LEESBURG - More than 1,000 marchers walked from City Hall to Leesburg Regional Medical Center Saturday morning to show support for Danny Harvey, recently fired from the hospital after he refused to stop praying for patients in the name of Jesus Christ. "I'm here to support Jesus Christ and being able to pray in his name," said Aaron Schotsch, 39. "So many of our rights are being taken away all the time. Everybody's trying to make everything politically correct."
The procession was solemn and quiet. Demonstrators were told not to bring banners nor signs, but they spanned several blocks. At the front of the crowd was Harvey, wearing a brimmed straw hat, black pants and, like many of his supporters, a T-shirt that read, "My Jesus My Freedom My Stand."
"I was terminated because I prayed in the name of Jesus Christ," he said. "It's religious discrimination."
Hospital officials warned Harvey about his performance as head chaplain several times before they fired him in August. Harvey said he has never prayed to Jesus in front of someone who objected.
A rescue official said about 10 people were treated for heat exhaustion, and several ended up in the emergency room of the very hospital they were banned from entering during their demonstration. Harvey said his mother, Janie, went to the hospital after she tripped and cut her hand during the march.
After the hour-and-a-half walk in weather exceeding 90 degrees, 67-year-old Marie Cribb sat on a bench in front of City Hall as fire officials gave her oxygen. She said her fatigue was worth it.
"I'm a born-again Christian," she said, "and I don't care who tells me not to pray for Jesus."
Poster Comment:
I can't imagine the disfigurement to the medical staff caused by the sprinkling of Holy water...