Bus drive fired, Planned Parenthood, lawsuit ensues

[Bateluer]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/07/21/texas.bus.abortion.suit/index.html

My stance? His lawsuit is entirely without merit. The client picks the destination in a taxi cab, and a bus route is pre-determined above the driver's level of responsibility. If the customer says they want to go to 123 Fake St, the taxi takes them there. If the bus is supposed to stop at 123 Fake St, the bus should stop there. The actions that individual plans to take at their destination are not the concern of the driver. In no way was his religious freedom violated by CARTS, as his lawyer claims. CARTS does not stop the man from going to church, CARTS does not stop him from keeping a bible on the bus. Taking a customer to their destination, is none of his business.

Second, if he is an ordained minister, why is his driving a taxi and not preaching at a pulpit?

A Texas bus driver has filed a lawsuit against his former employer, claiming he was fired for his religious beliefs after refusing to transport a client to a Planned Parenthood office, court documents showed Wednesday.

Edwin A. Graning worked for the Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) near Austin, Texas, for less than a year before he was let go in January. At the time, he told his supervisor that, "in good conscience, he could not take someone to have an abortion," according to the lawsuit. Graning is an ordained Christian minister.

Planned Parenthood, a health care provider that offers a range of medical services to women, including those related to abortion, often draws the ire of anti-abortion groups in the United States, where the procedure is legal but fiercely controversial.

Graning's last day of employment was the same day he refused service.

He is seeking reinstatement, back pay, and compensatory damages for pain, suffering and emotional distress.

"It's only because he voiced his religions beliefs that he was canned," Edward White III, Graning's lawyer, told CNN. "Employers have a legal responsibility to at least attempt to accommodate an employee's religious beliefs. ... CARTS clearly violated Mr. Graning's religious freedom."

White, who works for a public interest law group founded by evangelical Christian leader Pat Robertson, said CARTS sent a second driver to collect the client and took her and a friend to the Planned Parenthood office.

"While others may wish to make more of it, to CARTS this is just about our expectation that employees perform the duties they are hired for," David Marsh, general manager of CARTS, said in an e-mail message to CNN.

In addition to rides along fixed routes, CARTS offers some door-to-door service within its rural coverage area.

The lawsuit, in the U.S. District Court for western Texas, Austin Division, was filed on July 14.

 

[LumbergTech]

if it was part of the route..he should have no say

i don't think he should have to make special stops for that purpose

he was certainly able to quit if he finds it to be immoral...that or stay in and try to get a new route

 

[Double Trouble]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/07/21/texas.bus.abortion.suit/index.html

My stance? His lawsuit is entirely without merit. The client picks the destination in a taxi cab, and a bus route is pre-determined above the driver's level of responsibility. If the customer says they want to go to 123 Fake St, the taxi takes them there. If the bus is supposed to stop at 123 Fake St, the bus should stop there. The actions that individual plans to take at their destination are not the concern of the driver. In no way was his religious freedom violated by CARTS, as his lawyer claims. CARTS does not stop the man from going to church, CARTS does not stop him from keeping a bible on the bus. Taking a customer to their destination, is none of his business.

Second, if he is an ordained minister, why is his driving a taxi and not preaching at a pulpit?

I'd agree 100%. Just like the wacky muslim taxi drivers who refuse to take an unaccompanied woman on the cab, and pharmacists who don't want to dispense medicine and stuff like that. If your religion doesn't allow for certain things, then don't take a job that might require you to do those things.

 

[dawp]

In addition to rides along fixed routes, CARTS offers some door-to-door service within its rural coverage area.

I think this is what applies here, but being an employee, if he's unable to do the job asked of him, he should find another one. and only spot in the story about abortion was what he said, they didn't get her side, only that she was going to planned parenthood.

 

[Bateluer]

if it was part of the route..he should have no say

i don't think he should have to make special stops for that purpose

he was certainly able to quit if he finds it to be immoral...that or stay in and try to get a new route

In addition to rides along fixed routes, CARTS offers some door-to-door service within its rural coverage area.

It was likely a door to door stop.

 

[Double Trouble]

It was likely a door to door stop.

Could be, but does that change anything? I mean, what someone does at the destination is not up to your concern. Next up, the cab driver refuses to take someone to someone else's house because there might be fornication taking place there? There's no limit to where that argument would go.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Just going to Planned Parenthood does not mean she was seeking an abortion anyway. They offer many services, and not all even offer abortions..

The guy is an ass, refused to do his job, and was rightly fired.

 

[Kappo]

No one cares why he didn't do his job. He got fired because he didn't do it. Just another case of someone trying to get free money after they get caught doing something they aren't supposed to.

 

[MotF Bane]

Toss the suit out; he failed to do his job.

 

[ichy]

What a dickwad, he doesn't even know why she was going to Planned Parenthood. She could've been going there to get a pap smear (or to get pre-natal care, now wouldn't THAT have been ironic!)

 

[Acanthus]

Toss the suit out; he failed to do his job.

this.

 

[Fear No Evil]

What a dickwad, he doesn't even know why she was going to Planned Parenthood. She could've been going there to get a pap smear (or to get pre-natal care, now wouldn't THAT have been ironic!)

LOL. I wonder if someone comes into PP actually looking NOT to kill their baby if the people there even know what to do.

Woman: "I'd like a pap smear please."
PP: "An abortion it is!"

 

[ichy]

LOL. I wonder if someone comes into PP actually looking NOT to kill their baby if the people there even know what to do.

Woman: "I'd like a pap smear please."
PP: "An abortion it is!"

Are you actually that stupid, or was this post a joke?

 

[mav451]

Lol it's a joke man. Take it easy.

 

[ichy]

Lol it's a joke man. Take it easy.

Considering all the lies that're out there about PP (OMG Margaret Sanger eugenics!) you never know.

 

[classy]

He should be canned. This is not about his religous beliefs, he has no knowledge of why this woman is going there and its none of his business. If he can't violate his conscience, then he needs to find another job or ask for another route.

 

[Exterous]

LOL. I wonder if someone comes into PP actually looking NOT to kill their baby if the people there even know what to do.

When I was in HS a lot of people went there becase Birth Control was cheaper there than at the Pharmacy

Sadly I don't think the lawsuit will be tossed out. Not enough money has been wasted yet

 

[Kirby]

Toss the suit out; he failed to do his job.

yup.

 

[thraashman]

Are you actually that stupid, or was this post a joke?

It may have been a joke, it may not have. But he is actually that stupid if you look at his regular postings.

 

[Fear No Evil]

It may have been a joke, it may not have. But he is actually that stupid if you look at his regular postings.

Hey! I got fans! Yes, it was a joke.. however, its funny because it does contain a bit of truth.

 

[Atreus21]

Suit has no merit. Toss it.

Considering all the lies that're out there about PP (OMG Margaret Sanger eugenics!) you never know.

What lies have been said about PP and Margaret Sanger?

 

[BoberFett]

Dude is a douchebag who refused to do his job. Should have been canned. Throw out the suit and send the douchebag a bill for wasting everybody's time.

 

[dfuze]

Refused to do his job, his problem, he deserves nothing.

 

[manlymatt83]

Are you actually that stupid, or was this post a joke?

It's the only way they make money, so of course it's the only thing on their mind - sell as many as they can.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

I went there with my girlfriend like 20 yesrs ago for a preggo test. Had nothing to do with an abortion.