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Illinois: Instructor of Catholicism at UI claims loss of job violates academic freedom

By ADF Alliance Alert

The News-Gazette: "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 is working with the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian-based organization that 'provides the resources that will keep the door open for the spread of the Gospel through the legal defense and advocacy of religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, and traditional family values,' . . . The Alliance Defense Fund has just begun looking into Howell's situation, according to a spokesman. Senior counsel David French provided a written statement, saying 'A university cannot censor professors' speech ? including classroom speech related to the topic of the class ? merely because some students find that speech 'offensive.' Professors have the freedom to challenge students and to educate them by exposing them to different views. The Alliance Defense Fund is working with Professor Howell because the defense of academic freedom is essential on the university campus.'"

Full post as published by Constitutionally Correct on July 09, 2010 (boomark / email).