The $170 million Ark Encounter amusement park is facing hardship because of a hiring dispute. HuffPo reported in August that the park would refuse to hire gay or non-Christian employees. A op-ed written by Daniel Phelps, the president of the Kentucky Paleontological Society and the vice president of Kentuckians for Science Education, is what alerted the state.
“It is apparent that Ark Encounter is likely to discriminate against non-Christians,” Phelps writes. “Moreover, Catholics, mainstream Protestant Christians and some conservative Christians who have different doctrinal beliefs are also unlikely to be hired.”
He added:
“The ad has specific religious requirements for employment. These include a salvation testimony, a “creation belief statement” and a requirement that applicants agree with the organization’s “statement of faith.” This required statement includes articles that imply that fundamentalist Christianity is the only acceptable religion and that denigrate non-Christians non-fundamentalist Christians, and homosexuals (regardless of their theological views).”
The “statement of faith” reads as follows:
“It is imperative that all persons employed by the ministry in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree to our Statement of Faith, to include the statement on marriage and sexuality, and conduct themselves accordingly.”
You can read Phelps’ full editorial here.
So this “Christian” organization is already breaking the law and it’s not even open yet.
Well, guess what? That’s not OK. Not in the eyes of law-abiding Constitution-compliant U.S. citizens, and not in the eyes of the law.
From Kentucky.com:
In July, the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority gave preliminary approval to the incentive package, which allows a 25 percent sales tax rebate on state tourism sites.
In an Aug. 27 letter, Tourism Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Bob Stewart pointed out a problematic job posting, which advertised for a computer-assisted design technician to work on the ark. The application was posted on the website of Answers in Genesis, the parent company of Ark Encounter, which also operates the Creation Museum in Petersburg.
From The Courier-Journal:
“The Commonwealth doesn’t believe that Ark Encounter, LLC will be complying with state and Federal law in its hiring practices,” Bob Stewart, secretary of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, said in an Aug. 27 letter to an Ark Encounter attorney.
The Herald-Leader obtained copies of the letters through the Open Records Act ?and the state was notified of the illegal job posting by the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. What Ark Encounter is trying to pull is against state and federal hiring laws.
Stewart says that the state is not down with this kind of crap.
“Therefore we are not prepared to move forward with consideration of the application for final approval without the assurance of Ark Encounter LLC that it will not discriminate in any way on the basis of religion in hiring for the project and will revise its postings accordingly,” Stewart wrote.
Predictably, the hypocrites will likely back down. They’re lying now and saying (in an August 28 response) that the job posting was for its parent company, Answers in Genesis, not for Ark Encounter. The park’s attorney, James Parsons, said that officials will honor the requirements for state tax incentives.
Stewart is persistent, however, and called them out on the lie. He wrote them again?on September 4 and reiterated?that the posting was indeed written explicitly for Ark Encounter. Furthermore, the state is now wary and will demand proof in written assurance of Ark Encounter’s compliance with the law.?From The Courier-Journal:
“The Commonwealth does not provide incentives to any company that discriminates on the basis of religion and we will not make any exception for Ark Encounter, LLC?” Stewart wrote. “The Commonwealth must have the express written assurance from Ark Encounter, LLC that it will not discriminate in any way on the basis of religion in hiring.”
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Tiffany Willis is a fifth-generation Texan and the founder and editor-in-chief of Liberal America. An unapologetic member of the Christian Left, she has spent most of her career actively working with ?the least of these? and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. She’s passionate about their struggles. To stay on top of topics she discusses,?like her?Facebook page,?follow her on Twitter, or?connect with her via LinkedIn. She also has?a?grossly neglected personal blog?and a?literary quotes blog that is a labor of love. Find her somewhere and join the discussion.
