Oregon Withdraws $90K Fine Against Christian Counselor
Christian counselor Frank Canepa has won a legal battle after being fined nearly $90,000 for refusing to affirm a client’s same-sex relationship.
Canepa is a licensed professional counselor who helps his clients achieve their stated goals. As a Roman Catholic, he provides counseling consistent with his religious beliefs.
For over two and a half years, Canepa counseled a client on a weekly basis at an “extremely reduced” rate, including multiple pro bono sessions.
Over the course of their counseling sessions, the client brought up the topic of same-sex relationships at least 44 times. Canepa never disclosed his personal views on such relationships during those sessions because he sought to “honor her personal life choices and direction in her own life.”
However, on July 10, 2023, the client again brought up the topic of same-sex relationships and demanded for 20 minutes that Canepa personally bless her same-sex relationship.
At this point, Canepa felt the need to disclose his view in the interest of truth and authenticity. Because of his Catholic faith, Canepa “told her [he] was unable to provide” the “level of personal affirmation for same-sex relationships” she desired “because of [his] Catholic faith.”
Following the session, the client filed a complaint against Canepa with the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists. The Board decided to punish Canepa by fining him $89,636, and ordering him to undergo continuing education, for allegedly violating Oregon law and the American Counseling Association’s (ACA) Code of Ethics.
The Board said Canepa violated ACA Code Rule A.4.b, which requires counselors to “avoid imposing … their own values … especially when the counselor’s values are … discriminatory in nature.”
But Canepa was not discriminating against anyone. He was simply exercising his First Amendment right to speak freely and share his personal view after his client asked him to do so.
The Board imposed the punishment on August 5, 2025, after which Canepa appealed the decision to the Oregon Court of Appeals. He is represented by attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).
On June 5, 2026, the Board thankfully withdrew its disciplinary action against Canepa without explanation.
“The government can’t target counselors for their views and force people to say things that go against their core convictions,” said ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of Litigation Strategy Jonathan Scruggs.
What caused the Board to reconsider its judgement between August 2025 and June 2026?
On March 31, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued Chiles v. Salazar – a landmark opinion protecting the right of Christian counselors to speak freely in conversations with clients.
The Oregon Board cited Chiles in its decision to withdraw the judgement against Canepa.
“The Supreme Court recently took Colorado to task for censoring counselors and mandating orthodoxy in the counselor’s office, and Oregon should take notice,” Scruggs continued. “ADF will continue to ensure that free speech is protected in Oregon — and every state where it’s threatened — and halt states’ attempts to weaponize their licensure systems.”
This case demonstrates how important it is for Christians to be courageous and stand by their convictions in our culture today.
Had Kaley Chiles, the Christian counselor at the center of the Chiles case, decided not to defend her First Amendment right to free speech all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, Canepa would likely still be defending his constitutional rights before the Oregon Court of Appeals.
Thanks to the precedent set by Chiles, Canepa is again free to practice counseling in accordance with his faith.
The case is Canepa v. Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists.
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