Psychologist lost city contract because of affiliation with pro-family organization
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4678
ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND MEDIA ADVISORY
September 16, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom
ADF attorney available to media after hearing
on firing of Christian psychologist
Psychologist lost city contract because of affiliation with pro-family organization
WHO: ADF Senior Legal Counsel Brian Raum
WHAT: Available for media interviews after hearing in Campion v. City of Springfield
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 17, following hearing which begins at 9:30 a.m. CDT
WHERE: U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, Dirksen Federal Building, Main Courtroom, Room 2721, 219 S. Dearborn St., Chicago
CHICAGO — Alliance Defense Fund Senior Legal Counsel Brian Raum will be available for media interviews Tuesday following a hearing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Campion v. City of Springfield. ADF attorneys are representing a clinical psychologist who lost his contract with the city of Springfield to perform pre-hire employment screening tests because of his affiliation with a pro-family organization.
“Christians shouldn’t be penalized for their beliefs,” said Raum. “In this case, being associated with a pro-family organization cost a man his city contract. The city of Springfield engaged in viewpoint discrimination, and that is clearly unconstitutional.”
Michael Campion had provided psychological services for the city of Springfield for 15 years. In August 2004, a newspaper article unfairly criticized Campion, saying he might be “biased” in the evaluation of his tests merely because of he is a member of the board of Illinois Family Institute.
In May 2005, the city of Springfield terminated Campion’s contract despite lack of evidence of bias because one alderman deemed his position on the board of IFI to be “out of touch with the mainstream.”
The same article led to additional hardship for Campion. The city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, also terminated Campion’s contract when they learned of Campion’s affiliation with IFI.
A fact sheet is available on the lawsuit at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/CampionFactSheet.pdf.
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.