Should your religion intefere with your work?

[Gishin]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110ap_police_lawsuit.html

NEW YORK -- A police lieutenant who once reported seeing a "demon" at police headquarters is suing to get his gun and shield back, claiming supervisors took them from him because of his religious practices.
Dominic Maglione, a desk officer at Brooklyn's 90th Precinct, says in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan's state Supreme Court that he is a Christian who worships at two Queens churches and prays and fasts regularly.
Maglione, 44, acknowledged in interviews with psychiatrists after he was admitted to a hospital 2 1/2 years ago that he was praying as much as 10 hours at a stretch and fasting twice a week, court papers say.
At the hospital, Maglione told a medical professional that he had seen a demon at police headquarters, according to a police board medical report dated Dec. 19, 2008, that was included with Maglione's court papers.
The report also says the lieutenant lost 40 pounds in six months by fasting, and urinated on himself because he refused to stop praying to go to the bathroom.
The medical board report said there are "significant psychological findings precluding the officer from performing the full duties of a New York City police officer."
"The Medical Board believes that the lieutenant cannot be allowed to be in possession of any weapons since he feels subject to God's will to do what God wants him to do even if he destroys himself," the report says.
The report also says Maglione was given the anti-psychotic drug olanzapine, usually prescribed for people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It says he took it once and refused to take it again.
The 22-year police veteran says that because of his allegedly "excessive" religious beliefs, police officials have "wrongfully and illegally" confiscated his gun and badge and compromised his ability to do his job.
Maglione's lawsuit, filed Feb. 19, says that curtailing his duties because of his religious practices violates his First Amendment rights. He asked the court to order his return to full police work.
City Law Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Thomas said city attorneys are reviewing the lawsuit.

Should this cop be given his gun and badge back?

 

[The Nihilist]

Oh my goodness absolutely not

 

[Andreusz]

No, of course not.

 

[Gishin]

But they're discriminating against his religion!

 

[b&wpac4]

But they're discriminating against his religion!

I think most of us will agree that clinically insane is not a religion.

 

[The Nihilist]

I think most of us will agree that clinically insane is not a religion.

That's really going to depend on how snarky some of us are feeling.

 

[Verv]

If you go so far that you urinate on yourself... That is an issue.

I have never personally seen a demon, but I belive in their existence and their occupation of some people; this could be possible.

However, when one is urinating on oneself... This is not a good time to bring up the 'demon' bit.

 

[CCGirl]

Yikes, absolutely not!

 

[bliz]

No. There are mental health issues here; this has nothing to do with his religious beliefs.

 

[selfinflikted]

No, he should not.

 

[kat69]

Agreed. He should not.

 

[lawtonfogle]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110ap_police_lawsuit.html



Should this cop be given his gun and badge back?

No.

If he truely thinks that is what he is called to do, then let him pray and fast as such, but he must understand that a secular society will judge him from their view point, and he should understand that part of his actions will result in consequences.

In other words, yes, let religion influence your work, but understand that you will be judged for such, so why even bother trying to get jobs where you letting your religion influence your work will result in the quality, safety, and such will be compromised.

A Muslim who uses his break time to pray is good. One who wants to switch his break time so he can use it to pray, depending on the situation, can be reasonable. One who gets a job they know that their work will be compromised by stopping to pray, unreasonable.

Another example is Christians working on Sunday. If you just can't work on Sunday, fine. You have that freedom, just don't get a public service job where you will be required to be on call on Sunday unless you are willing to make an exception to the 'no work on Sunday' rule.

 

[lawtonfogle]

No. There are mental health issues here; this has nothing to do with his religious beliefs.

Religion and mental health seem to often be close buddies anyways...

 

[Nathan45]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110ap_police_lawsuit.html



Should this cop be given his gun and badge back?

is this a hard question? hell no, that guys a loon. I don't want anyone who sees demons running around with a gun.

 

[Sitswithamouse]

Nope.

 

[FaithLikeARock]

What? NO!

There's being religious and there's being insane.

 

[AdamClarke]

I thought you were going to ask something difficult like should Christian Pharmacists (in a free market economy) be required to carry the morning after pill in their pharmacy. This one is easy. According to the laws of every state (as far as I know) people who see things that others would not are not qualified to own leave alone carry a gun for a living. (please note I have not judged that the individual is hallucinating) I personally believe that Demons exist but the laws state that he should not be permitted to have a gun. That is a sacrifice he must make. I am sure there are other positions in the police department that he could fill without being a commissioned police officer.

 

[cmotdibbler]

In my opinion, anyone who willfully refuses to fulfill the duties of their job description should be terminated from that position.

 

[keith99]

If God will create a gun and badge for him Ex-nillo (sp) I guess it is OK. Otherwise the question is not should he have a badge and gun, but if he should be allowed out of the mental ward.

 

[AdamClarke]

If God will create a gun and badge for him Ex-nillo (sp) I guess it is OK. Otherwise the question is not should he have a badge and gun, but if he should be allowed out of the mental ward.

Abnormal maybe but I'm not sure he's dangerous.