By James L. Lambert
On January 16th, 2009, pro-family attorney Charles LiMandri will be representing 4 courageous San Diego fire fighters who are suing the city of San Diego for being forced to participate in the (2007) San Diego Gay Parade. According to the attorney, the fire fighter’s complaint of ‘sexual harassment’ against the city of San Diego is an important case. It represents a defense of some of our most basic tenant’s of freedom; namely freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
With religious and (freedom of) speech liberties now under blatant attack from around the country, LiMandri believes this case is worth pursuing. According to the firefighter’s attorney, this case “will impact a lot of people who work in government”. If the 4 firefighters win, it will be great victory for freedom of speech. “Gay rights should not trump freedom of speech,” LiMandri told the Christian Mirror.
LiMandri, a devout Catholic, is perhaps best known for his work of defending the historic cross atop Mt. Soledad in La Jolla. The challenge to the cross was originally brought against San Diego in 1989 by Philip Paulson. Paulson, an atheist, (who has since died), felt that the religious symbol, should not be on city property. LiMandri and others defending the cross claimed it was a part of a war memorial. (The site was dedicated to the veterans of the Korean War in 1952). By 2006 the site was annexed (from San Diego) to the federal government as a veterans memorial. Those resisting the removal of the cross included local radio talk show hosts, Roger Hedgecock, and Rick Roberts. Today, the cross still stands even though atheists and groups like the ACLU continue to oppose it.
The pro-family attorney believes that his case is important for the citizens of San Diego as well as citizens throughout the country. That is why he is representing these city employees. The January trial is the second time this case has been taken up by the courts. The first, in October, ended in a hung jury.
The San Diego attorney indicated to One News Now that these four city employees “were given a direct order against their will to participate in the … Gay Parade.” The attorney said that “during the parade, the (firefighters) were subjected to numerous offensive ‘cat calls,’ gestures of sexual nature and were the object of many obscene and lewd acts.” San Diego’s fire chief, Tracy Jarman, is an open lesbian and described the parade as a “fun event.” (WND)
LiMandri told this commentator that (then) City Attorney Mike Aguirre “tried to make an example of these four fighters … (in the belief) that Christians should just go along and be quite.” Charles believes that the “chances are very good … that we’ll win” this time. In November City Attorney Aguirre
was ousted from office by new replacement, Jan Goldsmith.
With the new case starting up this January, the cost of this case continues to mount. LiMandri is asking Christians to help these “courageous men” by donating to their defense fund ( www.firefightersdefensefund.org ). I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s admonition to the church of Corinth: “whether one member suffer, all members suffer with it or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.” (I Cor. 12:26)
James L. Lambert, a frequent contributor to ChristianMirror.net and author of Porn in America, is a licensed nationwide real-estate mortgage loan sales agent and can be contacted through his website.
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