Posted on 09/25/2013 5:03:44 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Former ESPN Broadcaster and one-time NFL player for the New England Patriots, Craig James, says he was "shocked" after Fox Sports Southwest fired him over two weeks ago for publicly declaring his Christian views opposing gay marriage.
"I was shocked that my personal religious beliefs were not only the reason for Fox Sports firing me, but I was completely floored when I read stories quoting Fox Sports representatives essentially saying that people of faith are banned from working at Fox Sports," James told Breitbart News in a report on Monday. "That is not right and surely someone made a terrible mistake."
In an announcement on Aug. 30, 2013, that has since been removed, Fox Sports Southwest stated that James would be joining its Fox College Saturday studio team rounded out by Erin Hartigan and Ex-NFL quarterback Tony Banks.
"We're excited to add Craig to the FOX Sports Southwest team," executive producer Mike Anastassiou noted in the announcement. "He's a talented broadcaster who I've admired throughout his career. His knowledge of college football and the experience he brings as an analyst will be a tremendous asset to our coverage."
A day after his first appearance on air, however, Fox Sports Southwest's general manager Jon Heidtke who had hired him, told James he had been fired. Top officials at Fox Sports, he said, were informed about comments James made about same-sex marriage during his failed bid for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2012 and were uncomfortable.
In his comments last year, James maintained that homosexuality is a choice and those who engage in the practice will have to answer to God.
"I think it's [homosexuality] a choice, I do," said James in response to a question during the Texas debate. "I think that you have to make that choice. But in that case right there, they are going to have to answer to the Lord for their actions. We should not give benefits to those civil unions," he added.
Despite his views, however, James said he has always acted in a professional manner with those who don't share his views.
"I have worked in broadcasting for 24 years and have always treated my colleagues with respect and dignity regardless of their background or personal beliefs. I believe it is essential in our business to maintain professional relationships with people from a diverse background and have tolerance for those of different beliefs. I have never discussed my faith while broadcasting and it has never been an issue until now," he said.
In a demand letter sent to Fox Sports Southwest on Tuesday and posted below, James' legal counsel from the Liberty Institute demand that he be reinstated within 48 hours, by Thursday, or face further legal action.
During his Senate run last year, James shared thoughts on his faith in a two-minute video posted on YouTube. "I've been a believer of Jesus Christ my entire life," he notes in the video. "I really took a committed step in college through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and it's through that movement that I've had a daily walk with my Lord and Savior," he added.
News should be NEWS, just facts, no slant. Sports is NOT news.
Good for Craig - maybe a law suit will put a damper on this crap at least until sharia takes over and all of the homos and Christians are killed.
Top officials at Fox Sports, he said, were informed about comments James made about same-sex marriage
Did he leave a job for FOX, did he not accept other offers because of FOX and then he's dumped wham-bam? I thinbk a company should be able to fire at will but I also believe they have a responsibility to thoroughly check a person to ensure they meet whatever standards FOX may have.
The 'were informed' part bothers me the most. Will this be happening to all employees everywhere? Somebody 'informs' on you about some post on the net, a comment recorded at a baseball game, that isn't up to gay agenda enforcers standards???? 1984, indeed.
Fox is of the left. I watched them before they were on any cable systems... I watched them when they first started broadcasting via C-Band satellite. They were Conservative in the beginning... they are no longer even fair and balanced.
Gays—the new Stasi.
Yeppers.
I'm in the same boat as you. The only thing I trust anymore is FR, and I'm not even in the same country as you !
“I’m not even in the same country as you ! “
_______________________________________
No, but I am much farther away from the USSA then you are ;)
I gave up the FOX Business channel when my sat rates went up but I still wanted to watch Cavuto in the afternoon. You must have happened on to it when the The Five came on, particularly if it included Dana Perino whom I’ve labeled the Snarky one.
Last two times I’ve tuned into Cavuto though Graham and McCain were on so I just went ahead and added it to my blocked list. I’m now down to watching NCIS, CSI:Los Angeles and Flashpoint.
Seems like all of my news comes from Free Republic.
RE: That Fox News is fair and balanced and has no Spin.... IS A MYTH....
I wonder if there is a difference in political philosophy between different divisions of FOX. FOX News vs FOX Sports vs FOX Business...
The Stasi was secret. This is wide open to the public. So the term Chekist applies.
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