Posted on 03/01/2007 9:06:23 PM PST by Alex Murphy
An Anniston man has filed a federal lawsuit against the Salvation Army, contending he was illegally passed over for a position because he is Catholic.
The suit filed on behalf of Anthony J. Clark contends he sought a social work opening in spring 2005 after already having worked for the Salvation Army for almost two years.
The Salvation Army is a charity that operates as an evangelical effort of Christians. Its Web site says its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs without discrimination.
Salvation Army officials in Anniston declined comment and referred calls to the organization's Jackson, Miss., office.
Mark Jones, a spokesman for the Salvation Army Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi divisional headquarters, said it's the organization's policy not to comment on personnel matters.
The suit said Clark sent a letter to his supervisor on May 17, expressing his interest in filling the position in Anniston. Clark, the suit said, had worked as a part-time social worker from November 2003 to December 2003. He subsequently worked full-time from January 2004 to May 2004 because of another worker's illness.
The suit said despite having three letters of recommendation, another person who had only part-time seasonal experience was hired when a full-time position came open.
The lawsuit said when Clark asked why he wasn't hired, his supervisor, Maj. Larry Hambrick, replied he was not a practicing Christian.
When asked if he was a Christian, Clark said he was a Catholic and was then informed that was why he was not selected for the position, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit said Clark complained to the Salvation Army's national headquarters, and left the organization on Aug. 19, 2005.
Birmingham lawyer John Saxon called the Salvation Army a wonderful organization that does faith-related work. But Saxon said the social work position was a non-ministerial position.
"They are not exempt from civil rights laws," Saxon said.
The Salvation Army is a church...a religious denomination. They get to choose whom they want to choose, right? This is America, right?
**The lawsuit said when Clark asked why he wasn't hired, his supervisor, Maj. Larry Hambrick, replied he was not a practicing Christian.
When asked if he was a Christian, Clark said he was a Catholic and was then informed that was why he was not selected for the position, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit said Clark complained to the Salvation Army's national headquarters, and left the organization on Aug. 19, 2005.**
Uh-oh! I think they (the Salvation Army) just put their foot in their mouth.
I can't imagine anyone giving that reply! Sounds a bit contrived to me.
Sorry, I forgot the <sarcasm off tag. LOL!
No, no! I meant the Salvation Army guy replying that the complaining guy couldn't have the job because he was Catholic!
Just doesn't sound like anything anyone would actually reply!
Sorry for my inability to express myself tonight. Been a long week :-)
I hear similar remarks from some segments of the Protestant community all the time. Granted, it's usually not in terms of employment, but I wouldn't be surprised that someone would say it if they opened their mouth before thinking about the potential legal consequences. That said, I think religious organizations should be able to hire and fire employees on whatever criteria they want. The thing I find odd is that a Catholic would want to work for another church in the first place.
You're probably right. It just always amazes me how stupid and/or insensitive people can be when given the opportunity!
I guess that means no.
Engage your brain, and think again.
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.
< Bronx cheer >
< / Bronx cheer >
Would you say "Yes" or would you say "I'm a Catholic"?
Would you say "Yes" or would you say "I'm a Catholic"?
I would say yes, and then say that specifically I was a Catholic.
I would expect others to do the same -- say yes and then say specifically Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, or whatever they were.
Would you say "yes" or would you say "I'm a Catholic"?
Mr. Clark was asked a yes or no question in regard to whether or not he was a Christian. He chose not to answer yes. Instead he gave the same answer that I would expect from Nanci Pelosi or Teddy Kennedy or John Gotti. He did not say "yes" he said "I'm a Catholic.
Now unless you can say that every person who claims the title of Catholic is truly a Christian, you can see that Mr. Clark's answer was the same as saying "NO!".
Since you decided (like Mr. Clark) to refuse to answer the question, I must conclude that you would not have gotten the promotion either.
Why? Did the Salvation Army ask if he was any specific denomination? No. The Salvation Army did not ask him whether he was a Catholic or a Baptist or a Methodist. They asked him whether he was a Christian. He chose not to directly answer the question, but instead stated that he was a Catholic. There are a lot of people who claim to be Catholics who would never claim to be a "Christian" lest they be identified with all those fundamentalist born-again fanatics.
Mr. Clark gave the wrong answer. He might as well have said no.
**Been a long week :-)**
Hope the rest of it is better. God bless.
I think you are jesting, right?
Thanks! God bless back atcha!
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