I'm reading it the other way: he's trying to construct a plausible alternative explanation for why he's been fired. "I'm being fired for being a Southern Christ

I'm reading it the other way: he's trying to construct a plausible alternative explanation for why he's been fired. "I'm being fired for being a Southern Christian! Leaking confidential info and posting lengthy public rants accusing my employer of all sorts of nefarious things has nothing to do with it!"