Woman says she lost job for eating bacon

Orlando Sentinel ^ | August 13, 2004 | Brian Baskin

[Cincinatus' Wife]

........"This is unusual in the sense that my client is not seeking an accommodation to practice a particular religious belief, but instead is being discriminated against because she is failing to conform to the religious belief of management," he said.

Officials with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency that handles workplace-discrimination complaints, said Morales' case was "a groundbreaker."

But Kujaatele Kweli, CEO of Rising Star, said Morales was fired for insubordination, not for eating bacon. He said she cooked bacon in the office lunchroom's microwave after she was warned twice that her eating pork at work offended co-workers and clients. Rising Star produces self-help DVDs and is designing an Internet filter that would block sites Muslim parents might find inappropriate for their children.

The policy was put in place because "99 percent of our funding comes from a Muslim client," and 30 percent to 40 percent of Rising Star's 40 employees at the time were Muslim, Kweli said. The company now has a staff of five, he said.

"She was not fired because I or anybody found it offensive that she ate pork," Kweli said.

"She was fired because we established a rule that allowed Muslims and Christians to eat together, and Muslims and the rest of the staff could not eat together if we had allowed that to continue."...........

[Diogenesis]

What about diversity?

Oh, THAT only matters when it protects terrorists and the left.

[Casloy]

and fun!

[Dec31,1999]

What's more, I treat them as they treat us, sort of like a REVERSE TIKYA; we can be civil and friendly on the surface, knowing full well that we actively seek their demise, or at least their ideology.

Tikya(sp?) is the Muslim principle wherein it is OK to lie and deceive the infidel, or non-moslem.

[Casloy]

Actually, living in a muslim country which actually x-rays incoming luggage at the airport looking for pork, I can see why they are offended. To devout muslims cooking pork in the microwave would be the christian equivalent of cooking dog feces.

[SirLurkedalot]

Just wait until the next domestic strike. I think we're going to see some serious s***. I have no problem with Muslims who don't want to convert or kill me or take over my country or destroy Israel. The other 99.5% can R.I.H.

[Dec31,1999]

I hardly see why we should be sensitive to a culture whose firm wish is to see all others subjugated.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

What about diversity?

Yeah? What about it? Ha! Just a lot of LIBERAL b.s.

[heleny]

The big thing this year (so I hear--ahem!) is deep-fried candy bars.

I heard about deep-fried Snickers bars available at the local fair, but I can't imagine why anyone would want to eat a fried chocolate candy bar. It sounds pretty gross. Wouldn't it just melt in the oil? Or, if it were dipped in batter before frying, the whole thing would be a gooey mess to eat.

If the microwave oven was a shared appliance for all the employees (not her personal oven), then the company should be able to set its own policy for use of the oven. Too bad the woman had to be fired for this, but maybe she can find work somewhere else or start her own company. It looks like Rising Star isn't doing too well anyway (only 5 employees, down from 40).

[Future Useless Eater]

...excerpts from
http://www.local6.com/money/3614199/detail.html

Lina Morales was hired as an administrative assistant at Rising Star -- a Central Florida telecommunications company with strong Muslim ties, Local 6 News reported.

However, 10 months after being hired by Rising Star, religious differences led to her termination.

Morales, who is Catholic, was warned about eating pizza with meat the Muslim faith considered "unclean," Local 6 News reported. She was then fired for eating a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich, according to the report.

"Are you telling me they fired you because you had something with ham on it?" Local 6 News reporter Mike Holfeld asked.

"Yes," Morales said.

Holfeld asked, "A pizza and a BLT sandwich?"

" Yes," Morales said.

Local 6 News obtained the termination letter that states she was fired for refusing to comply with company policy that pork and pork products are not permissible on company premises.

However, by the company's own admission to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, that policy is not written, Local 6 News reported.

"Did you ever sign to or agree to anything that said I will not eat pork?" Holfeld asked Morales.

"Never," Morales said. "When I got hired there, they said we don't care what religion you are."

...

The CEO of Rising Star, Kujaatele Kweli, told Local 6 News that they have tried to create an office that accommodates anybody's religion -- not just Islam.

"Clearly you're accommodating," Holfeld said.

"Yes." Kweli replied.

"And you have an ecumenical philosophy," Holfeld said.

" Yes," Kweli replied.

"(Then) shouldn't you be able to accommodate all faiths in the same lunch room?" Holfeld asked.

"We do, we can," Kweli said.

"But you've dismissed one of your employees for eating pork in the lunch room," Holfeld said.

"Yes, pork is considered unclean," Kweli said.

The Koran forbids Muslims from eating pork. And according to Kweli, Morales and every employee at the company is advised of the no pork policy.

"Our point of view is to respect the laws of the land and the laws of the land as I understand it is to the accommodate people's right to practice their religions if you can," Kweli said.

---

This should be an open and shut case... a multi Million dollar fine at least!

I wonder how they feel about employees bringing Matzah Balls Brisket?

What's next? installing MUSLIM'S ONLY water fountains?

>>Did she ever think of getting beef bacon????
Wouldn't that offend Hindu's?

Has anybody ever tried 'doing Atkins' in a vegan-domineered department? THAT can get pretty touchy too!

HEY, here's a reason for Illinois to NOT elect OBAMA!
(aren't there a LOT of meatpackers and Catholics around Chicago?)

Obama's an islamist muslim, and therefore he will NOT BRING HOME THE PORK!

(and you know all politicians pride themselves on bringing home the MOST pork to their constituient!)

[Pikachu_Dad]

It doesn't have to be "Christian". She can still be employed if she is an atheist.

I think they stepped over the line when they messed with her choice of food.

[7.62 x 51mm]

That's the way I do it and it works just fine, G.

[tjwmason]

I heard about deep-fried Snickers bars available at the local fair, but I can't imagine why anyone would want to eat a fried chocolate candy bar. It sounds pretty gross. Wouldn't it just melt in the oil? Or, if it were dipped in batter before frying, the whole thing would be a gooey mess to eat.

They are well known in Scotland, the 'classic' is apparently the deep-fried Mars Bar. They are fried in batter, in the same manner as Fish (as in Fish and Chips). Then they wonder why the Scots have far higher rates of heart disease than we Sassenachs.

I fear that I have never tried one (for which the lining of my arteries is very thankful).

[heleny]

the 'classic' is apparently the deep-fried Mars Bar. They are fried in batter, in the same manner as Fish (as in Fish and Chips).

But, fish doesn't melt under high temperatures, whereas as a Mars bar (like a Milky Way) should just melt into a sugary and chocolate-y mess. I guess the batter would hold the concoction together, but I imagine it would be difficult to split one of these among a family. At least the fish seems halfway healthy.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Elsie]

It doesn't sound "Christian" to me.

(You mean like THIS??)

---

Romans 14
14. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.
15. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.
16. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil.
17. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
18. because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
19. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
20. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.
21. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
22. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

[Elsie]

And they are INFAMOUS for consuming homework!

[Corin Stormhands]

Careful...Lanny is always watching...

[Elsie]

It's OBVIOUS that the EMPLOYER is at fault here!

If 'differently abled' folks can have accommodations created for them by fiat of the Federal Powers, then by GOD (can I still legally type that?) the workplace should provide for her [and the MAJORITY of pork consumers] a separate, but equal, microwave!

Move over ADA; here come's APEA!!