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Top Christian Football Player Released from Team Over Objections to Porn Film

By Gudrun Schultz
GREELY, Colorado, May 11, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A key player for the indoor professional football team Colorado Ice was released from the team's roster after a dispute over a porn film, Concerned Women for America reported in an audio release earlier today.

A devout Christian, Troy Vermillion objected to a film with explicit raunchy sexual content shown on the team bus during a trip to an away game. Vermillion was particularly sensitive on the issue of pornography since he had suffered sexual abuse as a young boy, including being forced to watch pornographic movies at age six, according to a CWFA interview with Vermillion's wife Hilda.

After objecting to the film several times during the trip, the player asked to be let off the bus but was refused. When they arrived he sent an email to Coach Collin Saunders that evening, expressing his concern and requesting that films with pornographic content not be shown during scheduled trips. After a meeting with the coach the next day, Vermillion was removed from the roster.

"That very day they benched him and he hasn't played since," Hilda said.

Vermillion was the number one receiver (at the time) for the Colorado Ice and had an excellent record as an outstanding player for the team. He was ranked ninth within the entire league, according to CWFA's report. "Troy was absolutely not released for performance issues," Hilda said.

CWFA expressed concern that Vermillion's dismissal from the Colorado Ice was a violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibited organizations and businesses from discriminating against employee based on their religious beliefs and religious expressions.

"We were told [by legal advisers] that sexual harassment laws were broken, as well," Hilda said, "and that they have created a hostile work environment. We know that we have rights that have been violated."

Hilda said the couple hoped Troy's stand would make a difference for other Christian players still on the team. 

To express concerns to the Colorado Ice contact:

1 Old Town Square, #107
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Phone: (970) 472-0128

Read CWFA coverage and hear the audio interview:
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/12927/FIELD/freedom/index.htm

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