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| Federal Judge Decides Christians Can't Be Counselors |
| 2010-07-28 |
| 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. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |
| #12 So much for Freedom Of Religion in the 1st Amendment. This judge is obviously an idiot: The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the establishment of a national religion by the Congress or the preference of one religion over another, non-religion over religion, or religion over non-religion. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2010-07-28 21:38 |
| #11 #8 - agreed big jim |
| Posted by: Hellfish 2010-07-28 21:19 |
| #10 Clinton appointee - what a surprise! |
| Posted by: DMFD 2010-07-28 21:18 |
| #9 One hopes that by the same logic they don't permit Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Hare Krishnas, Mormons, Wicans, New Agers, Socialists, Communists, Maoists, Taoists, Animists, .... to be counselors either! Now now, 3dc. Those folks are minorities. They get special privilages. Just ask the DoJ. |
| Posted by: miscellaneous 2010-07-28 20:57 |
| #8 The Left is making its move as we speak. They're going for it. I think retribution should be swift and harsh. |
| Posted by: bigjim-CA 2010-07-28 20:36 |
| #7 One hopes that by the same logic they don't permit Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Hare Krishnas, Mormons, Wicans, New Agers, Socialists, Communists, Maoists, Taoists, Animists, .... to be counselors either! One must be fair! |
| Posted by: 3dc 2010-07-28 20:16 |
| #6 I heard about a similar case this AM at Augusta, GA. This isn't going away |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-07-28 19:54 |
| #5 Ah yes, now the "re-education" programs are starting. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2010-07-28 18:50 |
| #4 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. Ah. Git yer mind raht, missy. Or we'll hit you with the strobes and the Wagner... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2010-07-28 18:30 |
| #3 Federal judges are on a roll. |
| Posted by: bman 2010-07-28 17:55 |
| #2 Complete and utter BS. So unles you're liberal, aka the Ruling Elite, you're mind and ethics don't count and you are garbage to be discarded. More forced social engineering. |
| Posted by: miscellaneous 2010-07-28 17:21 |
| #1 This has been going on for awhile. The ACA code is similar to that for social workers. To get through a social work training program these days, you have to endorse specifically the liberal progressive agenda. The association has worked with all the universities who train social workers to ensure that you don't have a choice in the matter. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2010-07-28 17:02 |