Atlanta ousts fire chief who criticized homosexual acts
January 09, 2015
Kelvin Cochran, who served as US Fire Administrator during President Barack Obama’s first term, has been fired as Atlanta’s fire chief after he criticized homosexual acts in a men’s Bible study book on marriage.
Mayor Kasim Reed said the publication of the Bible study raised questions about Cochran’s “judgment and ability to manage the department.”
“This is not about religious freedom,” Reed said as he announced Cochran’s firing. “This is not about free speech. Judgment is the basis of the problem.”
“I will not tolerate discrimination of any kind within my administration,” Reed had stated earlier. “I want to be clear that the material in Chief Cochran’s book is not representative of my personal beliefs, and is inconsistent with the Administration’s work to make Atlanta a more welcoming city for all of her citizens-- regardless of their sexual orientation, gender, race and religious beliefs.”
Cochran, a deacon at an African-American Baptist church, made two passing references to homosexuality in his 160-page study. In one reference, he referred to uncleanness as “whatever is opposite of purity; including sodomy, homosexuality, lesbianism, pederasty, bestiality, all other forms of sexual perversion.”
In the other reference, he referred to men who “pursue sexual fulfillment through multiple partners, with the opposite sex, the same sex, and sex outside of marriage and many other vile, vulgar and inappropriate ways which defile their body-temple and dishonor God.”
“I did not single out homosexuality,” Cochran said of his Bible study. “I simply spoke to sex being created by God for procreation, and He intended it to be between a man and a woman in holy matrimony, and that any other sex outside of that is sin.”
“I’m not discouraged and I’m not downtrodden,” he added in an interview with Fox News. “This is a God thing, and He’s going to do great things and He will vindicate me publicly.”
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Further information:
- Reed: Atlanta fire chief terminated following book controversy (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
- Atlanta fire chief says he was fired due to his Christian faith (Fox News)
- Atlanta fire chief who criticized homosexuality may fight ouster (Reuters)
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Posted by: Bernadette -
Jan. 17, 2015 1:49 AM ET USA
Will the so-called "Catholic" FOX news anchors stand up for truth and lose their jobs? I doubt it. Good for Chief Cochran! We need more courageous men like him.
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Posted by: Gil125 -
Jan. 09, 2015 3:30 PM ET USA
“I will not tolerate discrimination of any kind within my administration,” ---except for discrimination against the politically incorrect. They get fired.
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Posted by: bernie4871 -
Jan. 09, 2015 11:07 AM ET USA
What a blessing to have such upright people as Chief Cochran. I cannot believe the citizens of Atlanta who agree with Cochran are so few in number that they will not vote out of office Mayor Reed. Reed's logic and attack on Cochran are more in keeping with the militant Moslems in Paris.
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Posted by: abc -
Jan. 09, 2015 9:29 AM ET USA
Blasphemy laws come to the US...
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Posted by: ForOthers8614 -
Jan. 09, 2015 6:58 AM ET USA
"...rejoice and be glad...this is how they persecuted the prophets before you." May God help you, Chief Cochran, in your suffering for the Kingdom.
