Counselor Suspended for Exposing Teens to Christian Music

A counselor is suing the [California] Orangewood Children's Home for religious discrimination after she was suspended for six weeks without pay because a group of teens she was supervising overheard Christian music at the Huntington Beach Pier, the lawsuit says.

-- From "Children's home counselor alleges religious discrimination" by Jaimee Lynn Fletcher, The Orange County Register 2/20/09

Maureen Loya, 45 [and 20-year counselor], filed suit against the children's home Feb. 13, alleging she was discriminated against because of her religious beliefs.

"The youth of Orangewood are allowed to practice whatever religion they want to practice," [Terry Fisher, Orangewood spokeswoman], said. "It would never be appropriate for any employee to impose their specific religious beliefs on any child in the system."

In June 2006, Loya took four teens to the Anaheim 5K, but after the girls started complaining that the music was too loud, she opted to take them to the Huntington Beach Pier for pizza, she said in the suit.

The annual Surfrider Foundation Celebrity Surf Jam was taking place at the pier with live entertainment, including Incubus and Switchfoot, an alternative band with roots in contemporary Christian music.

The girls spent some time near the pier, played in the ocean and visited various arts and crafts booths at Pier Plaza, some of which were selling Christian items, the suit says.

The teens did not complain or ask to leave at any time, Loya said in the suit.

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