Teacher fired for opposing Planned Parenthood; next on FOT

Bill Diss was a high school teacher in Portland, Oregon, one who consistently went the extra mile to help students succeed. He also publicly objected when Planned Parenthood built a large abortion facility in northeast Portland. When his activities became public there was a dramatic shift in how he was treated at school; administrators called him in for questioning regarding his activities and subjected him to heightened scrutiny in the classroom.

In September 2012, Planned Parenthood employees came into Diss’ classroom as he was handing back a math quiz. They were there to recruit for their Teen Outreach Program (TOP). When Diss objected and asked to be excused from participating with Planned Parenthood. Administrators not only denied his request they systematically subjected him to unwarranted review and harassment. Despite a wave of community support, including letters from students, parents and fellow teachers, Diss was fired andhis contract was terminated.

Dana Cody 

Last week Dana Cody, president and executive director of Life Legal Defense Foundation, filed suit on Bill’s behalf against Portland Public Schools for violations of his civil rights and employment discrimination.

Dana has been championing the rights of women and the unborn for over twenty years. She started as a lay-counselor to women in crisis pregnancies, and then fulfilled her passion to protect women and children victimized by abortion by obtaining her law degree. In 1996, she accepted the invitation to serve as a board member of Life Legal Defense Foundation and later accepted the position as executive director.

Dana has been a frequent guest on Faith On Trial and she will join us Tuesday morning for a discussion of the Diss case and other activities of Life Legal Defense Foundation which has just celebrated its 25^th Anniversary fulfilling its mission to give innocent and helpless human beings of any age, particularly unborn children, a trained and committed defense against the threat of death, and to support their advocates in the nation’s courtrooms. One of the cases Life Legal has been involved in was that of Terri Schiavo.

Join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll as they discuss these things with Dana at 9 a.m. or catch the re-broadcast at 9 p.m.  Faith On Trial is broadcast from the Catholic Pastoral Center in Downtown Des Moines on 1150 AM and 88.5 & 94.5 FM.  It streams on IowaCatholicRadio.com. Our underwriters are Attorney Rick McConville and Confluence Brewing Company.