Baptist Campus (Baylor U.) Paper Backs Same-Sex 'Marriages' Students May Face Disciplinary Action

Agape Press ^ | Mar. 1, 2004 | Jim Brown

[Rennes Templar]

(Agape Press) - The student newspaper at the largest Baptist university in the world has endorsed homosexual "marriage."

Back in November, Christian pollster George Barna reported that approximately 40 percent of young adults (between the ages of 18 and 38) believe it is "morally acceptable" to have a sexual relationship with someone of the same gender. If one believes those findings, it should come as no surprise that on Friday, the editorial board of the Baylor University Lariat compared opposition to same-sex marriage to discrimination based on skin color or religious beliefs.

After summarizing recent events in San Francisco, where more than 3,500 "marriage" licenses have been issued to homosexual couples in a little more than two weeks, the editorial states:

"Like many heterosexual couples, many gay couples share deep bonds of love, some so strong they've persevered years of discrimination for their choice to co-habitate with and date one another. Just as it isn't fair to discriminate against someone for their skin color, heritage or religious beliefs, it isn't fair to discriminate against someone for their sexual orientation. Shouldn't gay couples be allowed to enjoy the benefits and happiness of marriage, too?"

The paper's editorial board approved the article by a 5-2 vote -- and editor Lacy Elwood says it was "no big deal." But Baylor president Robert Sloan, Jr., evidently thinks differently. Sloan says the editorial board of the Lariat may have violated university policy.

"Espousing in a Baylor publication a view that is so out of touch with traditional Christian teachings is not only unwelcome, it comes dangerously close to violating University policy, as published in the Student Handbook, prohibiting the advocacy of any understandings of sexuality that are contrary to biblical teaching," Sloan says on the university's website.

"We do not support the use of publications such as the Lariat, which is published by the University, to advocate positions that undermine foundational Christian principles upon which this institution was founded and currently operates," the university head says.

Baylor spokesman Larry Brumley says the paper's views do not represent the vast majority of the school's 14,000 students and 100,000 alumni, not to mention its administration, faculty, staff, and board of regents. He says the Waco-based school is outraged over the editorial -- but the students will not necessarily be fired from the newspaper.

"Our student handbook is very clear that homosexual acts are treated with the same disciplinary proceedings as adultery and fornication and other types of sexual sin," he says. "More importantly in this case, what we're dealing with here is an advocacy of a matter that is really outside of traditional Christian teaching."

According to Brumley, the Student Publications Board will be convening in the next few days to discuss what if any punishments will be meted out against the paper's editorial staff. He adds that he is not sure whether the editorial was triggered by the school's recent decision to revoke the financial aid for a homosexual seminary student.

© 2004 AgapePress all rights reserved

[Rennes Templar]

The student newspaper board members are, one would think, moral students raised in Judeo-Christian families and educational institutions. For them to render a decision like this is a victory for the forces of liberal PC, pro-gay, feel good, amoral, relativist secularist humanist-psycho-social programming that have infiltrated the media and educational sytems, (even Christian institutions) and ergo the minds of the youth. Karl would be proud.

[King Black Robe]

I agree 100%. The left has been building their amoral base for a long time. It's not going to be fixed overnight. But I think Baylor would be unwise to make martyrs out of these students. What they need is another approach. They need to insist that the argument for morality be given equal time and space. They need to find persuasive voices to change the minds of those misguided kids. Force never works, it backfires. That's what is happening in the gay marriage debate. The gay activists had the public numbed and dumbed, but they got greedy and now they've got a revolt.

[NYer]

Ping

[kjam22]

They need to find persuasive voices to change the minds of those misguided kids.

LOL... yeah that's good in theory. In reality the kids need to be taught a very simple lesson of life. That you are free to say whatever you want in any environment. But with that freedom comes responsibility. They should be kicked out of school permanently. And maybe they will figure out responsibility before the day that they are employees with responsibility to their company. Or spouses with responsibility to their spouse. Or parents with responsibility to their kids... etc.

[StonyBurk]

The President of Baylor has posted a reasoned reply. That the editor thought it nobig deal-suggests the child needs to study his Bible more -and comeout from amongst those who
confuse the God given gift of skin color with the Evil ones
deception of homosexual orientation.I fear this nation is
about to feel the Wrath of God for we have not merely
"forgotten God" As Lincoln suggested -we have tolerated a
government that built a wall to keep God out. We have become as sodom and as Gomorrah.

[JohnnyZ]

The student newspaper board members are, one would think, moral students raised in Judeo-Christian families and educational institutions.

Sometimes the student newspaper draws the commie crowd.

There's a reason the liberal media elite is so liberal and elitist.

[King Black Robe]

Yeah, you might be right. I was thinking of winning the issue -- big picture -- rather than what is best for the students themselves.

[Rennes Templar]

"We have become as Sodom and as Gomorrah."

I don't think we've become it yet, but we're headed that way. Thing is, the Soddomites are still a tiny minority. It'd the gosh dang mass media that amplifies their perversions. If we don't reject that whole scene soon, then
yes, I think we will feel the wrath.

[JackDanielsOldNo7]

for their choice

I did not think they had a choice. I thought being a butt humper was "in the genes" and they could not help it.

[mgstarr]

While I've generally considered Sloan to be an extremely poor president, he is right in this matter.

Baylor '86

[xm177e2]

The college has a right to put religion before free and open discussion of ideas. If they try to hide this fact and present themselves as a free & open campus, they should be excoriated in the media... but if they make no secret of their religiousity then there's almost no issue at all here. I wouldn't go to that school, but some people would...

[xm177e2]

I did not think they had a choice. I thought being a butt humper was "in the genes" and they could not help it.

Re-read the article. The "choice" being referred to is not the choice to have gay desires, but the choice to act on those existing desires.

[kjam22]

Yeah... the students forgot one simple thing. The paper belongs to the University of Baylor..... it isn't thier's to print whatever they want. I'd kick them out of school permanently if it was me.

[k2blader]

Maybe these people claim to be Christians, but if so, their actions belie their claims.

Why are they at Baylor, I wonder...

[FourPeas]

Back in November, Christian pollster George Barna reported that approximately 40 percent of young adults (between the ages of 18 and 38) believe it is "morally acceptable" to have a sexual relationship with someone of the same gender. If one believes those findings, it should come as no surprise that on Friday, the editorial board of the Baylor University Lariat compared opposition to same-sex marriage to discrimination based on skin color or religious beliefs.

OK, let me get this straight. Because 60 percent of young adults (between the ages of 18 and 38) do not believe it is "morally acceptable" to have a sexual relationship with someone of the same gender, then it should come as no surprise that the editorial board of a Baylor University (a Baptist university) publication compared opposition to same sex marriage to discrimination based on skin color or religious beliefs?

Eh?

[ahayes]

Parents said they'd pay all the fees if they went there, otherwise they'd have to pay part or all?

I went to a very conservative Baptist college as well. Some of the people on the school paper were kinda looney (yes, the loons flock to the media and performing arts--probably something to do with narcissism), but if anything like that had happened they would be out of a job. I say kick them off the paper. They're welcome to go say whatever they like somewhere else.

[chachacha]

Well, Well Well! Some more proud parents who can defend the little angels they decided to send to college.

Little Johnny would be give a one way ticket to a job or flop house so he can pay for his own dis-education.

I think it's time all tax payer money stops going to any college that teaches immoral, anti American slime.

[King Black Robe]

Yeah. But mark my words, they will be used nationwide as examples of Christian intolerance and censorship. That's my point. It is not just about the right of the college to set Biblical standards. It is also about free speech and press. In this case, we are disadvantaged. But for the most part, a fair and balanced debate would aid our side tremendously.

I am not saying that the college should move it's position one iota. I also think the college should give more thought to the beliefs of its chosen student editorial board. But now that the damage is done (the college erred in allowing this to happen in the first place) they need to proceed with caution.

[ahayes]

With all the data they can find in just an hour on this forum I'd think they'd be able to crush the insurgents in a rational debate in no time.