Family Research Council Hires Fired Fox Sports Analyst Craig James

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Apr 08, 2014, 10:06 ET

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Craig James, a Fox Sports football analyst who was fired after the network learned that he had expressed his views in support of natural marriage during his race for the U.S. Senate 18 months earlier, has joined Family Research Council (FRC) as an Assistant to the President. In this role, Craig will cultivate relationships with like-minded Americans across the country who share a common concern for the growing hostility toward free speech and religious liberty in the U.S. He will continue to share his own story of religious discrimination and educate Americans to the expanding threats to our First Freedom.

"We are very excited and pleased to announce that Craig James is joining Family Research Council's team," said Family Research Council President Tony Perkins. "Losing one job because of his religious beliefs has made room for another: raising awareness about the threats to our most precious liberty – the freedom of religion. His leadership skills, his courage in the face of religious hostility, and his passion for faith, family and freedom will make him a great addition to the FRC team.

"Craig has experienced the very workplace disqualification that cultural elites are seeking to impose throughout the country: expressing a politically incorrect opinion on a cultural issue, totally unconnected to employment, is enough to get you fired. Whether you work for Mozilla, Gallaudet University, or serve in the military, you shouldn't have to fear being fired for holding to the belief in marriage as the union of a man and a woman. This discrimination runs over the most basic constitutional liberties that have long made our country great. With religious hostility reaching an all-time high, Craig will play a critical role in educating Americans about what they can do to stand up for freedom," concluded Perkins.

In 1989, Craig began his career as one of the lead analysts in college football. He worked for ESPN/ABC, CBS, Yahoo! Sports and The Sporting News, among others. In 1993, he founded the Craig James School of Broadcasting and spent ten years training professional athletes and coaches on the skills needed to become a professional broadcaster. In the fall of 2009 he released his first book "Game Day," which took fans behind the scenes of college football. From 2010 through 2011, Craig served on the board of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. In 2012 he ran for the open United States Senate seat.

"I am honored to join the country's premier Christian public policy organization," said Craig James. "I have a passion for Family Research Council's mission of faith, family and freedom. After I was fired by Fox Sports, I was deeply moved and emboldened by the countless number of people and organizations like Family Research Council that came to my side. Now it is my turn to offer encouragement to others encountering the same kind of religious bigotry. While the challenges to our freedoms are great, I strongly believe the game is far from over," concluded James.

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SOURCE Family Research Council