Group to organize a second prayer vigil and demonstration in front of ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut.

Contact: Christian Defense Coalition, 202-547-1735, 540-538-4741 cell

BRISTOL, Connecticut, Feb. 10 /Christian Newswire/ -- The demonstration will take place on Monday, February 11, at 12:00 noon, in front of ESPN on West Street.  ( Across from the McDonalds. )
 
The demonstration is in response to ESPN host, Dana Jacobson, using the term "F–k Jesus" or a similar expression at an ESPN sponsored event in Atlantic City this past January and the refusal of the network to properly address religious intolerance and discrimination in their  workplace.
 
The coalition is concerned there exists at ESPN a "lack of sensitivity to persons of faith and a culture of religious intolerance."  To support this position view the link listed below showing ESPN anchor Chris Berman using the term "Jesus" and "Goddamn" in the workplace.
http://withleather.com/post.phtml?pk=4911

The Christian Defense Coalition will be calling on ESPN to take three positive steps toward building a culture of religious tolerance in their workplace:

*Discipline or terminate any employee that uses religiously intolerant and hateful language such as "Goddamn" or the negative use of "Jesus Christ" in the workplace.
 
*Sponsor a workplace seminar and dialogue on religious tolerance and discrimination in the workplace.  ESPN has held similar seminars on race and gender but never on religion.
 
*Host a discussion on one of their programs featuring the topic of the offensive use of "Goddamn" and "Jesus Christ" within the sports world.
 
It is the goal of the Christian Defense Coalition to help ESPN realize the negative use of "Jesus Christ" and "Goddamn" in the workplace is as offense and hateful as using the term "nigger" in the workplace.
 
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, comments, "We must work for an America in which there is zero acceptance of religious intolerance in the workplace for all faith traditions.  Hateful and intolerant expressions like 'Goddamn' or the negative use of 'Jesus Christ' should be viewed with scorn and outrage.
 
"Corporate America must begin to understand that terms like 'Goddamn' and the negative use of 'Jesus Christ' in the workplace are no different than using expressions like 'faggot' or 'nigger' in the workplace.
 
"Sadly, ESPN still doesn't seem to get it when it comes to religious intolerance and discrimination in the workplace.  Their refusal to adequately address the Dana Jacobson situation and comments made by Chris Berman indicates there exists a culture of religious insensitivity at ESPN.
 
"Our hope is that ESPN will take a positive first step toward ending workplace religious intolerance by implementing our three recommendations.  By doing so, a powerful message will be sent to corporate America that people of faith should not be treated as second-class citizens while at work."
 
For more information or interviews call:
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney at 202.547.1735    Cell:   540.538 4741