A few months ago the Chaplain for the Spring Hill Fire Department came under fire for having a webpage, on the department’s website, with religious-specific content.  Ken Fagan, a local citizen, complained that Chaplain Jack Martin broke rules with his page:

The matter was brought to the attention of the Florida Department of Community Affairs in January after resident Ken Fagan complained Martin broke “ethics rules” with his website and that he has “crossed the line regarding the separation of church and state.”

Now, the assistant attorney general for Florida has said the website (here) must have a disclaimer, and that it may have “information that arguably Read more

The presence of a link on a Fire Department Chaplain’s web page caused a local citizen, Ken Fagan, to complain that a “taxpayer supported website should not have links to religious groups.”  The website is the page of Pastor Jack Martin, and is part of the Spring Hill Fire Department’s official site.

While Fagan is entitled to his opinion, it is unsupported by fact.  The complaint reportedly caused the temporary removal of the link.  It was said to be restored, though the site in its current form appears to be virtually devoid of external links.  The site also now has numerous statements about how it is intended to be for “all citizens” and not in support of any particular faith tradition.  Even the Chaplain’s biography, which naturally describes his theological background, is qualified with a statement saying it is not intended to promote a specific faith.

The concept of religious freedom, as protected by the US Constitution, was never intended to proscribe all persons in public service from ever mentioning religion or Read more