A former employee
has accused a New Hampshire child advocacy agency of
harassing and discriminating against her because she shared
her Christian beliefs in the office.
In her lawsuit,
Penny Nixon of Concord said she was sarcastically
referred to as the ''good Christian'' at Casey Family
Services. She says she was forbidden from giving out
religious Christmas cards.
Nixon also claims
that although the agency promoted tolerance and
diversity, it would not allow her to hold voluntary
lunch-hour Bible studies but permitted a gay and
lesbian group to meet during business hours.
''Penny Nixon is
not saying she has any objection to working with gay men
or lesbians,'' Nixon's attorney, Chuck Douglas, wrote in a
lawsuit filed in Merrimack County Superior Court.
''She does not object to diversity training that is
evenhanded. However, she does assert her right to have
her practice and belief in Christianity unmolested in the
workplace.''
Casey Family
Services has not yet responded to the lawsuit in court. Lee
Mullane, a spokeswoman at the agency's Connecticut
headquarters, said the agency promotes respect and
tolerance for all beliefs and believes Casey will be
vindicated in court. (AP)
