Christianity Today

Employers can limit employees' speech

Your job may limit your freedom of speech. A federal court ruled in February that the University of Toledo was within its rights to fire human resources director Crystal Dixon in 2008 for a newspaper column questioning how homosexuals could be "civil rights victims." Her op-ed contradicted the university's stance. Because of Dixon's authority over university hiring and firing, wrote judge David Katz, her "interest in making a comment of public concern is clearly outweighed by the university's interest … in carrying out its own objectives."

TBN embroiled in family lawsuit

Perhaps Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) should start carrying Family Feud re-runs. Brittany Koper, granddaughter of TBN founders Paul and Jan Crouch, has accused directors of illegally distributing $50 million in "charitable assets" for personal use. She also claims she was fired as chief financial officer for refusing to cover up the scheme. Koper sued TBN attorneys over their role; her uncle, Joseph McVeigh, has filed a similar suit. The attorneys previously accused Koper of misappropriating funds but eventually dropped their suit.

LifeWay keeps new NIV on shelves

A disputed Bible translation will remain in Southern Baptist bookstores. The trustees of LifeWay Christian Resources unanimously voted to continue selling the 2011 New International Version, even though the Southern Baptist Convention had asked the publisher to remove the Bibles at its June convention. Committee chairman Adam Greenway emphasized that the decision was not an endorsement of the translation. "We do not believe the 2011 NIV rises to the level where it should be pulled or censored or not carried in our retail chain," he said.

Anglican clergy cannot sue God

GREAT BRITAIN Anglican clergy cannot sue their employer: God. An employment tribunal ruled in February that a former Worcester rector could not seek compensation from his bishop or diocese for resigning under duress. Church of England law states that clergy are office holders employed by God, not employees of the church. Judge Alan McCarry said the church is a central part of English society yet "has no legal personality. It cannot sue or be sued." Reverend Mark Sharpe alleges his bishop and diocese allowed parishioners to terrorize him for four years, including poisoning his dog and slashing his tires.

Court rejects concerns of religious parents

CANADA Parents cannot prevent Quebec schools from teaching their children about other religions. Canada's Supreme Court has ruled that a mandatory Ethics and Religious Culture program does not infringe on parents' rights. The program, which exposes children to a variety of cultures, creeds, and religious traditions, replaced similar Catholic and Protestant programs in 2008. Two parents argued the program could affect the religious beliefs children were taught at home. The court ruled that since the program was educational and was not forcing children to join any religion, it did not infringe on religious freedom.

'Fake aid' may hamper relief workers

A new eBook says not all aid workers in Pakistan are what they seem. The Command, by The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder and D. B. Grady, claims the United States government used the chaos from the 2005 Kashmir earthquake to send dozens of CIA agents into Pakistan posing as aid workers. The claims are likely to strain already tense relations between genuine aid agencies and Pakistan; reports last July said the CIA ran a fake vaccination program in an attempt to gain DNA evidence from members of Osama bin Laden's family months before his death.

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