Illinois religious studies Prof fired for comments about homosexuality

Slyhawk · 07-11-2010, 10:01 AM

What an idiotic decision by the university, and the student who complained is a ra-tard.

URBANA – An adjunct professor who taught courses on Catholicism at the University of Illinois has lost his teaching job there, and he claims it is a violation of his academic freedom.

Kenneth Howell was told after the spring semester ended that he would no longer be teaching in the UI's Department of Religion. The decision came after a student complained about a discussion of homosexuality in the class in which Howell taught that the Catholic Church believes homosexual acts are morally wrong.

Howell has been an adjunct lecturer in the department for nine years, during which he taught two courses, Introduction to Catholicism and Modern Catholic Thought. He was also director of the Institute of Catholic Thought, part of St. John's Catholic Newman Center on campus and the Catholic Diocese of Peoria. Funding for his salary came from the Institute of Catholic Thought.

One of his lectures in the introductory class on Catholicism focuses on the application of natural law theory to a social issue. In early May, Howell wrote a lengthy e-mail to his students, in preparation for an exam, in which he discusses how the theory of utilitarianism and natural law theory would judge the morality of homosexual acts.

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/uni...-academic-free

Klink · 07-11-2010, 10:04 AM

academic freedom

lol

nolookpass · 07-11-2010, 10:04 AM

the campus is a haven for free thought.

Mr. Hawk · 07-11-2010, 10:06 AM

Remember, liberals don't want to keep anyone from their personal religious beliefs, and don't want to force their views on people who believe that homosexuality is wrong. Accordingly, this story probably a hoax.

mobyditch · 07-11-2010, 10:10 AM

I guess he should have stuck to the subject matter.

PipeDaddy · 07-11-2010, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Hawk

Remember, liberals don't want to keep anyone from their personal religious beliefs, and don't want to force their views on people who believe that homosexuality is wrong. Accordingly, this story probably a hoax.

All they want is to be treated fairly, MH. That's all.

Corporate Raider · 07-11-2010, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Hawk

Remember, liberals don't want to keep anyone from their personal religious beliefs, and don't want to force their views on people who believe that homosexuality is wrong. Accordingly, this story probably a hoax.

I think you nailed it, clearly must have been a report generated by The Onion.

newsbreaker · 07-11-2010, 10:22 AM

The professor was fired for giving accurate information on the relevant subject matter, because a student didn't like it?

That's an outstanding school and there ain't no doubt about it.

Gushawk · 07-11-2010, 10:32 AM

LMAO that the complainer didn't even take the class.

I don't agree with the professor's e-mail, but he shouldn't have been fired for writing it in the context of a class on Catholic theology.

Mr. Hawk · 07-11-2010, 10:34 AM

It's stories like this that make me skeptical when I hear the standard "but we'll never force churches to do something against their beliefs!" line.

newsbreaker · 07-11-2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Hawk

It's stories like this that make me skeptical when I hear the standard "but we'll never force churches to do something against their beliefs!" line.

This (insert the "but how could we possibly force them to do anything" response.)

MikeyJoe · 07-11-2010, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobyditch

I guess he should have stuck to the subject matter.

Um, he did. Isn't that kind of the point?

nolookpass · 07-11-2010, 10:59 AM

coming soon if Chairman O gets reelected...churches that "discriminate" will lose their tax exempt status.

PipeDaddy · 07-11-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Hawk

It's stories like this that make me skeptical when I hear the standard "but we'll never force churches to do something against their beliefs!" line.

We've been saying this for a couple of years now.

Funny thing is... when it comes to pass, there will be prominent posters here who will all of a sudden find it reasonable and in line with the Constitution.

Corporate Raider · 07-11-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeyJoe

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobyditch

I guess he should have stuck to the subject matter.

Um, he did. Isn't that kind of the point?

Strong.

Sambud · 07-11-2010, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolookpass

coming soon if Chairman O gets reelected...churches that "discriminate" will lose their tax exempt status.

Prolly won't include the Temple of the Text Message he attends though.

Corporate Raider · 07-11-2010, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sambud

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolookpass

coming soon if Chairman O gets reelected...churches that "discriminate" will lose their tax exempt status.

Prolly won't include the Temple of the Text Message he attends though.

Is that what his mosque is called?

Rolo Tomassi · 07-11-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolookpass

the campus is a haven for free thought.

As long as it's the correct free thought.

07-11-2010, 10:01 AM	#1
Slyhawk Died in the 70s Join Date: 04:57 PM September 22nd, 2007 Posts: 15,044	Illinois religious studies Prof fired for comments about homosexuality What an idiotic decision by the university, and the student who complained is a ra-tard. URBANA – An adjunct professor who taught courses on Catholicism at the University of Illinois has lost his teaching job there, and he claims it is a violation of his academic freedom. Kenneth Howell was told after the spring semester ended that he would no longer be teaching in the UI's Department of Religion. The decision came after a student complained about a discussion of homosexuality in the class in which Howell taught that the Catholic Church believes homosexual acts are morally wrong. Howell has been an adjunct lecturer in the department for nine years, during which he taught two courses, Introduction to Catholicism and Modern Catholic Thought. He was also director of the Institute of Catholic Thought, part of St. John's Catholic Newman Center on campus and the Catholic Diocese of Peoria. Funding for his salary came from the Institute of Catholic Thought. One of his lectures in the introductory class on Catholicism focuses on the application of natural law theory to a social issue. In early May, Howell wrote a lengthy e-mail to his students, in preparation for an exam, in which he discusses how the theory of utilitarianism and natural law theory would judge the morality of homosexual acts. http://www.news-gazette.com/news/uni...-academic-free

07-11-2010, 10:04 AM	#3
nolookpass is somebody's daughter Join Date: 12:45 PM August 24th, 2007 Location: THE Pleasant Hill Posts: 31,590	the campus is a haven for free thought. __________________

07-11-2010, 10:10 AM	#5
mobyditch Reality-Based Intellectualist Join Date: 09:59 AM March 10th, 2008 Posts: 12,380	I guess he should have stuck to the subject matter. __________________

07-11-2010, 10:22 AM	#8
newsbreaker Saw A Nipple Right Away Join Date: 02:43 PM August 24th, 2007 Posts: 42,907	The professor was fired for giving accurate information on the relevant subject matter, because a student didn't like it? That's an outstanding school and there ain't no doubt about it. __________________

07-11-2010, 10:59 AM	#13
nolookpass is somebody's daughter Join Date: 12:45 PM August 24th, 2007 Location: THE Pleasant Hill Posts: 31,590	coming soon if Chairman O gets reelected...churches that "discriminate" will lose their tax exempt status. __________________

07-11-2010, 10:04 AM	#2
Klink Join Date: 01:23 PM January 12th, 2008 Location: Home Posts: 5,191	academic freedom lol

07-11-2010, 10:06 AM	#4
Mr. Hawk Has a Particular Set of Skills Join Date: 03:54 PM August 23rd, 2007 Location: A van down by the river Posts: 46,648	Remember, liberals don't want to keep anyone from their personal religious beliefs, and don't want to force their views on people who believe that homosexuality is wrong. Accordingly, this story probably a hoax.

07-11-2010, 10:32 AM	#9
Gushawk Has Some Sweet Tats Join Date: 04:33 PM August 23rd, 2007 Location: Ankeny Posts: 35,603	LMAO that the complainer didn't even take the class. I don't agree with the professor's e-mail, but he shouldn't have been fired for writing it in the context of a class on Catholic theology.

07-11-2010, 10:34 AM	#10
Mr. Hawk Has a Particular Set of Skills Join Date: 03:54 PM August 23rd, 2007 Location: A van down by the river Posts: 46,648	It's stories like this that make me skeptical when I hear the standard "but we'll never force churches to do something against their beliefs!" line.

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