admission to the Radiation Therapy Program in April 2013. He met the standards of a competitive candidate and scored the maximum points allowed during his observation. During the interview process, college officials asked Brandon, “What is the most important thing to you.” Brandon answered simply, “My God.”
Brandon was denied entry into the program. After Brandon inquired why he was denied, the Program Director, Adrienne Dougherty, told him:
I understand that religion is a major part of your life and that was evident in your recommendation letters, however, this field is not the place for religion. We have many patients who come to us for treatment from many different religions and some who believe in nothing at all. If you interview in the future, you may want to leave your thoughts and beliefs out of the interview process.
Brandon made several attempts to address with Defendants the discriminatory reasoning upon which they denied his admission to the program. In response to a letter from the ACLJ outlining CCBC’s retaliation, CCBC defended Director Dougherty’s comments to Mr. Jenkins suggesting that such comments were merely intended to advise Brandon that "he not wear them [his religious beliefs] on his sleeve," and “[s]tated bluntly, that is not bad advice.”
(Excerpt) Read more at aclj.org ...
Why should they? They have the ability to enforce their beliefs?
This won’t go to trial. Defense counsel is going to ask plaintiff how much he wants and this asinine college is going to write the check.
Yes, seems to be similar to the furball that ensued after Phil Robertson answered a direct question. I hope the ACLJ eats their lunch on this one.
Will someone please tell that ignorant "faculty member" to pass that word along to the Stage IV cancer patient whose bones are filled with lesions and whose radiation therapist's kind attention and manipulation on the therapy table and compassionate spirit are fruits of his/her devotion to the teachings of Jesus!
Hopefully so much so that these morons at the college are sent packing on a donkey with bad marks on their resumes.
Who have helped a many christian to seek justice through the court system. They do fine work. They take cases the ACLU won't even look at or don't want to be bothered with. Good for them.
He could have said the Easter Bunny told him to seek admission - what possible significance can be attached to any answer to such an intrusive, prying question?
Is it not sufficient that the student had outstanding test scores and was fully prepared for the course of study?
Hopefully, the award will be sufficient to discourage such behavior amongst the “Academented”.
just giving him a heads up
in the future, if he believed in traditional today, they’ll try to force him out of whatever job he has ... if it’s influential enough
Good for Brandon. If I’d been asked, I probably would have replied, “My family,” but if I thought it through, that’s not the true answer. My faith is more important, and if there’s a conflict between the two, faith will win.
I hope he gets zillions.
And I hope those clowns are forced to pay out from their own pockets too.
In addition to the settlement $$, I would insist on a full public apology in front of the entire faculty and student body.
Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Reading through the actual complaint (linked in the article), it's not at all clear that he didn't get into the program because of his religious comments. There appear to be other issues at play (his GPA, criminal history, etc.)
“As one faculty member explained to Brandon, on behalf of CCBC, the “field [of radiation therapy] is not the place for religion.”
Wow, damn good thing the Christians who developed Hospital and University systems centuries ago didn’t take that view...
OK, Mr. Dougherty, no religion in radiation therapy. What else? Can I get a list?
I hope that along with a check, part of the settlement is to give him admission to the school.
Or a better school. They can sabotage him easily if he is matriculated into this school.
Excellent point.
Insert picture of the country’s Founders spinning in their graves here. #WarOnChristianity
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
He could’ve said friends and family, with the secret knowledge that his friends include the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and that his family include the hundreds of millions of people who compose the Body of Christ (the Church).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.