Intern Fired for Sharing Faith

Universities, those bastions of the free exchange of ideas and expression have a peculiar concept of religious belief. In addition to separation of church and state they want to enforce a separation of believer and belief.

A former graduate student who lost an internship for discussing her Christian faith with co-workers has filed a federal lawsuit.

Jacqueline Escobar was completing a master's degree in social work at California State University Long Beach when she interned with the Department of Children and Family Services, or DCFS.

A straight-A student, Escobar was complimented regularly by the DCFS for her work. But she came under scrutiny for sharing her faith with co-workers during lunch breaks and after-hours, and for changing into a shirt with a religious message – "Found" – after signing out for the day, according to the Pacific Justice Institute, which is representing her.

Escobar was directed to stop sharing her faith, even during breaks and after work hours.

Also, the university ordered her to sign a document admitting she had "an inability to separate her religious beliefs from her role" as an intern.

She refused to sign the document, arguing she couldn't agree to such a sweeping prohibition that included her religious practice during non-working hours.

I'd like to hear the rational for shielding children from people who believe in God. Do they have an equal aversion to exposing children to people who have no belief in God? Judging from the requirements asked of Ms. Escobar they must feel the best type of person to expose children to would be a schizophrenic.

Christian Carnival CXI