Two weeks ago, Professor Robin F. Wilson of the Washington & Lee University School of Law testified before a D. C. court about the rights that religious people have under the law.

Professor Wilson declared that "circuit after federal circuit" has determined that, for example, police officers have the right to refuse to guard places that violate their religious beliefs, such as abortion clinics and casinos.

"[P]olice officers and firefighters . . . have been exempted from two things, in specific cases, " Professor Wilson declared. "[O]ne is standing guard at casinos against their conscience. In one case called Endres, the person was actually a Baptist and I guess didn't like gambling."

Unfortunately, the truth is pretty much the opposite. "Firefighters must extinguish all fires, even those in places of worship that the firefighter regards as heretical," the court declared. "Just so with police."

Professor Wilson testified that in another case the courts decided that Chicago police officer Angelo Rodriguez had the right to refuse to guard an abortion clinic

The truth? The court said Officer Rodriguez could try to transfer to a district that didn't have abortion clinics, but the police department didn't have to allow the transfer.

Professor Wilson's odd declarations were caught by D. C. Councilman David Catania, who noted that Professor Wilson is a member of the Virginia Marriage Commission, a group that's fighting marriage equality. Councilman Catania wrote up a fiery little letter [pdf file] than he CC'd to her employer and the state bar.

Remember last week when I said newspapers should use words like fink, liar and asshole instead of dodging them for propriety's sake? Well, here's Councilman Catania's final paragraph:
In closing, I am concerned about the ethical implications of your behavior and strongly caution you to consider your professional obligations of competency and candor. The democratic process depends upon an honest dialogue and open disclosure. As a professor of law, you should know better.This letter is beautifully written, and on point. But sadly, most Americans aren't going to wander through four-pages of legalese, and if Councilman Catania had used a few of the off-limits words they wouldn't need to.

"You're either incompetent or a liar," is what he means, "and if you want to keep being a lawyer, you need to watch your ass."