Chaplain fired over blog posts sharing religious beliefs sues fire department

A former volunteer chaplain of the Austin Fire Department in Texas claims he was fired after he objected to men competing in women’s sports on his blog, an action that allegedly offended some LGBT members of the department.

Attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal organization specializing in religious freedom and free speech cases, filed a lawsuit on Dr. Andrew Fox’s behalf Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Fox, a minister ordained by the Assemblies of God, volunteered as the city’s lead chaplain for eight years, providing supportive services to firefighters and their families who had experienced tragedies.

The ordained minister maintains a personal blog. Last June, he voiced his belief that men should not compete on women’s sports teams due to biological differences between the sexes, according to the lawsuit.

“No one ever accused him of discriminating against anyone or treating anyone improperly,” the complaint reads. “To the contrary, the City lauded him for his integrity and service. Dr. Fox consistently shared his religious and philosophical reflections online for years without any problem.” …. (Excerpt from The Christian Post)