Couple Fired for Being ‘Too Religious’ Gets Settlement

Can you be fired and kicked out of your home for being too religious? Apparently, you can.

Hallmark Management Company has settled with Daniel and Sharon Dixon in such a case. Hallmark fired and evicted the couple from a property management position for having a piece of artwork hanging in their office that contained a Scripture reference.

Liberty Counsel represented the Dixons in the case of Dixon v. Hallmark Companies. The settlement totals $76,250.

Here’s the backstory: The Dixons were the employees and tenants of a government-subsidized facility, Thornwood Terrace Apartments, in Lake City, Fla. In 2007, a regional manager for Hallmark asked Sharon if the words on the artwork referred to Scripture.

When she said they did, the manager demanded she take it down and then fired the Dixons. The manager told them they were “too religious.” The Dixons were given 72 hours to vacate their apartment home. The Dixons filed a federal lawsuit, charging Hallmark with religious discrimination.

“I am pleased that Daniel and Sharon Dixon can move forward, with this religious discrimination action behind them,” said Mathew Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “It is wrong to fire or evict someone because they are Christians.”