The 3 - February 23, 2025

Military leader alleges he was removed from service for Christian faith

On this edition of The 3, there are two incidents of Christians who were "cancelled," silenced apparently for the simple reason that they were Christians.  In America.  Sweet land of liberty.  But, religious liberty, baked into the Bill of Rights of our Constitution, still is an underappreciated commodity.

Idaho Army National Guard Major David Worley has filed a lawsuit in which the explosive contention is made that there is a "No Christians in Command" policy in the Guard. He is represented by Liberty Counsel.  That's according to The Christian Post, which reports:

The complaint argues that the Idaho Army National Guard was urged to implement an unconstitutional policy that the filing calls "No Christians in Command."

Worley claims the policy was intended to identify "extremists" in the military by looking at the social media profiles of potential command candidates.

The series of events leading to the suit began in 2023, when Major Worley ran a campaign for Mayor of Pocatello, Idaho.  The Post article relates:

During his campaign, Worley expressed his religious convictions and moral objections to social issues, including "Drag Queen Story Hours," the inclusion of explicit materials in public libraries for minors, and so-called medical interventions for children experiencing gender confusion.

According to Liberty Counsel, "all of Worley's protected speech occurred off-duty in his private capacity" and prior to his taking a command role.

After his election campaign, a subordinate service member, who identifies as homosexual, filed a formal complaint against Worley, alleging discrimination and a hostile work environment. The guardsman, who had only met Worley twice, claimed he felt "threatened and unsafe" because of Worley's religious beliefs.

The article says, "As a result, the Idaho Army National Guard suspended Worley from command in July 2023."  There was an investigation, which seemed to exonerate Worley; however, he was not reinstated to command - the Christian Post says that "the investigation recommended that future command candidates undergo scrutiny for 'concerning ideologies' through public records searches and social media monitoring."

Substitute teacher and former school board candidate removed from sub list due to faith

Meanwhile, in Virginia, a former school board candidate applied to be on the list of substitute teachers, was apparently approved, but when she reported to work, she was removed from the school premises.  That is according to Liberty Counsel's website.

The teacher had enlisted the assistance of Liberty Counsel, which sent a letter to the school board. The website states:

After Liberty Counsel sent a demand letter to the school district about how the First Amendment, Title VII, and Virginia law protect teachers to speak on public matters in their private capacity, the district returned the teacher to the approved substitute teacher list.

The article goes on to say:

The district’s corrective decision to restore the teacher shows that the law clearly protects teachers to freely express their beliefs in their private capacities. Under the First Amendment, Title VII, and the Virginia Constitution, any citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his or her sentiments on all subjects. Under the Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the “Virginia Values Act,” it is discriminatory and unlawful for an employer to burden the free exercise of religion and refuse to hire or discharge a person with respect to their religion.

State attorney general takes issues with bans on therapy for those with unwanted same-sex attraction

It's called "conversion therapy," and those who oppose it have made sure that it is a stigmatized term, when it is simply the act of helping those who are struggling with gender identity or experiencing same-sex attraction that they wish to eliminate or overcome. 

In Kansas City, Missouri and one of the counties in which it is situated, Jackson County, there have been ordinances passed, according to Baptist Press, that ban this type of therapy. A lawsuit has been filed by two Christian counselors; the article says, regarding the ban, "This a violation of free speech, the suit contends, by preventing the plaintiffs from offering biblical counsel regarding sexuality."

The article relates:

Pamela Eisenreich and Wyatt Bury operate in the Kansas City area and say in the lawsuit that the ordinances have prohibited them from sharing facets of care in line with their Christian beliefs to juveniles regarding issues of gender confusion or same-sex attraction. Those clients are often brought by parents whose Christian faith aligns with those of Eisenreich and Bury and are seeking counsel from them largely for that reason.

Attorney Jonathan Whitehead states: "Licensed counselors holding a biblical worldview should be free to help young people pursue the counseling goals they desire – whether that means embracing their biological sex or working through unwanted same-sex attraction...The government has no business censoring those conversations.”

Baptist Press reports: 

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has also joined the lawsuit on behalf of the state.

“Our children have a right to therapy that allows for honest, unrestricted conversations, free from transgender indoctrination,” he said. “These ordinances represent a dangerous overreach, forcing children and counselors to conform to a radical transgender agenda. I will not stand by while Jackson County violates Missourians’ constitutional rights to free speech and religious liberty.”