A Christian public health expert and lay preacher fired from Georgia’s Department of Public Health in 2014 settled a lawsuit with the state Feb. 9 for $225,000, according to The Christian Post. Dr. Eric Walsh said he lost his job because of his belief that homosexuality is a sin and that evolution is a “religion created by Satan.”
Walsh’s views first came into question when he was public health director for the city of Pasadena, California, and was invited to be the commencement speaker for Pasadena City College’s class of 2014. Some students who dissented with his religious views objected to the invitation, leading to his withdrawal from the ceremony and to being placed on leave from his job, the Post reported.
While on leave, he applied for the district health director position with the Georgia Department of Public Health and said he was upfront about his faith and the controversy surrounding him. They hired him then terminated him by email the day before he was to start his new job.
“This is a clear and resounding victory for religious freedom,” said Jeremy Dys, senior counsel for First Liberty Institute and counsel for Walsh. “We are grateful that the state of Georgia agreed to settle the case and acknowledge the right of their employees to express their religious beliefs.” (TAB)
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