Proselytizing on the CSFD

And why they (FCF) view me with contempt

 

I have dared to speak-out against their long-held practice of posting Christian evangelistic Tracts on bulletin boards in all the City fire stations and other FD facilities (i.e., City government owned, i.e., funded by all tax payers).

I have dared to speak-out against the Fellowship of Christian Firefighters (FCF) monogrammed Bibles that they placed in all the fire stations!

I have dared to respond to their email evangelizing and testimonials, challenging them on their own doctrines and practices.

I have dared to speak-out against the "Code of Conduct" plaques that were posted on all the fire station walls that included an "Oath" swearing allegiance to "The Ever-living God," which was a direct violation against not only the First Amendment's establishment clause, but also the Colorado Constitution, the Colorado Springs City Charter, and even the very portion of the "Code of Conduct" policy that the plaque displayed!

I have dared challenge the practice of Fire Department "Chaplains" who placed dozens of monogrammed ("Pikes Peak Fire Chaplains") New Testament books, produced by the International Bible Society, a Christian organization based here in Colorado Springs) in all the fire stations!

I have dared to challenge the practice of having official "Fire Department Chaplains" (all of which are of Christian denominations on my department, incidentally), who must be "ordained ministers" and have associations with the ministry in order to act in such capacity. 

Note: I do not, in fact, have a problem with Christian or other ministers acting in a volunteer capacity on our fire and police departments.  What I do have a problem with, however, is (1) the nomenclature "chaplain"; and (2) the requirements of being part of a religious ministry in order to partake.

 If such individuals see their religion as personal motivation to volunteer their time to the community, great, but their religion should not be the focal point when those services are being provided to a secular government agency.  The title "Chaplain" should be done away with and replaced by, say, "Patient Advocate" or "Victims Advocate."  Also, the stipulations for volunteering as being an ordained minister and being part of a ministry is categorically wrong and unnecessary.  

I will be delving into these aspects in considerable detail elsewhere on these pages in the future.