Student sues Florida State officials for removal from student government over Catholic beliefs

[PeteS in CA]

Student sues Florida State officials for removal from student government over Catholic beliefs

https://www.thecollegefix.com/student-sues-florida-state-officials-for-removal-from-student-government-over-catholic-beliefs/

A month after Florida State University’s student government refused to let its former Senate president appeal his removal from office, the student has sued several officials at the taxpayer-funded institution and in its student government, alleging “unconstitutional retaliation” against him for his Catholic beliefs.

Jack Denton (above) stated Catholic doctrine on LGBT issues in a private group chat with other Catholic students, leading the Student Government Association to remove him. A petition that spurred Denton’s removal called his comments “transphobic and racist.” (Denton also said that advocacy to cut police budgets violates church teaching on “the common good.”)

Though he lawyered up soon after his removal, alleging violation of Senate policy, FSU policy and his First Amendment rights, Denton’s lawyers at the Alliance Defending Freedom said Tuesday the administration had not responded to its July 22 letter. The suit also alleges Hecht hasn’t responded to Denton’s July 2 letter.

“Jack has patiently appealed to fellow students and university administrators using the university’s internal procedures,” senior counsel Tyson Langhofer said in the law firm’s statement. He’s suing because “students and administrators have repeatedly failed to respect Jack’s constitutionally protected freedoms.”

The suit names FSU President John Thrasher; Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht; Brandon Bowden, interim director of student governance and advocacy; Student Senate President Ahmad Daraldik; and Alexander Harmon, president pro tempore. All are sued in their individual and official capacities.

[sneakypete]

I hope he nails their asses to the wall over this.

[PeteS in CA]

An update, https://campusreform.org/?ID=16028

FSU Supreme Court reinstates student senate president, acknowledges First Amendment violations

The student Supreme Court at Florida State University has reinstated Jack Denton to his position as president of the Student Senate after he was removed for his Catholic beliefs. During Denton’s lawsuit against FSU, the student Supreme Court at the school ruled that the other senators were not tolerant of Denton’s religious beliefs.

Denton was removed from his position as senate president in June due to his Catholic beliefs about BLM and other leftist organizations, as Campus Reform previously reported.

Denton expressed views that the Black Lives Matter organization has "explicitly anti-Catholic" beliefs.
...
Denton filed a lawsuit against FSU with the help of Alliance Defending Freedom in early September due to the student government’s “unconstitutional retaliation” for his religious views.

ADF stated on its website, “Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a lawsuit Monday against Florida State University administrators and student senate officials after they repeatedly failed to address unconstitutional retaliation against the president of the FSU Student Senate for sharing his personal religious beliefs with other students.”

This is another example of why the SPLC listd the ADF as a "hate group". They represent people who "shouldn't" be and win lawsuits they "shouldn't".

[sneakypete]

If a devout Catholic has no right to occupy a seat he or she was elected to BECAUSE they are Catholics,the black left have no right to express THEIR views.

You can't have it both ways,Bubba Gump. We are either a free people,or we ain't.

[PeteS in CA]

An update:

Florida State University to pay student nearly $100,000 for anti-Catholic discrimination

https://justthenews.com/nation/free-speech/florida-state-university-pay-student-nearly-100000-anti-catholic-discrimination

Florida State University agreed to pay an ex-student government leader nearly six figures, seven months after a federal court ruled his rights were violated when he was removed from office for privately sharing Catholic beliefs.

It reached a legal settlement with Jack Denton, former president of the student senate, under which he'll receive $1,050 in back pay, $10,000 for his removal from office and $83,950 for his legal bills.

The resolution ends nearly a year of strife between Denton and the university, prompted by leaked screenshots of his comments in a Catholic student group chat. Denton advised fellow Catholics against supporting organizations that defend "transgenderism," promote abortion and advocate cutting police budgets, all of which are "explicitly anti-Catholic."

[PeteS in CA]

FSU Supreme Court reinstates student senate president, acknowledges First Amendment violations

https://www.campusreform.org/article?id=16028

The student Supreme Court at Florida State University has reinstated Jack Denton to his position as president of the Student Senate after he was removed for his Catholic beliefs. During Denton’s lawsuit against FSU, the student Supreme Court at the school ruled that the other senators were not tolerant of Denton’s religious beliefs.

Denton was removed from his position as senate president in June due to his Catholic beliefs about BLM and other leftist organizations, as Campus Reform previously reported.

Denton expressed views that the Black Lives Matter organization has "explicitly anti-Catholic" beliefs.

This was done by the student Supreme Court at Florida State University.

[sneakypete]

FSU Supreme Court reinstates student senate president, acknowledges First Amendment violations

https://www.campusreform.org/article?id=16028

This was done by the student Supreme Court at Florida State University.

@PeteS in CA


Good for him! I am not the most religious person on this board,but we are either ALL free to follow our beliefs as long as we aren't harming anyone,or none of us are free.

Kinda reminds me of "being a little bit pregnant".