WASHINGTON (RNS) The acting publisher of the Washington Times denied a complaint filed by former editorial page editor Richard Miniter that he was forced to attend a mass wedding of the Unification Church, which owns the newspaper.

In a complaint filed Tuesday (Nov. 17) with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Miniter claimed he was forced to attend a Unification Church ceremony performed by the church’s leader, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon.

The Washington Times was founded in 1982 by Moon and is known for its conservative view on political and social issues. It is owned by the Unification Church and several of the paper’s leaders have been members of the church.

Moon and his wife are controversial, believing themselves to be the “True Parents” in charge of completing Jesus’ mission on earth and to bring all people to an original sinless lineage of God.

“The Washington Times does not discriminate and does not tolerate discrimination,” Acting Publisher Jonathan Slevin wrote in a statement. “I am confident that once the charges raised by Mr. Miniter are investigated, the company will be fully vindicated.”

Miniter says he was recently fired by the paper without cause.

Miniter’s claim comes amidst major shifts in the newsroom’s leadership. President and publisher Thomas P. McDevitt, chief financial officer Keith Cooperrider and chairman Dong Moon Joo were “relieved of their duties” last week.

In his statement, Slevin said that by focusing on readers and the quality of reporting, the Times will remain a “vital news organization now and into the future.”