US court upholds firing for anti-gay Bible quotes

Reuters via forbes ^ | 1/6/04 | Reuters

[yankeedame]

It was Nero...who tortured and executed Christians in a most vile fashion...impaling them upon poles then covering them with oil and setting them on fire along the highways and paths... He bragged about illuminating the world...with his torches....

The crimes these believers were charged with......crimes against humanity....hate crimes... They quoted Christ and the bible ..urging sinners to repent ...reminding them of what God's thoughts were on the proclivities and sins of their day...

Well, actually, Joe, the offical charge against the Christians was their failure/refusal to worship the state god, thereby putting the state (Rome) "at risk". The authorities didn't much care who else the Christians, or anyone else for that matter, worshipped as long as the state god was leading the parade. B/c of this "stiffed necked pride" the Christians quickly became the universal scape-goats.

[tubavil]

why doesn't HP make an effort to promote, and hire, and retain the most highly qualified work force?

Because it is cheaper to hire unqualified minorities than it is to be sued until they 'comply.'

[semaj]

"That's the last time I buy any of their products."

Ditto!

[Polycarp IV]

Gee, I thought this could never happen here, since we have a first amendment. (At least that's what a bunch of anti-Christian FReepers have been saying since Lawrence Vs Texas.)

(As usual, if you would like to be added to or removed from my "conservative Catholics" ping list, please send me a FReepmail.)

[King Black Robe]

Um...I believe the thinned skinned one was a homosexual complaining about the cubicle Bible verses. But if HP wants to cater to someone's hurt feelings then shouldn't they address the Christian's hurt feelings too?

[L.N. Smithee]

You want the courts to tell you that your local religious book store has to hire a cross dressing Satanist?

Dude, I live in San Francisco, California, home of the Ninth Circuit and Mecca of radical gays, and I tell you with no touch of sarcasm or irony that the militant homosexuals are working on the above scenario becoming a reality. Already, this city and the state of California have surreptiously shoved through laws preventing "looksism" -- discriminating against ugly and/or obese and/or cross-dressing people.

That being said: a private company is permitted to perpetrate their own message, even one that is abhorrent to you. I am typing this as my work day has wound down at a company computer, and this company (which I guarantee you have heard of) -- also has the cockamamie "diversity is our strength" schtuff going on, complete with the dreaded diversity training laying a guilty trip on normal people because they think of themselves as normal. If this company chose to review every PC with keystroke loggers with the goal of firing everyone who didn't feel the way they do about "diversity," I would be toast.

However, I do take issue with your language when you say, "The employee who was fired, was not fired for his beliefs, he was fired for attempting to force his beliefs on others in contradiction to the company's objectives." He wasn't "forc[ing] his beliefs," he was expressing them.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

The San Francisco-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit

The guy never had a chance.

[gitmo]

If HP has to tolerate Reinhardt's expression of religion in the work place; they must tolerate everyone's. Thus the Koran's directives to kill Jews where you can find them is also permitted. HP has no choice, they cannot favor one religion over another; thus no one gets to denounce anyone. Imagine, a work place where you can't post religious directives to kill Jews, or stone gays.

HP IS tolerating one religion over another. They are placing posters on the wall declaring the value of homosexuality. This is a religious view in opposition to Christianity.

[little jeremiah]

I just hope the same is true for anything posted that might be offensive to Christians.

Posters celebrating "diversity" which everyone knows means homosexuality is offensive not only to Christians but anyone who accepts moral absolutes.

[ClintonBeGone]

Judge Stephen Reinhardt wrote that Peterson, a veteran HP employee who worked in HP's Boise, Idaho office, had failed to provide evidence he was sacked for his religious beliefs.

No suprise from this lefty.

[VeniVidiVici]

HPs newest Laserjets look cheaply made.

I bought me a Brother, brother! :-)

[little jeremiah]

They're welcome to screw up their workforce however they want.

There are laws about not discriminating against people in the workplace because of their religion.

[JimSEA]

Peterson was fired for insubordination after refusing to remove the biblical postings, which managers determined could be viewed as offensive.

It looks to me that, headline asside, the court upheld a termination for insubordination. If Peterson had complied with the order and then filed a civil rights complaint and been fired, my sense of outrage would be greater. HP acts for economic reasons and apparently feels that it can keep more talented employees or sell more product or avoid regulatory hassel with its current policy. My guess is that avoiding regulatory hassel is the major reason as the gay activists are such a pain in the rear. :>

[NCPAC]

Man, that first line of yours was one of the most unintentionally hilarious things I've read in a long time. Except for the topic-slant, it has that comically paranoid feel to it usually reserved for DU posters.

If you don't like HP's stance, don't buy thier products. It is as simple as that.

[ClintonBeGone]

HP has no choice, they cannot favor one religion over another; thus no one gets to denounce anyone.

Actually they can, but I wonder if there is a cause of action for discrimination based on one's sexual preference - in this case the heterosexuals.

[ClintonBeGone]

Diversity in non-job-related areas is a weakness.

Yeah, the only place I care about diversity in on the resturant menu.

[little jeremiah]

he was fired for attempting to force his beliefs on others in contradiction to the company's objectives.

His quotes were put up in his cubicle, and the "diversity" poster was in his cubicle, which he had to see. Note that the company also refused to take down their "diversity" poster from his cubicle.

[Viking2002]

More demonization of humanity by the 9th Circus Court of Dementia. Somebody ping me when that abomination Reinhardt's obit is posted - I'm organizing the nation's biggest block party.

[semaj]

HODAR: "If HP has to tolerate Reinhardt's expression of religion in the work place; they must tolerate everyone's."

If Reinhardt has to tolerate HP's Diversity Dogma (read religion), than HP should tolerate Reinhardt's expression of Biblical Christianity.

HODAR: "...HP has no choice, they cannot favor one religion over another; thus no one gets to denounce anyone. Imagine, a work place where you can't post religious directives to kill Jews, or stone gays."

I can imagine it but it will never happen. The perpetuation of one religion over another in the workplace is intolerable, whether it be Biblical Christianity, Islam, or HP's brand of Religious Cultural Diversity.

[gitmo]

I don't think I want to know what Homo-Packard means by "You'll get more with your HP". Ewww.