Evelyne Micky Shatkin worked at University of Texas at Arlington, where she had had a series of disputes with a co-worker, which after mediation, resulted an ultimatum from Human Resources: further problems could get you fired. Not satisfied, Shatkin held an after-work “prayer session”, where, with another employee, Linda Shifflett, “anointed” the absent co-worker’s cubicle with olive oil, purportedly because of fears that the co-worker was demonically oppressed, chanting “You vicious evil dogs. Get the hell out of here in the name of Jesus. … I command you to leave.” A third male co-worker, who had agreed to participate in the prayer, became uncomfortable with the use of monounsaturated fats, and reported the matter. The other two, acknowledging that the third was not an active participant, were fired, and are now suing, claiming religious discrimination (as well as age and sex discrimination because the third worker was not fired). (Eva-Marie Ayala”Women said peer was ‘demonically oppressed'”, Fort Worth Star-Telegam, Dec. 23; AP, Dec. 23). Shame on the Liberty Legal Institute for bringing the suit.
Lawsuit: I should be allowed to anoint cubicles with olive oil
Evelyne Micky Shatkin worked at University of Texas at Arlington, where she had had a series of disputes with a co-worker, which after mediation, resulted an ultimatum from Human Resources: further problems could get you fired. Not satisfied, Shatkin held an after-work “prayer session”, where, with another employee, Linda Shifflett, “anointed” the absent co-worker’s cubicle […]
5 Comments
Voodoo in the cube is a natural for “Dilbert.” I bet this goes on more than employers know. Since we live in an era of preoccupation with mysticism, there will eventually be plenty more of voodoo cases.
Incidentally, the third individual – the rat – better watch out of spells cast on him. We mystics hate rats (I was a student of Wicca nine years and am now studying how to reach over and communicate with our deceased pet companions.
About ten years ago I worked at a printing plant in Kansas. One ernest Christian young lady was fired for “other activities”. She worked nights with this guy who was an atheist. A really nice guy who we all liked, and he respected other religions, he simply did not believe,. The young lady in question was fired when he felt water sprinkling on him during the night shift. He turned to see her sprinkling “holy” water on him to cast out the demons and bring his to Christ. He was less then thrilled. As she was on probation already for sprinkling holy water on her computer because it ran slow and “must be the devil harrassing her” this final act got her canned.
Some of the best theological discussions I have had was during the many night shifts I worked in my life.
Isn’t this the tree falling in the forest? The co-workers were not there. What harm was done?
HR departments often do the work of the devil.
Seems to me this is a good method to drive someone away from Christianity and more or less ineffective against, what was it again, ‘demonic possession’. That’s aside from the harassment of a coworker and intentional damage to an employer’s posessions.
See, trans-fats really are harmful.