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Title: TV anchor's choice: God or Ch. 7 job
Source:
Metro News
URL Source: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... ?AID=/20060331/METRO/603310347
Published: Mar 31, 2006
Author: Metro News
Post Date: 2006-03-31 23:55:40 by Zipporah
Keywords: perv
Views: 16
When Channel 7 fired news anchor Frank Turner in 1998, it followed revelations of crack cocaine addiction and thousands of dollars in telephone sex line charges. Now Turner's lifestyle choices have the anchor and the TV station going to the mat again -- but the circumstances could not be more different. Turner, a born-again Christian who returned to the 5 p.m. anchor desk in 2000 a changed man, has filed a complaint against WXYZ-TV with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for refusing him permission to host an evangelical radio program in his spare time. Experts say the case is a unique one and could be an important test of the protection of religious rights under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Turner acknowledged his stance might again cost him his highly paid anchor job with WXYZ, but said he doesn't care. "It's not a question of it being important to me; it is me," Turner said. "It is the essence of everything that I am. I cannot ignore this call of God in my life -- it is the sole reason I have a life." Turner's dramatic transformation -- he has escaped his addictions and gained an international following as a minister through public appearances and his Web site -- has caused some to dub him "America's first evangelical anchorman." While he doesn't belong to a specific church, Turner says he feels called to spread his faith. Jeffrey D. Wilson, Turner's lawyer, said Channel 7 has encouraged and even promoted Turner's religious calling, until now. "I don't think Channel 7 would deny that they've benefited from his standing in the community as an evangelical Christian minister," Wilson said. Station officials, while not wanting to comment on Turner's case directly, say they have exclusive contracts with their on-air talent and never allow anchors or others to work on competing broadcast outlets. "We spend millions of dollars a year promoting our on-air talent and we want to have them working exclusively for Channel 7," said Grace Gilchrist, the station's vice president and general manager. Turner's complaint to the commission could be a precursor to a federal lawsuit. Federal law not only prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on their religion, but also requires them to provide "reasonable accommodation" for employees' religious beliefs and practices. For example, someone who wears a turban as a result of their religion would be allowed to continue wearing it, even in a workplace that does not normally allow headwear. To deny a religious accommodation, the employer must show that granting it would create a hardship. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission takes people at their word on the demands of their faith and religion unless there is an overwhelming reason not to, said Wilson, Turner's lawyer. "Evangelical Christianity requires the adherent to spread the word as widely as possible," said Wilson. Turner, who is on vacation from Channel 7 this week, wants to host a two-hour radio program on Christian station WEXL 1340 AM starting at 10 a.m. weekday mornings, a time when he is not normally required to be at Channel 7. The Detroit broadcasts also would be available through the Internet. Turner won't discuss how much he would be paid but said his motivation is not financial. "If I have the opportunity to bring this ministry to a daily radio broadcast that can literally reach millions of people with the life-restoring, life-changing, soul-saving power of the relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, then it has to go forward," Turner said. James A. Sonne, an associate professor of law at Ave Maria Law School in Ann Arbor, said the Turner case is a fascinating one that "raises all kinds of unique issues." "Essentially, you could make the argument that it's not really a religious activity in the traditional sense," Sonne said of the radio program. "It's definitely not your normal case in this area because it involves activities that are off-the-clock, activities that are arguably religious, and issues involving the viewing public." You can reach Paul Egan at (313) 222-2069 or pegan@detnews.com. Turner Ricardo Thomas / The Detroit News Frank Turner often talks about his bout with drugs and how his acceptance of Jesus Christ changed his life for the better. See full image
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Anchor Frank Turner has filed a complaint against Channel 7 for not letting him host an evangelical radio program in his spare time. The station says that they have exclusive contracts with their on-air talent that don't allow them to work for other broadcast stations, but federal law requires them to provide "reasonable accommodation" for an employee's religious beliefs. Should Turner's obligation as an evangelical Christian to share his faith be considered a reasonable accommodation? 
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