Today’s blacklisted American: Fire chief fired for attending a Christian-affiliated leadership conference
They’re coming for you next: Ron Hittle, who had served as a firefighter in Stockton, California, for more than two decades and was for five years its fire chief, was fired in 2010 because he had had the nerve to attend a leadership conference that happened to be affiliated with the Christian religion.
More than a decade ago, the Deputy City Manager asked Chief Hittle to attend leadership training. Chief Hittle learned about the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit from a business magazine, and he decided to attend because it was a renowned leadership seminar that featured a “pop up business school” with stellar speakers from various backgrounds including his own Christian worldview. Chief Hittle invited three of his staff members who shared his Christian faith to join him, and he put his attendance on the public city calendar so his supervisors would be aware. The firefighters paid for the two-day seminar with their own funds.
But the same supervisor who asked Chief Hittle to attend leadership training told him it was unacceptable that he attended a Christian-affiliated seminar.
Chief Hittle explained that the Summit was the best leadership training he had ever attended and that it was highly beneficial for his career. In November 2010, the City Manager confronted Hittle with a list of 10 “charges,” and the first five were all related to his religious faith and activities. He threatened Hittle, saying that if he didn’t accept a demotion, “I’ll drag your name through the mud” and conduct an investigation that “will be embarrassing for you and your family.” Another supervisor disparagingly referred to Hittle and other Christians in the office as a “Christian Coalition” and “church clique.” After several months of investigating, the city fired Hittle in October 2011, making clear in his termination letter that he was being fired for attending a Christian-affiliated leadership seminar.
You can read the complaint here [pdf]. It expressly names the city of Stockton, its city manager and deputy city manager at the time, Robert Deis and Laurie Montes respectively.
Hittle filed a complaint with the EEOC and a federal lawsuit, both claiming of religious discrimination under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as well as California law. This case has dragged on in the courts for years. In March 2022 a federal Ninth District court summarily dismissed [pdf] his suit, and he is now appealing [pdf].
It is really interesting to read the court’s decision to dismiss. It twists itself into pretzels to try to make believe Hittle was not fired because of his religion. First, it somehow decided that Montes’ ugly remarks about Hittle’s religion were not “egregious and bigoted insult[s] . . . that constitute strong evidence of discriminatory animus.” Next it concluded that Hittle had not shown “he had a bona fide religious belief, the practice of which conflicts with an employment duty.”
The contradictions here are astonishing. Hittle can’t claim discrimination because he really doesn’t have any strong religious beliefs. Nor can he claim discrimination when those so-called “non-existent” beliefs are used to fire him, and to do so in an insulting manner.
While the city officials also claimed that Hittle’s social contacts with one labor official and others caused a conflict of interest, those social contacts apparently were the result of similar Christian interests. Furthermore, no evidence of actual misconduct due to those associations was ever presented. Once again, it appears it was Hittle’s religion that made these officials want to get rid of him. Deis’s reaction to Hittle’s religious beliefs at their first meeting is instructive:
On or about July 9, 2010, Hittle had an introductory meeting with Bob Deis, the newly appointed City Manager for the City of Stockton. Deis asked Hittle for his personal background, whereupon Hittle remarked that he was a devout Christian and that his religion instilled in him strong values of honesty and integrity. Deis cut Hittle off and changed the subject.
It is unclear whether Hittle can win on appeal. And even if he does, his career as fire chief in Stockton is long gone, by more than a decade. He might win money, but doing what he apparently loved has been denied him, merely because he was a Christian.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
They’re coming for you next: Ron Hittle, who had served as a firefighter in Stockton, California, for more than two decades and was for five years its fire chief, was fired in 2010 because he had had the nerve to attend a leadership conference that happened to be affiliated with the Christian religion.
More than a decade ago, the Deputy City Manager asked Chief Hittle to attend leadership training. Chief Hittle learned about the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit from a business magazine, and he decided to attend because it was a renowned leadership seminar that featured a “pop up business school” with stellar speakers from various backgrounds including his own Christian worldview. Chief Hittle invited three of his staff members who shared his Christian faith to join him, and he put his attendance on the public city calendar so his supervisors would be aware. The firefighters paid for the two-day seminar with their own funds.
But the same supervisor who asked Chief Hittle to attend leadership training told him it was unacceptable that he attended a Christian-affiliated seminar.
Chief Hittle explained that the Summit was the best leadership training he had ever attended and that it was highly beneficial for his career. In November 2010, the City Manager confronted Hittle with a list of 10 “charges,” and the first five were all related to his religious faith and activities. He threatened Hittle, saying that if he didn’t accept a demotion, “I’ll drag your name through the mud” and conduct an investigation that “will be embarrassing for you and your family.” Another supervisor disparagingly referred to Hittle and other Christians in the office as a “Christian Coalition” and “church clique.” After several months of investigating, the city fired Hittle in October 2011, making clear in his termination letter that he was being fired for attending a Christian-affiliated leadership seminar.
You can read the complaint here [pdf]. It expressly names the city of Stockton, its city manager and deputy city manager at the time, Robert Deis and Laurie Montes respectively.
Hittle filed a complaint with the EEOC and a federal lawsuit, both claiming of religious discrimination under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as well as California law. This case has dragged on in the courts for years. In March 2022 a federal Ninth District court summarily dismissed [pdf] his suit, and he is now appealing [pdf].
It is really interesting to read the court’s decision to dismiss. It twists itself into pretzels to try to make believe Hittle was not fired because of his religion. First, it somehow decided that Montes’ ugly remarks about Hittle’s religion were not “egregious and bigoted insult[s] . . . that constitute strong evidence of discriminatory animus.” Next it concluded that Hittle had not shown “he had a bona fide religious belief, the practice of which conflicts with an employment duty.”
The contradictions here are astonishing. Hittle can’t claim discrimination because he really doesn’t have any strong religious beliefs. Nor can he claim discrimination when those so-called “non-existent” beliefs are used to fire him, and to do so in an insulting manner.
While the city officials also claimed that Hittle’s social contacts with one labor official and others caused a conflict of interest, those social contacts apparently were the result of similar Christian interests. Furthermore, no evidence of actual misconduct due to those associations was ever presented. Once again, it appears it was Hittle’s religion that made these officials want to get rid of him. Deis’s reaction to Hittle’s religious beliefs at their first meeting is instructive:
On or about July 9, 2010, Hittle had an introductory meeting with Bob Deis, the newly appointed City Manager for the City of Stockton. Deis asked Hittle for his personal background, whereupon Hittle remarked that he was a devout Christian and that his religion instilled in him strong values of honesty and integrity. Deis cut Hittle off and changed the subject.
It is unclear whether Hittle can win on appeal. And even if he does, his career as fire chief in Stockton is long gone, by more than a decade. He might win money, but doing what he apparently loved has been denied him, merely because he was a Christian.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Related:
HOW TO VANQUISH AN ENEMY IN AMERICA (Please copy and share)
1. You cause extreme public outrage by harassing your opposition and invading their leaderships home and conducting a search that includes their wife’s underwear draw and young son’s room. Normally a former president is negotiated with over papers instead of being raided, no matter what situation exists.
2. You keep your opposition leadership and their supporters and defenders hunkered down and frustrated by creating a two-tiered legal system and constant legal arguments in courts costing them time and money.
(But that is the normal means by which Americans fight their political wars: Lawyers, Courts and Money. What we have today is not “Normal”, what we have today is extreme, desperate, existential politics about “Fundamental Change” in America. The Democrat party machine leadership needs to make extinct their opposition so that only their flavor of “Democracy” reigns for a thousand years. And understanding that truth the opposition must be smarter and ensure that their more fundamental free America prevails for a thousand years. The normal rules of political warfare in America have changed, and so that must be recognized in order to deal properly with it.)
3. You attempt to rile up the masses while you control the physical / law enforcement / military means and cause the opposition to become violent in order that you have legal justification for your extreme actions of killing or arresting your opposition and “Cleansing” the country of your obstacles. Pure Hitlerian Strategy, nothing new here. There is no room for morality when you think in these kinds of extreme “Necessary” terms. “By any means necessary” means just that.
And that in three easy steps is 100% what you see today in America as you watch in slow motion one side of the political divide attempting not through “normal” political means bait their opposition into violent action in order to permanently vanquish their political opposition. The Constitution structures political warfare of every degree in order that the people see each side for what they are and can judge and choose. But there are no guarantees, political warfare is warfare none the less.
Who does Joe, the Democrat party machines beard look like here? They reveal themselves every day.
https://apis.mail.aol.com/ws/v3/mailboxes/@.id==VjN-_95qz8vtNQnj2guvJpSi615JXjYizy9bcZuM2MCqJDk8zBIwKj0CmLH_qmCDE5NsTJVJXmOu9vG5vVhaOWavzw/messages/@.id==ACKBVAUAoTqUYxZizwP_cLXzNH8/content/parts/@.id==3/thumbnail?appid=AolMailNorrin&downloadWhenThumbnailFails=true&pid=3
The fault is not really his. He was told, by his effective supervisor, to invest in leadership training. But it was left open ended. The supervisor did not specify which training, if I read this correctly. As a leader, if you want a SPECIFIC result, you must make SPECIFIC requirement. If you make OPEN ENDED requirements, then you must be open to the choices that the individual makes. Both options are useful, depending on the result, you as the supervisor, wish to cultivate.
This is counseling 101, I learned as a very very junior leader.
Follow up: Sky News Australia:
https://youtu.be/q1b5LIC6OnE 2:30
First you must objectify and dehumanize your enemy so you can legally justify and vanquish them.
And that is exactly what Joe Biden, Democrat party machine beard and those who write his speeches and put the words in his mouth is attempting to accomplish.
HEIL!
https://video.newsserve.net/v/20220904/1662301833-Nazi-Joe-Ascends-to-Chancellor-September-1st-2022_hires.jpg
Which leaves one wondering as the midterm elections approach and the Democrat party machine will with a degree of certainty lose their political power for the most part: How far will they go to prevent that almost certain eventuality? All potentials exist.
I had the “pleasure” of counseling a team member at one of my previous locations who was all up in arms in outrage at something similar, a co-worker had taken training provided by a Christian group, and she wanted to complain that this was misuse of company funds, time, etc. I was able to ask if he would feel the same if the training had been provided by a muslim group, or perhaps something non-religous but nevertheless highly ideological. And she of course insisted that no, she would be impartial, blah blah. I then pointed out that she had in fact praised a person for going to such a muslim training session, and had gone to a “leadership for [insert identity here]” training herself. I could not manage to get her to see the equivalence, though I did manage to get her to realize that her complaint was not going to pass legal muster.
If you want easy don’t become a Christian.
Look what happened to the Boss.
More like the Third Reich and Soviet Union every day
Wow, the Global Leadership Summit is a totally amazing event, suitable for all, and where all are warmly welcomed. It’s confounding that anyone who actually knows about the seminars presented each year could object in any way. At the opening presentation, there’s a request for everyone to respect each other, and an optional prayer. After that, it’s two days of tremendously uplifting and inspiring discussions.
Most of the presentations are exclusively business leadership oriented. Take a look at the headliner speakers, you’ll be very impressed by the breadth.
What a horrible world where hope and light is punished.
If you want to know whether these people are demonic, just keep your eyes peeled and you will see for yourself. Also pay close attention to whom they attack and whom they ignore. By their fruits shall you know them. And as a friend of mine and fellow Christian remarked, the war has already been won. Only the battles remain.
I’m a semi-Christian. I by immersion mostly live the life-style without having to live the sacrifices.
James Street said “If you want easy don’t become a Christian.”
Jews have said it, too.
If you’re identity is important to you, you never give up.
“Make my enemy brave and strong, so that if defeated, I will not be ashamed.”
– Plains Indian
Justice delayed is justice denied.
Can you please change the background on your posts? They are very hard to read with black typeface on gray background.
to believe in a deity OTHER THAN the delusional pols who view themselves as gods is dangerous. “you will have only one master and it is i” is never uttered, but is, nevertheless, the reality of life in this nation.
” POLITICAL POWER AND LEADERSHIP CAN NOT TOLERATE A RELIGION, A BELIEF SYSTEM OR A GOD THAT DOES NOT SUPPORT AND FURTHER THEIR ACQUISITION OF AND RETENTION OF POWER”
Cotour: Please don’t use all CAPS. It makes it appear as if you are shouting at us.
Forgot, duly noted.
Related: The ideal concept of freedom of religion is on one side of the equation, and the nature of flesh and blood man lies on the other.
“The Vatican Renewed Its Secret Deal with Communist China.”
The Pope, essentially a businessman, an executive, makes a secret deal with the Communist Chinese who seek to destroy any ideology that represents a threat to its power and ambitions. Is not the Pope the incarnate representation of Jesus himself on earth? How many secret deals did Jesus make with Pontius Pilate or “Globalist” Roman Emperor Tiberius?
https://dailycaller.com/2022/10/25/vatican-china-bishops-communist-party/
Just one more example of a “Secret” deal that fully supports my observations about such things.
“Why must governance systems like Communism and Socialism destroy and vilify all religious belief systems? Because those belief systems place government in a lesser position of authority. In these systems of governance nothing can be perceived as being superior in any manner to government. ”
#4 God & Spirituality V Religion V Business V Politics
1. The business of religion of all stripes at every point in human history has been used and abused in the quest of the few in pursuit of control and power over the many.
2. The business of religion of all stripes at every point in human history has acted not always in the interests of what they have purported to represent themselves to be acting in the interests of.
3. The business of religion of all stripes at every point in human history has been used as a ruthless tool in the abuse of power in the furtherance of business and politics.
4. The business of religion of all stripes at every point in human history selectively teaches the exclusion of some.
5. Humanity needs God, spirituality and religion and must be cognizant of their nature as it relates to those subjects and where the business of religion in all of its forms and politics can deliver them.
6. All intellectual structures, entities and concepts of man have the potential to be perverted and corrupted and the power derived there of abused. jgl 4/3/21
” Is not the Pope the incarnate representation of Jesus himself on earth? ”
No. In RC church view, he is the successor of Peter.
But a just a man.
The Pope, the Supreme Pastor:
“Jesus Christ appointed Peter and his successors as shepherds, that is: persons looking after people and caring for them (John 21,15-17). The Pope is therefore first and foremost the Supreme Pastor. That means that he represents Christ’s love and concern for every single individual. That is why the Pope’s priority lies in getting to know people, understanding how they live, listening to their interests and sharing their sufferings and their joys. On no account should the Pope allow his contact with ordinary people to be obstructed by a multitude of administrative duties.”
“Throughout the centuries of Rome’s existence, the popes have regularly claimed to be divine. As the supposed successor of Peter, the Pope claims infallibility, the position of God on Earth, and ability to judge and excommunicate angels.”
“Cardinal Sarto, who became Pope Pius X, said this: The Pope represents Jesus Christ Himself…”
You get my point. (?)
Your first paragraph is basically what I said. They are the successors of Peter, the first head of the Christ’s Church here on Earth.
“Throughout the centuries of Rome’s existence, the popes have regularly claimed to be divine. ”
Eh, no. The Pope is a man. There is no assumption otherwise.
They do not claim to be divine. Catholics do not claim them to be divine. This is antithetical to the Catholic faith.
“the Pope claims infallibility”… Under specific circumstances, for specific statements of faith, and only done 7 times in 2000+ years.
“the position of God on Earth”. No.
“The Pope represents Jesus Christ Himself” is not the same as representing Jesus incarnate.
The latter implies that by assuming the role of Pope, that they become, or are one with, Jesus himself.
This would be the same as Japanese Shinto Emperors who claim they are Kami upon ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
The former says that he is, as I said, Peter’s successor.
Post a source that is not an anti-Catholic site?
Business as usual:
https://youtu.be/rHEi90fYtrA
All constructs of man are pervertible and corruptible and the power associated with it can and will be abused. This Pope is but a man and he is an abuser of his power.
But one more example of the 100% validity of:
#4 God & Spirituality V Religion V Business V Politics
1. The business of religion of all stripes at every point in human history has been used and abused in the quest of the few in pursuit of control and power over the many.
2. The business of religion of all stripes at every point in human history has acted not always in the interests of what they have purported to represent themselves to be acting in the interests of.
3. The business of religion of all stripes at every point in human history has been used as a ruthless tool in the abuse of power in the furtherance of business and politics.
4. The business of religion of all stripes at every point in human history selectively teaches the exclusion of some.
5. Humanity needs God, spirituality and religion and must be cognizant of their nature as it relates to those subjects and where the business of religion in all of its forms and politics can deliver them.
6. All intellectual structures, entities and concepts of man have the potential to be perverted and corrupted and the power derived there of abused. jgl 4/3/21
It just keeps rollin in:
https://nypost.com/2022/12/20/priest-accused-of-inviting-two-nuns-to-take-part-in-a-holy-trinity-threesome/
And again, to my point above about religion and the nature of man:
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/a-bronx-priest-left-a-towering-legacy-7-million-and-a-son/
“But it turns out even the legend could not live up to the true scope of Gigante’s full life. After he died in October, his will revealed two more startling facts: He was a multimillionaire. And he left nearly all his fortune to a single beneficiary — his 32-year-old son.”
Gigante, it turns out was a “Connected” Catholic priest and he had a family while living as a priest, AND he was worth $7million dollars upon his death which he left to his son.
And thats what is going on in the real world and all six points posted above apply to every religion that has ever been crafted by the mind of man throughout history.
Which does not mean that religion does not serve a good, proper and significant purpose in culture and society. A culture or society that is bereft of a belief system will come to worship its own government to its extreme regret. SEE: North Korea.