The Other McCain

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Surprise: Federal Judge Upholds University’s ‘No Christians Allowed’ Policy

Posted on | July 29, 2010 | 31 Comments

The limits of “diversity”:

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. . . .
U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh dismissed [Julea] 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. . . .
The case is similar to a lawsuit the [Alliance Defense Fund] 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.”

Approval of homosexuality is therefore now compulsory in public universities. Christians pay taxes to support universities which forbid Christian students from expressing their beliefs.

You will not be surprised to learn that, just like the judge who blocked the Arizona immigration enforcement law, Judge Steeh was appointed by Bill Clinton.

(Via Memeorandum. More at Hot Air, Weasel Zippers and Red State.)

UPDATE: James Joyner offers criticism that does not, however, contradict the fundamental point: That state universities are now denying diplomas to students whose Christian beliefs contradict pro-gay academic orthodoxy. Whatever its legal basis — in this case, requiring students to conform to the guidelines of a professional licensing organization — this amounts to an agency of government penalizing Christian students.

We ought to call things by their right names, rather than to permit ourselves to be deceived by clever sophistry.

Category: Education, Gays

Comments

31 Responses to “Surprise: Federal Judge Upholds University’s ‘No Christians Allowed’ Policy”

  1. Erich Madden
    July 29th, 2010 @ 7:37 am

    A “reeducation program”? Is that like a “reeducation camp”? That sounds oddly familiar, where have I heard of that sort of thing before?

  2. Erich Madden
    July 29th, 2010 @ 3:37 am

    A “reeducation program”? Is that like a “reeducation camp”? That sounds oddly familiar, where have I heard of that sort of thing before?

  3. Lifeofthemind
    July 29th, 2010 @ 8:10 am

    It seems reasonable to expect the student to counsel all who need help. Indeed I would be concerned if the school attempted to prevent a student from counseling some people because of their conflicting beliefs. As part of the curriculum they should have professionals, including clergy of various faiths, go over how they can focus on the needs of the person being counseled and perform their duties without violating their own beliefs. A good counselor should be able to counsel someone they disagree with.

  4. Lifeofthemind
    July 29th, 2010 @ 4:10 am

    It seems reasonable to expect the student to counsel all who need help. Indeed I would be concerned if the school attempted to prevent a student from counseling some people because of their conflicting beliefs. As part of the curriculum they should have professionals, including clergy of various faiths, go over how they can focus on the needs of the person being counseled and perform their duties without violating their own beliefs. A good counselor should be able to counsel someone they disagree with.

  5. TJ Parker
    July 29th, 2010 @ 12:05 pm

    What misleading coverage of this story!

    “Approval of homosexuality is therefore now compulsory in public universities.”

    No. A student attempting to become a counselor must adhere to the standards established by the professional organization that administers certification. Chief among these standards is one that states that a counselor’s job is to serve the needs of his or her patient, and not to impose his or her own beliefs on them.

    You feckless Christian zealots haven’t even thought through your own position on this matter. It cuts both ways! Do you want a Christian Scientists as our Pharmacist? one who refuses to dispense your prescription on religious grounds? How about a Satanist advising your kids on anger issues? Oh yeah, and your daughter’s counselor just happens to believe that every woman is essentially bisexual, so when she comes in distraught after a break-up with her boyfriend, sure, lets counsel her to reach out to a compassionate woman. Oh, your religion seems oppressive? look, young man, your Bible was written 3000 years ago by illiterate shepherds who wiped their @sses with leaves and twigs …

  6. TJ Parker
    July 29th, 2010 @ 12:05 pm

    What misleading coverage of this story!

    “Approval of homosexuality is therefore now compulsory in public universities.”

    No. A student attempting to become a counselor must adhere to the standards established by the professional organization that administers certification. Chief among these standards is one that states that a counselor’s job is to serve the needs of his or her patient, and not to impose his or her own beliefs on them.

    You feckless Christian zealots haven’t even thought through your own position on this matter. It cuts both ways! Do you want a Christian Scientists as our Pharmacist? one who refuses to dispense your prescription on religious grounds? How about a Satanist advising your kids on anger issues? Oh yeah, and your daughter’s counselor just happens to believe that every woman is essentially bisexual, so when she comes in distraught after a break-up with her boyfriend, sure, lets counsel her to reach out to a compassionate woman. Oh, your religion seems oppressive? look, young man, your Bible was written 3000 years ago by illiterate shepherds who wiped their @sses with leaves and twigs …

  7. TJ Parker
    July 29th, 2010 @ 8:05 am

    What misleading coverage of this story!

    “Approval of homosexuality is therefore now compulsory in public universities.”

    No. A student attempting to become a counselor must adhere to the standards established by the professional organization that administers certification. Chief among these standards is one that states that a counselor’s job is to serve the needs of his or her patient, and not to impose his or her own beliefs on them.

    You feckless Christian zealots haven’t even thought through your own position on this matter. It cuts both ways! Do you want a Christian Scientists as our Pharmacist? one who refuses to dispense your prescription on religious grounds? How about a Satanist advising your kids on anger issues? Oh yeah, and your daughter’s counselor just happens to believe that every woman is essentially bisexual, so when she comes in distraught after a break-up with her boyfriend, sure, lets counsel her to reach out to a compassionate woman. Oh, your religion seems oppressive? look, young man, your Bible was written 3000 years ago by illiterate shepherds who wiped their @sses with leaves and twigs …

  8. theblogprof
    July 29th, 2010 @ 1:09 pm

    Been on this particular story (my neck of the woods ya know) since last year, and beat Fox to the punch: http://theblogprof.blogspot.com/2010/07/eastern-michigan-university-student.html

  9. theblogprof
    July 29th, 2010 @ 1:09 pm

    Been on this particular story (my neck of the woods ya know) since last year, and beat Fox to the punch: http://theblogprof.blogspot.com/2010/07/eastern-michigan-university-student.html

  10. theblogprof
    July 29th, 2010 @ 9:09 am

    Been on this particular story (my neck of the woods ya know) since last year, and beat Fox to the punch: http://theblogprof.blogspot.com/2010/07/eastern-michigan-university-student.html

  11. Not so fast on this one guys « DaTechguy's Blog
    July 29th, 2010 @ 10:53 am

    […] is no question that the media culture and university culture is trying to promote and protecthomosexuality (remember Dirkhising Christian & Newsom? Exactly!) and to attack […]

  12. Is Discrimination Against Christians Legal?
    July 29th, 2010 @ 11:27 am

    […] Stacy McCain contends, “Approval of homosexuality is therefore now compulsory in public universities. Christians pay taxes to support universities which forbid Christian students from expressing their beliefs.” […]

  13. James Joyner
    July 29th, 2010 @ 4:34 pm

    Stacy,

    I’d lay odds that a significant number of the graduates of EMU’s counseling program are in fact Christians. There’s no rule against being a Christian or even against thinking homosexual behavior is sinful, immoral, or even disgusting.

    But they do require that participants in the program be prepared to meet the obligations of the profession they’re being trained for. Which includes counseling homosexuals.

  14. James Joyner
    July 29th, 2010 @ 12:34 pm

    Stacy,

    I’d lay odds that a significant number of the graduates of EMU’s counseling program are in fact Christians. There’s no rule against being a Christian or even against thinking homosexual behavior is sinful, immoral, or even disgusting.

    But they do require that participants in the program be prepared to meet the obligations of the profession they’re being trained for. Which includes counseling homosexuals.

  15. Micawber
    July 29th, 2010 @ 4:47 pm

    There’s a difference between belief (or speech) and conduct. She can believe anything she wants.

  16. Micawber
    July 29th, 2010 @ 4:47 pm

    There’s a difference between belief (or speech) and conduct. She can believe anything she wants.

  17. Micawber
    July 29th, 2010 @ 12:47 pm

    There’s a difference between belief (or speech) and conduct. She can believe anything she wants.

  18. Guest
    July 29th, 2010 @ 4:48 pm

    “A student attempting to become a counselor must adhere to the standards established by the professional organization that administers certification”

    Regrettably the Ivy-Inbred professionally organized by the thought-police to administer such certification are themselves so trapped inside their one collective thought that the term ‘pluralism’ is a foreign concept they are incapable of understanding.

    No more funding for the State-controlled Ivy-Inbred Thought-Police.

  19. Guest
    July 29th, 2010 @ 4:48 pm

    “A student attempting to become a counselor must adhere to the standards established by the professional organization that administers certification”

    Regrettably the Ivy-Inbred professionally organized by the thought-police to administer such certification are themselves so trapped inside their one collective thought that the term ‘pluralism’ is a foreign concept they are incapable of understanding.

    No more funding for the State-controlled Ivy-Inbred Thought-Police.

  20. Guest
    July 29th, 2010 @ 12:48 pm

    “A student attempting to become a counselor must adhere to the standards established by the professional organization that administers certification”

    Regrettably the Ivy-Inbred professionally organized by the thought-police to administer such certification are themselves so trapped inside their one collective thought that the term ‘pluralism’ is a foreign concept they are incapable of understanding.

    No more funding for the State-controlled Ivy-Inbred Thought-Police.

  21. Guest
    July 29th, 2010 @ 4:53 pm

    TJ Parker and James Joyner

    Though your illiberal discrimination is vulgar and hideous I would never take it upon myself to FORCE you into a State-controlled Sensitivity Training Gulag.

    This this difference between your tyranny and my liberty, I believe in Pluralism while you Ivy-Inbred believe in Statism.

  22. Guest
    July 29th, 2010 @ 4:53 pm

    TJ Parker and James Joyner

    Though your illiberal discrimination is vulgar and hideous I would never take it upon myself to FORCE you into a State-controlled Sensitivity Training Gulag.

    This this difference between your tyranny and my liberty, I believe in Pluralism while you Ivy-Inbred believe in Statism.

  23. Guest
    July 29th, 2010 @ 12:53 pm

    TJ Parker and James Joyner

    Though your illiberal discrimination is vulgar and hideous I would never take it upon myself to FORCE you into a State-controlled Sensitivity Training Gulag.

    This this difference between your tyranny and my liberty, I believe in Pluralism while you Ivy-Inbred believe in Statism.

  24. James Joyner
    July 29th, 2010 @ 5:02 pm

    I went to the same lowly regional state institution as our gracious host.

    And the girl isn’t being forced into sensitivity training. She’s being offered that option as a way of learning to do the job she’s currently unqualified to do. She’s declined and free to go!

    Indeed, she’s free to enroll in probably any other program at the university.

  25. James Joyner
    July 29th, 2010 @ 1:02 pm

    I went to the same lowly regional state institution as our gracious host.

    And the girl isn’t being forced into sensitivity training. She’s being offered that option as a way of learning to do the job she’s currently unqualified to do. She’s declined and free to go!

    Indeed, she’s free to enroll in probably any other program at the university.

  26. Guest
    July 29th, 2010 @ 5:18 pm

    “I went to the same lowly regional state institution as our gracious host.”

    A Statist-controlled institution-whether lowly or Ivy- remains the same one-collective indoctrination.

    This is your illiberal problem-you have convinced yourself you are educated.

    I realize you cannot relate to what I am saying because you have never experienced what life was like living in the former Soviet Union; you have become what I escaped.

  27. Guest
    July 29th, 2010 @ 5:18 pm

    “I went to the same lowly regional state institution as our gracious host.”

    A Statist-controlled institution-whether lowly or Ivy- remains the same one-collective indoctrination.

    This is your illiberal problem-you have convinced yourself you are educated.

    I realize you cannot relate to what I am saying because you have never experienced what life was like living in the former Soviet Union; you have become what I escaped.

  28. Guest
    July 29th, 2010 @ 1:18 pm

    “I went to the same lowly regional state institution as our gracious host.”

    A Statist-controlled institution-whether lowly or Ivy- remains the same one-collective indoctrination.

    This is your illiberal problem-you have convinced yourself you are educated.

    I realize you cannot relate to what I am saying because you have never experienced what life was like living in the former Soviet Union; you have become what I escaped.

  29. Kojocaro
    July 29th, 2010 @ 10:43 pm

    james joyner needs to be thrown into a reeducation camp until he agrees and if doesn’t he deserves to be tortured see how that works scumtard

  30. Kojocaro
    July 29th, 2010 @ 10:43 pm

    james joyner needs to be thrown into a reeducation camp until he agrees and if doesn’t he deserves to be tortured see how that works scumtard

  31. Kojocaro
    July 29th, 2010 @ 6:43 pm

    james joyner needs to be thrown into a reeducation camp until he agrees and if doesn’t he deserves to be tortured see how that works scumtard