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GoogleThe employee, Deborah Smith, had religious objections to the promotion, "which she believed encouraged children to worship the occult," according to the news release.
Library employees were expected to dress as witches and wizards at a July 21 Potter book release party at the library, an after-hours event, the release said. Smith asked to be excused from working that night due to her religious beliefs and was suspended for 10 days without pay and "suffered retaliation upon her return to work," the ACLU release said, going on to say the retaliation was so severe it forced Smith to quit.
The lawsuit was filed in district court in Cape Girardeau.
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Hold on to your hats folks but I am shocked that I have to applaude the ACLU in this case. The librarian should not be forced to wear a silly witch costume to work. Witchcraft and wicken can be considered a religion and therefore should not be forced on to a employee. If this library is a publicly funded, then my argument is strenthened. So if you put two and two together, public funds should not be used to promote a particular religion. I personally dont have a problem with Harry Potter books or movies but it is my decision to allow my kids to read or watch them.
If this woman had worn costumes in her line of work before, then this was no different. It was part of her job. She refused to do her job, she was disciplined. If she did not want to do her job, then she should have quit. The library was perfectly within their rights as an employer.
"The library was perfectly within their rights as an employer."
Someone better tell the ACLU that we an employment law specialist in Southeast Missouri who thinks they have no case.
The difference between a costume such as an animal or a costume like a witch costume is withcraft is a cult religion. The Bible specifically states " Let no one be found among you who ... practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead." Deuteronomy 18:10-11. This woman was practicing her religios freedom which we do have in this country by refusing to wear a witch costume. Her employer had NO right to punish her or try to force it on her. Way to go ACLU!
I wonder if the employee would have also not followed orders to dress like the virgin mary for a promotion of a christen book, just because she wasn't a virgin?
I honestly don't care either way. The rights of the employee vs the rights of the employer. But lets be fair. If this was a person who was objecting to wearing Christian garb to promote a Christian book everyone would be SCREAMING freedom from relgion.
I honestly don't care either way. The rights of the employee vs the rights of the employer. But lets be fair. If this was a person who was objecting to wearing Christian garb to promote a Christian book everyone would be SCREAMING freedom from relgion.
Ok fair is fair here folks. She did request the day off because of her religious beliefs. She should have just been given the time off. It was an after hours event and she should not be forced to attend it or be penalized because of her beliefs. I don't feel that we should push any belief or way of life down anyones throat, and if she asked to be excused then she should have been excused, plain and simple. Personally, I think all the crazy protesting that starts whenever a new Harry Potter comes out is ridiculous, but she did make the attempt to excuse herself and not cause problems with her beliefs, so she should not be penalized.
The ACLU is on a Christian's side? Amazing! I love it. I can't belive I'm saying this but, way to go ACLU! You should do nothing thats crosses your religious or moral feelings. No job or money is worth selling yourself out for. I hope to see a day when true Christians can take this country back.
I believe that people should never be forced to act contradictory to their faith, whether it be in the form of pressure from a Christian employer demanding a Muslim recite Christian prayers at the start of the work-day, or a Christian being forced to hide a crucifix when working for an Atheist.
Yet in this specific case, ‘religious persecution’ does not seem to fit the bill.
Harry Potter is a fictional book series that draws on Western cultural mythos of witchcraft and wizards; Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan and just about every other Disney story you could name draws on the same sources. Harry Potter is only the latest incarnation of these beloved tales of good vs. evil. I think some ‘concerned parents’ today need to be reminded that they themselves were raised with comparative stories while growing up!
Harry Potter contains as much real-life Witchcraft as does The Wizard of Oz. I am a Pagan, and I do practice vocational Witchcraft. The similarities between what are found in the Harry Potter books and the deeply spiritual faith that exists in real-life ends with the name. For those who don’t know, Wicca is a federally recognized religion, and its legitimacy is ingrained in the fabric of America; from status in the Army Chaplains Handbook, to licensed Wiccan chaplains employed by the federal corrections system. A host of various charities and not-for-profit organizations also top the list.
While I support this librarian in her battle against being unjustly terminated for not participating in an after-hours program, no matter her reasons, I am also deeply troubled to learn of a librarian whose personal convictions prompt her to support book-burning. Metaphorically, at least. I can think of another book that presents children with images of glorified slavery, rape, incest, genocide, talking animals, murder and magic in the form of 'miracles.' It is called the Bible.
Be careful what you chose to burn.