Attorney for Fire Chief terminated for Christian views next on FOT

Chief Kelvin Cochran

Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran who authored a book which is being sold on Amazon, is entitled “Who Told You That You Were Naked?” which is centered on God’s question to Adam following his disobedience in the Garden of Eden, and parallels the matter with those who are now “clothed in Christ,” was fired from his job by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.

“Uncleanness [is] whatever is opposite of purity; including sodomy, homosexuality, lesbianism, pederasty, bestiality, all other forms of sexual perversion,” Cochran wrote. “Naked men refuse to give in, so they pursue sexual fulfillment through multiple partners, with the opposite sex, the same sex and sex outside of marriage and many other vile, vulgar and inappropriate ways which defile their body-temple and dishonor God.” Many criticized the book as promoting discriminatory and anti-gay views.



Kevin Theriot

Earlier, Chief Cochran had been suspended without pay and ordered to undergo sensitivity training. He was fired after returning to work at the end of his suspension.

Mayor Reed called the book discriminatory. “I was surprised and disappointed to learn of this book,” he stated. “I profoundly disagree with and am deeply disturbed by the sentiments expressed in the paperback regarding the LGBT community. I will not tolerate discrimination of any kind within my administration.” The incident has been turned into a fight over religious liberty and free speech rights.

Tuesday, Chief Cochran’s attorney, Kevin Theriot will join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll to discuss the case and its implications on religious freedom.

Mr. Theriot serves as vice president of the Center for Religious Liberty with Alliance Defending Freedom and oversees its Education and Church Projects, as well as legal matters involving freedom of expression in the public square. Since joining Alliance Defending Freedom in 1993, Theriot has been successful as lead counsel or co-counsel in numerous cases preserving religious freedom.

Tune in to Faith On Trial Tuesday at 9 a.m. and rebroadcast at 9 p.m. (CST) on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com. Faith On Trial is proudly underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg& Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail, just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road – check for their weekly specials.

Parents Alarmed By “Pleasure Activist” in High School Classroom

Lafayette, CA—Controversy is growing in a Northern California community as parents have learned disturbing new details about recent sex ed presentations for freshmen in the Acalanes Union High School District.

For months, parents have pushed school officials for answers about who was involved and what was being taught by Planned Parenthood on campus. Just before Christmas, in response to a public records request from Pacific Justice Institute, the District finally identified some of the PP employees involved with the program. Parents are now more concerned than ever. The parents started asking more questions and learned that one of the sex ed instructors at Acalanes High School, when she is not working for Planned Parenthood, leads “pleasure workshops” demonstrating the use of sex toys for a sex toy porn shop in Berkeley called Good Vibrations. It is not yet clear what this instructor may have told students about the store’s offerings.

Brad Dacus

Parents also identified the public Twitter feed of another sex ed instructor at Acalanes High School, the PP education manager for Northern California, where she calls herself a “pleasure activist.” She commented enthusiastically on attending the CatalystCon pornography conference for her continuing education along with other Planned Parenthood representatives, just prior to teaching at AHS this past fall. This event attracts leading members of the porn industry and focuses on topics like using explicit instructional media for sex ed, the history of sex toys and how to effectively share your sex life on the stage and on the page. Other tweets (since deleted) by this instructor are too vulgar to be included here.

PJI previously reported on the District’s use of racy sex checklists, a diagram of the “Genderbread Person,” and coaching students in asking each other if it’s okay to take their clothes off. In a letter sent to PJI in early January, a lawyer for the District strongly defended the program as “age appropriate” and claimed the sex checklists were merely “idea-generating worksheets” rather than illegal surveys or questionnaires.

Although the District is promising to continue the controversial program, there are signs it is beginning to feel the parents’ pressure. After being confronted with the backgrounds of the two instructors outlined above, Superintendent John Nickerson confirmed to parents that neither of those individuals would take part in the sex ed program that began January 5. The District has not disclosed, however, who would be teaching the class and has previously admitted it does not conduct background checks on PP instructors.

Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, and frequent FOT guest, commented, “It has become clear that Acalanes officials have breached parental trust at every turn. They have brought individuals into the classroom who should not be anywhere near a school campus, and they continue to defend an indefensible program. In light of these most recent revelations, we are renewing our call to the District to suspend its relationship with Planned Parenthood and make sweeping changes to comply with the letter and spirit of state law. We are also calling on responsible journalists to join us in asking tough questions and holding the District accountable for these serious lapses in judgment.”

How is Planned Parenthood getting to our children? Next on FOT

What is Planned Parenthood up to these days? What new plan has it hatched to get to your

Jenifer Bowen

children? For one, PP has developed a new phone app for 12 year olds.  To discuss these recent activities as well as the events surrounding the upcoming March for Life, we will be joined Tuesday by Jennifer Bowen, executive director for Iowa Right to Life.

Jenifer has been involved with Iowa Right to Life since 2001 and joined the staff in 2007. Five years ago, she was named executive director. She holds a B.A. in Counseling from Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, and has counseled women in crisis in both religious and secular institutions.

In addition to her current role, she serves on the board of directors for “And Then There Were None”, a national ministry, founded by former Planned Parenthood clinic manager Abby Johnson, which provides financial, emotional, spiritual and legal support to anyone wishing to leave the abortion industry. In the two years since forming, they’ve already assisted over 140 now or soon-to-be former workers!

Iowa Catholic Radio, KWKY Des Moines. Faith On Trial is proudly underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail, just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road – check for their weekly specials and there is entertainment in the taproom every Thursday evening.

Faith On Trial is broadcast every Tuesday at 9 & 9.  If you have comments or questions about the program you can contact Deacon Mike at DeaconMike@IowaCatholicRadio.com or Gina at Gina@IowaCatholicRadio.com.

What’s up for religious freedom in 2015?

Where is religious freedom going this year? Join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll Tuesday as they discuss what to look for with Daniel Blomberg, legal counsel with one of the nation’s leading institutions protecting religious liberty, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.

The Becket Fund has represented clients numerous clients against the Obama Administration’s HHS Mandate, including Hobby Lobby, the Little Sisters of the Poor and

Daniel Blomberg

EWTN and Belmont Abby College.

Before joining Becket, Mr. Blomberg clerked for Chief Judge Alice M. Batchelder of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and, before that, served as litigation counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Tune in to Faith On Trial Tuesday at 9 a.m. and rebroadcast at 9 p.m. (CST) on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com.

Iowa Catholic Radio, KWKY Des Moines. Faith On Trial is proudly underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail, just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road – check for their weekly specials. If you have comments or questions about the program you can contact Deacon Mike at DeaconMike@IowaCatholicRadio.com or Gina at Gina@IowaCatholicRadio.com.

Top religious liberty and media stories of the year; next on FOT

From left to right: Todd Erzen, Deacon Mike, Gina Noll

Our year end review is Tuesday.  Join Deacon Mike Manno, Gina Noll, and media guest Todd Erzen as they discuss the most outrageous religious liberty stories of the year. And if you have a nominee, let us know and we’ll include it.

Join us next Tuesday at 9 a.m. CST on Iowa Catholic Radio 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on line at IowaCatholicRadio.com.

Faith on Trial and Iowa Catholic Radio is proudly underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville of Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & ScalisePC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail, just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road – check for their weekly specials and look for Confluence products where fine beers are sold.

 

Did the 'War on Christmas' start in outer space? Next FOT

Jordan Lorence

Would you believe that the War on Christmas might have started with the astronauts orbiting the moon? Tuesday our guest is Jordan Lorence, senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, who will discuss the origins of that war. Mr. Lorence’s work with the Alliance encompasses broad range of litigation with a primary focus on defending the First Amendment rights of public university students and professors.

After Mr. Lorence we’re going to discuss how the pres covers these matters with former Des Moines Register reporter Todd Erzen.  This will be a very interesting and topical discussion for the week of Christmas.  Join us Tuesday at 9 a.m. CST on Iowa Catholic Radio 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on line at IowaCatholicRadio.com.

Faith on Trial and Iowa Catholic Radio is proudly underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville of Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & ScalisePC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail, just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road – check for their weekly specials and look for Confluence products where fine beers are sold.

Army chaplain under fire for sharing faith – we have his attorney next on FOT

Captain Joe Lawhorn is a U.S. Army chaplain and recently took part in a suicide prevention training session where he shared his own personal struggles with depression and explained how he got through tough times. That included his use of verses from scripture.  That didn’t sit well with one participant reported the incident to the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, who promptly filed a complaint against Captain Lawhorn.

The result was a Letter of Concern from his commanding officer which is essentially an accusation of proselytizing.  A former captain and atheist posted the complaint online which accused Captain Lawhorn of using “his official position to force his personal religious beliefs on a captive military audience.”

Michael Berry

Tuesday, Captian Lawhorn’s attorney, Michael Berry of Liberty Institute, will join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll to discuss this case. 

Mr. Berry is Senior Counsel and Director of Military Affairs for Liberty Institute. He joined Liberty Institute in 2013 after serving for seven years as an attorney with the U.S. Marine Corps.

As Director of Military Affairs for Liberty Institute, Mr. Berry’s practice focuses on religious liberty within the armed forces. A recognized subject-matter expert, Mr. Berry has testified before Congress on matters affecting religious liberty in the armed forces and is routinely invited to speak before audiences across the nation about matters affecting religious freedom within the military. 

Tune in to Faith On Trial Tuesday at 9 a.m. and rebroadcast at 9 p.m. (CST) on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com.

Iowa Catholic Radio, KWKY Des Moines. Faith On Trial is proudly underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail, just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road – check for their weekly specials. If you have comments or questions about the program you can contact Deacon Mike at DeaconMike@IowaCatholicRadio.com or Gina at Gina@IowaCatholicRadio.com.

How far will we go with transgendered restrooms?

Brad Dacus

Do you know who your daughter will be showering with at school? As the transgendered restroom and locker room movement moves across the country, more and more school districts and cities are adopting policies that allow men and boys to use the locker and rest rooms normally assigned for women and girls.  Recently, a state court ordered a school district to open its girls’ rooms to boys.  Where will this end?

To discuss these and other legal matters, Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institue, will join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll Tuesday on the next edition of Faith On Trial, on Iowa Catholic Radio.  If you have a school-aged daughter this program will be a must for you.

Iowa Catholic Radio, KWKY Des Moines. Faith On Trial is proudly underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail, just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road – check for their weekly specials.

Faith On Trial is broadcast every Tuesday at 9 & 9.  If you have comments or questions about the program you can contact Deacon Mike at DeaconMike@IowaCatholicRadio.com or Gina at Gina@IowaCatholicRadio.com.

War on just Christmas or war on Christian beliefs? How the secularists try to quiet believers: this week on FOT.

Tuesday morning join host Deacon Mike Manno and co-host Gina Noll for a lively discussion on “Winning the War onChristmas” and the secular attacks on Christian beliefs.

Tom Brejcha

Joining them for that discussion will be Thomas Brejcha, president, co-founder and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society, one of the leading pro-bono law firms standing up for Christian values.  Tom has been litigating cases in federal and state courts over the last four and a half decades, arguing for the sanctity of life, religious liberty, and family values. For the last 17 years, he has served as president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society headquartered in Chicago. Serving as an Army Captain in Vietnam during 1969-70, Tom was awarded a Bronze Star and an Army Commendation Medal.

‘Tis the season for attacks on Christ, Christmas, nativity scenes and even Christmas music.  Tune into find out what is being done to defend Christmas, Christian beliefs, and Christian values,Tuesday at 9 a.m. and rebroadcast at 9 p.m. (CST) on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com.

Iowa Catholic Radio, KWKY Des Moines. Faith On Trial is proudly underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail, just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road – check for their weekly specials.

Faith On Trial is broadcast every Tuesday at 9 & 9.  If you have comments or questions about the program you can contact Deacon Mike at DeaconMike@IowaCatholicRadio.com or Gina at Gina@IowaCatholicRadio.com.

Physician assisted suicide: Next on Faith On Trial

Dr. Jacaueline Harvey

Tuesday Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll will welcome Jacqueline C. Harvey, PhD, a bioethicist whose research focuses on state policies that govern life and death, primarily end-of-life legislation, to discuss the effects of the movement towards physician assisted suicide. Dr. Harvey has testified in several states against the legalization of physician assisted suicide, as well as the practice of removing life sustaining medical treatment from patients against their will. Her work has been published in Public Discourse, Human Life Review and various news outlets. Dr. Harvey is currently teaching health policy studies at the University of Michigan Dearborn and is also an Associate Scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute in Washington, DC.

Join Deacon Mike, Gina, and Dr. Harvey as they discuss these issues at 9 a.m. (CST) on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com.  The program will re-broadcast at 9 p.m. Faith On Trial is underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville and Confluence Brewing Company.

Congressman-Elect David Young is next on FOT

David Young

Tuesday Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll will be visiting with the newly-elected congressman from central Iowa, David Young. He will be replacing retiring Congressman Tom Latham.  David is the former chief of staff to Senator Charles Grassley. We will be discussing issues of conscience protection for health care workers and the future of President Obama’s HHS Mandate.

Faith On Trial is heard on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM at 9 a.m. (CST) live and rebroadcast at 9 p.m. It is underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PS, 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055 and Confluence Brewing Company just off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road.

Federal appeals court gives victory to traditional marriage

Erin Mersino

Tuesday on FOT we’ll welcome back one of our favorite guests, Erin Mersino, senior trail counsel for the Thomas More Law Center.  Erin has recently been involved in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee) case that upheld traditional marriage and now is working on the same issue in the Fifth Circuit (Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas).

Erin was recently named Legatus’ Defender of the Faith for her work on behalf of the defense of religious liberties.  Legatus is a lay-Catholic of business professionals who demonstrate and live their faith through their Catholic lifestyles.

Join Deacon Mike Manno, Gina Noll, and Erin for a lively discussion of these and other matters Tuesday at 9 & 9 (CST) on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com.

Faith On Trial is unwritten by Attorney Rick McConville of West Des Moines and Confluence Brewing Company of Des Moines.

FOT Tuesday: Is America becoming a Godless nation?

Todd Starnes

Tuesday Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll will host FOX News commentator Todd Starnes, the author of the book “God Less America” a collection of stories documenting the war on religious liberty.

Todd is the award-winning host of FOX News & Commentary — heard daily on hundreds of radio stations around the nation. He also writes a column for FoxNews.com and is a regular contributor to Fox News Channel programs. Throughout his journalism career, Todd has covered a number of high profile stories — taking him from Wall Street to the White House.

Todd is the recipient of an Edward R. Murrow Award and an Associated Press Mark Twain Award for Storytelling. In 2014 he was awarded the National Religious Broadcaster’s Board of Directors Award.

Much of what Todd has written about in his book has been discussed on Faith On Trial but on very few other media outlets.  This is sure to be an interesting and challenging conversation and it starts at 9 a.m. (CST) on Iowa Catholic Radio 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com.

Faith On Trial is underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola,Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055 or csmclaw.com; and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road; live entertainment on Thursdays.

Lots to cover on this week’s program including a Christian college's accrediation and subpoenas for ministers' pastoral notes

WOW! There’s been a bit of legal news while we were off the air for the Iowa Catholic Radio Care-a-thon last week, and we’ll try to catch up with some of it Tuesday on Faith On Trial.


Greg Koukl

First, our guest will be Greg Koukl, president of Stand to Reason, an organization that trains Christians to think more clearly about their faith and to make an even-handed, defense for classical Christianity and classical Christian values in the public square. He will discuss the problems of a small Christian college in Wenham, Massachusetts, Gordon College, that is being threatened with loss of accreditation by the New England Association of Schools because students are expected to refrain from “blasphemy, profanity, dishonesty, thefe, drunkenness, sexual relations outside of marriage, and homosexual practice.”

Then there is the case of Huston, Texas subpoenaing the sermons, notes and other pastoral communications of the city’s ministers who have expressed opposition to the city’s new ordinance that opens restrooms to members of either sex.  The city council had earlier passed the ordinance which triggered a city-wide petition drive to put the ordinance up for a public vote.  After city officials ruled that the petition, with three times the legally required number of valid signatures, was illegal, petition supports filed a lawsuit against the city.  The city, and its openly militant lesbian mayor, retaliated by subpoenaing the materials from ministers who were not involved in the suit.  

All this and more with Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll Tuesday at 9 & 9 (CDT) on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming 24 – 7 on IowaCatholicRadio.com. Underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville and Confluence Brewing Company which this week is celebrating its second anniversary!

College drama club told to ‘dumb down’ religious theme in play

This week on Faith On Trial we will be discussing a case involving a community college that told its drama club it could not perform a play unless it would “dumb down” its religious message.

Travis Barham

In September, the club advisor told Cape Fear Community College student Justin Graves that his production could not be performed because it has religious themes, even though it received unanimous approval from the drama club. The advisor claimed that the production would violate the First Amendment if it included the religious themes, and he advised Graves to “dumb down” the religious content until it was not “obvious” to avoid any potential lawsuits or “offending” anyone.

Ironically, the advisor allowed the drama club to sponsor other productions that could potentially cause offense, including ones that included rape and incest themes.

Justin’s attorney, Travis Barham, litigation staff counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom, will join Deacon Mike Manno and his co-host Gina Noll to discuss this case. Join us at 9 a.m. (Central) for a lively discussion of this and other cases that place our faith on trial.  Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com.

The program re-airs at 9 p.m.  Underwriters for Faith On Trial are AttorneyRick McConville, of Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westwown Parkway, West Des Moines, 453-1055 and John Martin at ConfluenceBrewing Company, just off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road, Des Moines – don’t forget to check out their Thursday entertainment!