Chaplain's web page subject of complaint

SPRING HILL - A constitutional showdown over the separation of church and state is shaping up in the Spring Hill fire district in Hernando County.

A Spring Hill resident has filed a complaint because he says the fire district's website is illegally promoting religion.

The website in question is run by the Spring Hill Fire District and the problem, according to the complaint, is the Fire Rescue Chaplain link on the site where you can find scripture, even buy a bible.

Spring Hill resident Ken Fagan filed the complaint. He contends a taxpayer supported web site should not have links to religious groups.

The link is to Pastor Jack Martin, the department's chaplain. The website has numerous scripture readings, and provides links to where bibles are sold.

"It's very important for their well being, as well as the department," said assistant fire chief Bill Davies. "A lot of times families are involved. Because of a child, things can be very tough on a parent, so we do have a chaplaincy program here."

Fagan said he is a churchgoer himself, but he says he objects to what he calls the singular view of Martin's site.

"What matters most is that we go by the law of the land, and that is that every body should have an opportunity, and he is very singular and directed toward his church," Fagan said. "I don't see a Star of David. I don't see Rosary beads, I just see a very pointed his church, it's all about him."

The minister told Fox 13 "...I don't understand, there is nothing illegal about this, we're basically trying to help the community."

The district briefly removed the link. However, it was put back up pending a decision from the Department of Community Affairs.

FOX 13's Peter Linton-Smith will have more on this story at 6.