The Interior Department is facing a lawsuit from a Christian geologist who claims he was not allowed to collect rocks from Grand Canyon National Park because of his creationist beliefs.
In the suit filed earlier this month, the Australian geologist, Andrew Snelling, says that religious discrimination was behind the National Park Service's (NRS's) decision to deny him a permit to gather samples from four locations in the park.
Snelling had hoped to gather the rocks to support the creationist belief that a global flood about 4,300 years ago was responsible for rock layers and fossil deposits around the world.
NPS's actions "demonstrate animus towards the religious viewpoints of Dr. Snelling," the complaint alleges, "and violate Dr. Snelling's free exercise rights by imposing inappropriate and unnecessary religious tests to his access to the park."
The lawsuit was filed May 9 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. NPS has yet to respond to the allegations.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 28 2017, @09:13PM
he could just as easily ask Navajo or Hopi for permisssion to get samples outside of GCNP. Or ask a private landholder alomg the Colorado River.
He's grandstanding on purpose, to try and create an awkward position for everyone. At thrle very least gives him ammo to say "see? we're being persecuted by the godless athests and bureaucrats!"
He changed his name from Richard C. Hoagblum it looks like, moving on from NASA coverups of ancient alien architecture on Mars...