Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Atlanta fire chief fired over pro-family book
Baptist Press ^ | January 07, 2015 | Staff

Posted on 01/07/2015 11:24:29 AM PST by Graybeard58

ATLANTA (BP) -- Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran has been terminated following a city investigation into a book he wrote that calls homosexual behavior immoral and upholds a biblical view of sexuality.

Kelvin Cochran

Cochran is a deacon, Sunday School teacher and Bible study leader at Atlanta's Elizabeth Baptist Church, a cooperating church with the Georgia Baptist Convention. A two-time Atlanta fire chief, Cochran also served as U.S. Fire Administrator under President Obama from 2009-10.

Mayor Kasim Reed said Jan. 6 that Cochran's failure to obtain proper city permission to publish the book and his refusal to remain silent about the matter during an investigation contributed to the firing.

In December Cochran was suspended without pay for a month and ordered to undergo sensitivity training.

"Despite my respect for Chief Cochran's service, I believe his actions and decision-making undermine his ability to manage our fire department," Reed said at a press conference. "Every single employee under the fire chief's command deserves the certainty that he or she is a valued member of the team and that fairness and respect guide employment decisions. His actions around the book and his statements during this investigation have eroded my confidence in his ability to convey that message."

A "decision to retain Chief Cochran" could have caused the city to be held liable in potential antidiscrimination lawsuits, Reed said -- presumably a reference to potential lawsuits by homosexual employees alleging discrimination.

Cochran said he received verbal clearance to publish the book from the city's ethics officer and provided the mayor with a copy that Reed acknowledged receiving, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Though Cochran spoke to religious groups about his suspension, he said he obeyed the city's specific instruction not to speak with the media, according to the AJC.

Following Cochran's suspension, the Georgia Baptist Convention issued a news release calling Christians and other people of faith across Georgia to:

-- sign a petition in behalf of Cochran at http://gabaptist.org/petition on the Georgia Baptist Convention's website;

-- support Cochran by purchasing his book on Amazon, "Who Told You That You Are Naked?" which is at the center of the firestorm; and

-- enlist as many churches and believers as possible to contact Mayor Reed to reverse his actions against Cochran.

Please see more detailed story later today.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-38 last
To: Steve_Seattle; Graybeard58
Steve_Seattle:" The mayor is obviously too dumb to recognize the blatant contradiction in his statement,
i.e., the implication that traditional Christians are NOT welcome or valued,
and can be fired for their religious beliefs regardless of their job performance."
(empahisis mine)

This incident smacks of religious prosecution against Christians.
Obviously the mayor doesn't understand the fraternity of firemen who count on their brother firemen to guard their back.
In Christianity , you can love the sinner , and despise the act of sin.
The mayor is guilty of religious discrminiation action on the remote possibility of a lawsuit , but has instead, exhibited by his own actions, his religious bias.
I judege a man by his actions ,.. not by their words , nor by their 'thoughts'.
Let the fraternity of firemen determine whether the chiefs words show a lack of faith/ confidence of those whose lives depend on him -,.. not some elected politician !

21 posted on 01/07/2015 12:31:20 PM PST by Tilted Irish Kilt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

A. Sharpton and Eric Holder are bound to raise hell. NOT!


22 posted on 01/07/2015 12:38:30 PM PST by apocalypto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

Just wrong. I hope he sues ‘em.


23 posted on 01/07/2015 12:55:26 PM PST by Pluto is NOT a Planet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steve_Seattle

I don’t think the courts care about religious discrimination anymore, unless perhaps the victim is Wiccan or Islamic.


24 posted on 01/07/2015 1:00:32 PM PST by madprof98
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

open and shut UNCONSTITUTIONAL!

.......this is why I say that it is time to re-visit politicians and judges from having COMPLETE and TOTAL exemption from liability for their actions. The world has changed and it is time their asses are on the line also.


25 posted on 01/07/2015 1:44:20 PM PST by Cen-Tejas (it's the debt bomb stupid)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oliviaforever
"An obvious violation of the Chief’s First Amendment Right to free speech "

At that level and executive can fire a person for any reason they so choose...and they don't even have to tell anyone why, or what the real reason was.

26 posted on 01/07/2015 2:14:20 PM PST by Mariner (First the GOP must die. Everything else comes after that.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Tilted Irish Kilt
"In Christianity , you can love the sinner , and despise the act of sin."

I worked with a number of self-proclaimed homosexuals over the years, and never once let my opposition to homosexuality interfere with my on-the-job behavior towards them. In this case, the mayor has simply assumed - without warrant - that people who oppose homosexuality can't behave in the same manner that I did. He has fired the fire chief for hypothetical future instances of discrimination, and you simply can't do that.
27 posted on 01/07/2015 2:19:02 PM PST by Steve_Seattle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

At that level and executive can fire a person for any reason they so choose...and they don’t even have to tell anyone why, or what the real reason was

.............................................................
Since the mayor did indeed tell him, he may have a problem. He could have just said, “Chief, you’re fired” and let it go at that.


28 posted on 01/07/2015 3:38:05 PM PST by Graybeard58 (Much violence and crime can be explained by the Bell Curve (Bing it))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Steve_Seattle

If I were an employer and I’m not, I wouldn’t hire a known homo to begin with. I just don’t like them. Why would I hire somebody I didn’t like.


29 posted on 01/07/2015 3:40:49 PM PST by Graybeard58 (Much violence and crime can be explained by the Bell Curve (Bing it))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Steve_Seattle
The story states the mayor said that Cohcran didn't get the needed permission:

Mayor Kasim Reed said Jan. 6 that Cochran's failure to obtain proper city permission to publish the book and his refusal to remain silent about the matter during an investigation contributed to the firing.

Cochran said he got verbal permission from the city ethics officer and sent a "copy" to the mayor:

Cochran said he received verbal clearance to publish the book from the city's ethics officer and provided the mayor with a copy that Reed acknowledged receiving, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Though Cochran spoke to religious groups about his suspension, he said he obeyed the city's specific instruction not to speak with the media, according to the AJC.

I don't know how you send a "copy" of verbally-granted permission. I believe him. I think he's being rail-roaded for his beliefs. But whether he sought it and got it—or not—he still had to ask and, of course, he really shouldn't have to in a free country.

Anyway, I forgot my /sarc tag for my original drive-by snark!
30 posted on 01/07/2015 4:09:23 PM PST by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: BradyLS

The article is actually kind of incoherent about whether the chief received permission to write the book - as you point out, how do you send a “copy” of a verbal authorization? But above and beyond that, did the city have any authority to demand “permission” to write the book in the first place? Does an employer have a right to exercise prior restraint over an employee’s constitutional rights?


31 posted on 01/07/2015 5:00:55 PM PST by Steve_Seattle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58
"At that level and executive can fire a person for any reason they so choose...and they don’t even have to tell anyone why, or what the real reason was."

I think state and federal civil rights law trumps local civil service regulations, and that religious discrimination is prohibited under both.
32 posted on 01/07/2015 5:02:39 PM PST by Steve_Seattle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Steve_Seattle

“At that level and executive can fire a person for any reason they so choose...and they don’t even have to tell anyone why, or what the real reason was.”

The above is not mine, I was quoting another poster.


33 posted on 01/07/2015 6:52:28 PM PST by Graybeard58 (Much violence and crime can be explained by the Bell Curve (Bing it))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58; sickoflibs; BillyBoy; fieldmarshaldj; NFHale; GOPsterinMA; stephenjohnbanker

Worked for a city with a mayor named “Kasim”, he should have known he was risking his job.


34 posted on 01/08/2015 2:33:56 PM PST by Impy (They pull a knife, you pull a gun. That's the CHICAGO WAY, and that's how you beat the rats!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Impy; sickoflibs; BillyBoy; fieldmarshaldj; NFHale; stephenjohnbanker

Kasim. Paris massacre. Gee, what’s the commonality?

Muslims HATE free speech.


35 posted on 01/08/2015 2:45:49 PM PST by GOPsterinMA (I'm with Steve McQueen: I live my life for myself and answer to nobody.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Impy; Graybeard58; sickoflibs; BillyBoy; fieldmarshaldj; GOPsterinMA; stephenjohnbanker

“..he should have known he was risking his job....”

True enough... but sometimes you just have to throw that big old AMERICAN Middle Finger up and tell them to go f*** themselves with their political correctness BS.

You can always find another job; recovering your dignity after groveling to the dirtbags is another story entirely.

Never back down.


36 posted on 01/08/2015 2:55:22 PM PST by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: GOPsterinMA

Kasim Reed is not actually a Muslim.

Even Christian Blacks are using Middle Eastern names now.


37 posted on 01/08/2015 3:09:21 PM PST by Impy (They pull a knife, you pull a gun. That's the CHICAGO WAY, and that's how you beat the rats!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Impy

I see. Well, screw him anyway. Fascist swine.


38 posted on 01/08/2015 3:14:03 PM PST by GOPsterinMA (I'm with Steve McQueen: I live my life for myself and answer to nobody.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-38 last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson