Aa
Court Upholds Expulsion of Counseling Student Who Opposes Homosexuality
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/07/28/court-university-expel-student-opposes-homosexuality/
Todd Starnes
- FoxNews.com
- July 28, 2010
Court Upholds Expulsion of Counseling Student Who Opposes Homosexuality
A federal judge has ruled in favor of a public university that removed a Christian student from its graduate program in school counseling over her belief that homosexuality is morally wrong. Monday's ruling, according to Julea Ward's attorneys, could result in Christian students across the country being expelled from public university for similar views.
fox news
A federal judge has ruled in favor of a public university that removed a Christian student from its graduate program in school counseling over her belief that homosexuality is morally wrong. Monday's ruling, according to Julea Ward's attorneys, could result in Christian students across the country being expelled from public university for similar views.
“It’s a very dangerous precedent,” Jeremy Tedesco, legal counsel for the conservative Alliance Defense Fund, told FOX News Radio. “The ruling doesn’t say that explicitly, but that’s what is going to happen.”
U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh dismissed Ward’s lawsuit against Eastern Michigan University. She was removed from the school’s counseling program last year because she refused to counsel homosexual clients.
The university contended she violated school policy and the American Counseling Association code of ethics.
“Christian students shouldn’t be expelled for holding to and abiding by their beliefs,” said ADF senior counsel David French. “To reach its decision, the court had to do something that’s never been done in federal court: uphold an extremely broad and vague university speech code.”
Eastern Michigan University hailed the decision.
“We are pleased that the court has upheld our position in this matter,” EMU spokesman Walter Kraft said in a written statement. “Julea Ward was not discriminated against because of her religion. To the contrary, Eastern Michigan is deeply committed to the education of our students and welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds into our community.”
In his 48-page opinion, Judge Steeh said the university had a rational basis for adopting the ACA Code of Ethics.
“Furthermore, the university had a rational basis for requiring students to counsel clients without imposing their personal values,” he wrote in a portion of his ruling posted by The Detroit News. “In the case of Ms. Ward, the university determined that she would never change her behavior and would consistently refuse to counsel clients on matters with which she was personally opposed due to her religious beliefs – including homosexual relationships.”
Ward’s attorneys claim the university told her she would only be allowed to remain in the program if she went through a “remediation” program so that she could “see the error of her ways” and change her belief system about homosexuality.
The case is similar to a lawsuit the ADF filed against Augusta State University in Georgia. Counseling student Jennifer Keeton was allegedly told to stop sharing her Christian beliefs in order to graduate.
Keeton's lawsuit alleged that she was told to undergo a reeducation program and attend “diversity sensitivity training.”
University officials declined to comment on specifics of the lawsuit but released a statement to FOX News that said Augusta State does not discriminate on the basis of students’ moral, religious, political or personal beliefs.
Tedesco said both cases should be a warning to Christians attending public colleges and universities.
“Public universities are imposing the ideological stances of private groups on their students,” he said. “If you don’t comply, you will be kicked out. It’s scary stuff and it’s not a difficult thing to see what’s coming down the pike.”
The Alliance Defense Fund told FOX News it will appeal the ruling.
Leave it to fox news to slant the issues. This paragraph pretty much sums it all up imo.
the university had a rational basis for requiring students to counsel clients without imposing their personal values,” he wrote in a portion of his ruling posted by The Detroit News. “In the case of Ms. Ward, the university determined that she would never change her behavior and would consistently refuse to counsel clients on matters with which she was personally opposed due to her religious beliefs – including homosexual relationships.”
It just goes to show that anything can be twisted to fit what we want it to say, if we want it to badly enough. This is why I question anything coming from fox news.
the university had a rational basis for requiring students to counsel clients without imposing their personal values,” he wrote in a portion of his ruling posted by The Detroit News. “In the case of Ms. Ward, the university determined that she would never change her behavior and would consistently refuse to counsel clients on matters with which she was personally opposed due to her religious beliefs – including homosexual relationships.”
It just goes to show that anything can be twisted to fit what we want it to say, if we want it to badly enough. This is why I question anything coming from fox news.
Wow, eh? I read the story 3 times and ended up with the same conclusion, that she was trying to impress her personal beliefs/religious beliefs within a clinical setting. Since this is a state college, one must keep in mind the Seperation of Church and State.
I used to have a very close minded opinion of homosexuality. As I've grown I've become more tolerant. My personal opinion is, if it isnt affecting me directly, leave it alone. Nobody else's sexuality is any business of mine.
Honestly, I'd rather associate with a group of homosexuals than a group of murders and rapists that have been convicted, incarcerated, then found Jesus. Thats me though.
I used to have a very close minded opinion of homosexuality. As I've grown I've become more tolerant. My personal opinion is, if it isnt affecting me directly, leave it alone. Nobody else's sexuality is any business of mine.
Honestly, I'd rather associate with a group of homosexuals than a group of murders and rapists that have been convicted, incarcerated, then found Jesus. Thats me though.
No one should be able to dictate to anyone else what their personal feelings are about any issue. I agree with both of you.
I agree Sara! We are all entitled to believe as we will and speak our minds. I read this to be that her beliefs were coming forward as she did clinical therapy work and that would be inappropriate (unless it was a Christian therapist group.). I'm an advocate of free speech as well. However, in the professional setting of providing therapy there are constraints. But I agree that if she was overheard at a party discussing this issue and the school decided she wasn't allowed to feel this way, that would be very wrong. I wouldn't like that at all!
IF she is the one who is attempting to impose her own belief on others, then I agree with the ruling. But IF they simply don't like her belief system, that is a horse of a different color.
We posted at the same time..just seeing yours now. You said it much better then I, and that is exactly what I meant. Well put. I agree with you 100%
If she was removed over her personal belief system, that is wrong. If she was acting as a counselor and counseling other students that homosexuality is wrong, then I believe the ruling is correct. Let me reverse it a bit...how would you feel if a counselor was teaching your children that it was wrong to associate with black students...that races should be kept seperate or something. There are still those that hold onto those beliefs. Everyone should be entitled to their own belief system...that is freedom. Freedom of speech is also a right that should not be removed. But to counsel others that way when acting in a professional capacity where you have so much influence...ie" a teacher in public school system, a professional counselor, etc. then I do believe that is wrong.
I still see this whole issue as the civil rights movement of this decade. 50 years ago it was about race...now it's about sexuality.
I still see this whole issue as the civil rights movement of this decade. 50 years ago it was about race...now it's about sexuality.
Hm. Don't shoot me. Maybe I am reading this incorrectly (both times I read it) but it seems to me the issue isn't her belief but that she would use her belief while providing therapy in a school setting. Honestly, that is an ethical no no when it comes to providing therapy. There are Christian counseling centers in which that would be just fine, but in most cases . . . a therapists personal point of view is inappropriate to be the basis of counsel. And it seems that this student was training to become a school counselor and that would be highly unwelcome there.
Whether you agree that homosexuality is right or wrong, it would not be a counselors job to convince someone of their feelings. They help a person understand their own feelings and work through the issues as related to their mental health and how they interact with family, friends and society as a whole. Judgement has no place in therapy.
At least that was my take on it when I was in school and worked in the field.
I'm all in favor of free speech!! !! !! But in the context of providing therapy it is a little different situation. And I read this to be about that vs. just having a point of view. Most colleges and universities are pretty liberal in their beliefs. (I think.)
Whether you agree that homosexuality is right or wrong, it would not be a counselors job to convince someone of their feelings. They help a person understand their own feelings and work through the issues as related to their mental health and how they interact with family, friends and society as a whole. Judgement has no place in therapy.
At least that was my take on it when I was in school and worked in the field.
I'm all in favor of free speech!! !! !! But in the context of providing therapy it is a little different situation. And I read this to be about that vs. just having a point of view. Most colleges and universities are pretty liberal in their beliefs. (I think.)
Liberals who applaud this move may want to remember that the pendulum will swing back. I wonder how much they'll like it them?????
Wow so someones beliefs are now wrong even if they are religious beliefs so what will they do about Islamic students ,I am uncertain where Islam stands on Homosexuality...
So much for free speech. It's "right think" or you're out!
The implications of this ruling are horrendous.
The implications of this ruling are horrendous.
You must join this user group in order to participate in this discussion.
You are reading content posted in the Current Events . . . Group
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
