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Florida Chaplain Says Hospital Fired Him for Saying 'Jesus' in Prayers

Thursday, August 30, 2007

A Florida hospital chaplain says he was fired from his position for including the word 'Jesus' at the end of his prayers, according to report on MyFoxOrlando.com

Reverend Danny Harvey, who worked for the Leesburg Regional Center for more than seven years, claims to be the victim of religious discrimination after he says the hospital staff forced him to resign from his post.

Click here to view report on MyFoxOrlando.com

Hospital officials deny any discrimination against Harvey and said that his departure was brought about because his services were not consistent with center's various faiths.

Louis H. Bremer Jr., LRMC president and chief executive officer, said in a statement: "The interpretation many Christians are getting is that prayer is completely banned from the hospital, which couldn't be further from the truth."

"It would be very appropriate to say Jesus' name in the presence of a Christian family. That's no problem," Bremer said in the statement. "What must be understood is knowing the audience and what is appropriate for that particular situation."

Hospital chaplains regularl offer comfort to patients and/or their famiies through scriptures and prayers. If the person was a different faith, a representative of that faith would be contacted, according to officials.

"I would approach a family and offer them the chance for me to pray for them, but they have the option to say no," Harvey told the Daily Commerical. "I have never imposed my beliefs on others."

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