A quick update on Nathaniel Abraham and Chris Comer

Remember Nathaniel Abraham? He was the Woods Hole Biologist who was fired when he refused to perform aspects of his job that related to Evolution because he didn't believe in Evolution. I originally blogged about him here in "How about another Firing". I also discussed him a little in "Abraham and Gonzales" and in "Coexistence II -- Liberty University", where he found new employment.

Why am I bringing him back up? Well I was looking back through a few older posts and realized that I hadn't caught any news on his lawsuit. You might remember that after failing to win an appeal before the Massachusetts Board that handles Discrimination complaints -- they found that Woods-Hole had a perfectly reasonable expectation that he would perform the job for which he was hired to do. Well after failing that, he stewed for a while and sued. Well buried in a few places was the notice that his suit was dismissed. To bad it was dismissed on a technicality, apparently he has a limited time-frame to sue, and he stewed about 9 months too long. He's probably working on an appeal, but I can't find anything on it. If anyone else hears about anything, please let me know.

Since I am updating the case of Nathanial, how are things for Chris Comer? She was the subject of my very first post on this blog, "Is Texas Stepping Backwards". She was the Texas State Science Curriculum Director who was FIRED for doing her job. She forwarded an email about a presentation by Barbara Forrest, co-author of Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design and an expert witness in Kitzmiller v. Dover. Why was this a crime? Apparently the State Board of Education wants to remain neutral in the controversial issue of Intelligent Design/Creationism vs. Evolution.

Well it looks like she has availed herself of her legal rights and is suing. Not sure if/when the suit comes to trial, but I plan to keep my eyes open. Here is a link to the suit itself. It makes surprisingly interesting reading. From my take she is not interested in seeking damages , but she is interested in protecting the science education of Texas school children. She is specifically not asking for damages, her only monetary request is to cover her costs. The other remedies are all policy statements correcting the 'neutrality' policy and she wants her job back. She is one terrific person!

How about another firing

So far the score is one science curriculum director fired for doing her job and one professor denied tenure for not doing his. Notice the trend here?

Let's add to the trend. Mr. Nathaniel Abraham. a biologist was hired in 2004 at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Later that same year he was fired because he refused to work on the "evolutionary aspects" of the National Institutes of Health grant for which he was hired, even though the project clearly required scientists to use the principles of evolution in their analyses and writings.

Now three years later he is suing because he feels his civil rights were violated and he was fired based on religious grounds. Now this isn't his first attempt at some sort of restitution. This article mentioned that "Abraham filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination in 2005. The commission dismissed the complaint earlier this year [2007], saying it would be challenging for Woods Hole to employ Abraham because of his request not to work on evolutionary aspects of the project."

Would you fire someone hired to be a butcher because they are a vegetarian and refuse to cut and package meat? Would you fire a doctor who refuses to see patients? I know I would get fired by my college for refusing to teach classes. I would expect it and so should Mr. Abraham! If an employer cannot fire someone who fails to perform required aspects of the job for which they were hired to do, what recourse do they have?

Apparently he didn't disclose his beliefs before being hired. Now I know Woods Hole didn't ask him his beliefs because that's not a question a reputable agency wouldn't ask. What I am sure they did is spell out the responsibilities of the position before he was hired. I say that for two reasons. I am pretty sure an Institute like Woods Hole would be trying to hire qualified people and Mr. Abraham also shares that responsibility by understanding the job requirements before accepting the position. So I believe it is reasonable for Woods Hole to have an expectation that Mr. Abraham would perform all the tasks required of the position, and I guess the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination agrees with me.

Another article on the subject identifies his lawyer as David C. Gibbs, III, the general counsel of the Christian Law Association. (Current project: "Keeping Christ in Christmas.") . Take a look at that link. The webpage says "Is it illegal for my community to include religious symbols in its Christmas holiday celebrations?" "Can Christian teachers in public schools legally teach students the true origin of Christmas?" "Can I say 'Merry Christmas' to co-workers at the office?" How can you equate all three of those? I will agree that many communities go to far in the name of political correctness by banning any mention of Christ and religious symbols in celebrations. But the second one is against the law! Teachers are hired to teach specific areas and just because a teacher is a certain religion, it is illegal for them to teach their personal religious beliefs in a public school classroom. My own parochial school teachers would agree. Laymen should leave the teaching of religions to those equipped to handle it. I can imagine the hue and cry if a teacher who happens to be non-Christian started teaching their beliefs! I also believe any teacher that does that in the public school should be fired . . . are you paying attention Mr. Abraham. Such a teacher would be doing exactly what you did . . .they would not be doing the job they were hired to do. If they insist then the school system has the right to fire them! The school system has to have the right to fire them.

OK, back to the trend. Another creationist FAILS to do their job and is held accountable for it. Mr. Abraham can join Professor Gonzales and they can commiserate over a beer their fates and their own role in what happened to them. Gentlemen, the world isn't out to get you, the world isn't even out to eradicate all things religious. In your cases you failed to meet expectation and paid the price for your failure. There are various methods of appeal and even the legal system to help address your concerns, but don't set your own expectations to high. If an organization is allowed to have an expectation of you doing your job, then I hope a court will recognize this and deal with you accordingly. I plan on keeping an eye on this suit and see what happens, I hope we all do!!