Fired U of I Professor Vindicated

Illinois Family Institute ^ | 7-29-10 | Alliance Defense Fund

[mlizzy]

U of I says Kenneth Howell will continue as adjunct professor

Editor's Note: There's some good news from the academic front for a change. Attorneys representing the University of Illinois contacted the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) to inform them that Dr. Kenneth Howell will be permitted to teach courses again Fall Semester. (See story below.)

This is, indeed, good news, but, unfortunately it comes right on the heels of an academic travesty. Julea Ward, a graduate student in Eastern Michigan University's counseling program, lost her case against the school. She was kicked out of the program when she referred a homosexual client to another counselor because of a conflict between her religious beliefs and counseling someone on a homosexual relationship. Ms. Ward was told that in order to remain in the program, she would have to engage in "remediation," in order to change her beliefs. She refused remediation, was interrogated, mocked, and ultimately dismissed from the program. With the help of the ADF, she sued, and lost. The ADF plans on appealing the decision. (Read more HERE.) ~Laurie Higgins

The University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana confirmed to Alliance Defense Fund attorneys Thursday that it will once again allow popular professor Dr. Kenneth Howell to teach on Catholicism after recently firing him for explaining the Roman Catholic Church's position on human sexual behavior to members of his class.

ADF attorneys representing Howell sent a letter to university officials on July 12 explaining that the university's actions violated his rights protected by the First Amendment and asked that he be reinstated.

"A university cannot censor professors' speech -- including classroom speech related to the topic of the class -- merely because certain ideas 'offend' an anonymous student. We greatly appreciate the university's move to put Professor Howell back in the classroom, but we will be watching carefully to make sure that his academic freedom is protected throughout the university's ongoing process," said ADF Senior Counsel David French.

A letter from the University of Illinois Office of University Counsel admits no wrongdoing on the part of the university but states, "The School of Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics will be contacting Dr. Howell to offer him the opportunity to teach Religion 127, Introduction to Catholicism, on a visiting instructional appointment at the University of Illinois, for the fall 2010 semester. Dr. Howell will be appointed and paid by the University for this adjunct teaching assignment."

The letter then adds that a university committee will continue its investigation of Howell's situation.

Howell, who had been teaching at the university since 2001, was relieved of his teaching duties based in part on an anonymous complaint sent via e-mail to university officials. The e-mail was sent by the friend of an anonymous student who claimed to be "offended" by a May 4 e-mail Howell sent to students elaborating on a class discussion concerning Catholic beliefs about sexual behavior.

The May 4 e-mail from Howell addressed a May 3 lecture in which he explained how the Roman Catholic Church distinguishes between same-sex attraction and homosexual conduct. He accurately stated the church's teaching that homosexual conduct is morally wrong, framing the issue in the context of natural moral law.

[mlizzy]

Great news on Professor Howell!

[thulldud]

...he explained how the Roman Catholic Church distinguishes between same-sex attraction and homosexual conduct.

Catholics aren't the only ones who see this distinction. But you would expect at least that in a Catholic school, teaching the official Catholic position would be an unexceptional thing.

And, in this bitter-for-sweet, darkness-for-light culture, you would be wrong.

[thulldud]

Hmph, I think I got this case confused with something else.

Nemmine....

[circlecity]

"Catholics aren't the only ones who see this distinction."

I think the is the same position most Biblical Protestant churches take, even conservative ones. Whether one is born that way or it's nurtured is really irrelevant. It's whether they act out on the desire.

[RedStateGuyTrappedinCT]

...it will once again allow popular professor Dr. Kenneth Howell to teach on Catholicism after recently firing him for explaining the Roman Catholic Church's position on human sexual behavior to members of his class.

If he's teaching a class on Catholicism, shouldn't he be allowed to discuss church teaching? Just sayin'

You can't make this cr@p up.

[Red_Devil 232]

Part of the “remediation” that was suggested to Julea Ward was to attend a “gay pride march”!

[mlizzy]

Yes, exactly! It was pretty absurd to fire him. I’m glad he’s back; that didn’t take long at all ...

[Neidermeyer]

I’m surprised they didn’t suggest that he be Bawney Fwanks date at Fire Island.

[BenKenobi]

He did exactly what he should have done, by going to the folks at FIRE.

I predicted he’d be rich or reinstated, and sure enough. Glad to see he is back on the job again.

[mlizzy]

It really is good news. And just in time; school starts soon.

[Campion]

But you would expect at least that in a Catholic school

He's at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, hardly a "Catholic school" (though they do have a pretty solid Newman center, I'm told).

However, he was hired to teach classes on Catholicism. It makes no sense to do that, and then to fire him for accurately relaying Catholic teachings to his students.

[Salvation]

BTTT!

[Lee N. Field]

was relieved of his teaching duties based in part on an anonymous complaint sent via e-mail to university officials. The e-mail was sent by the friend of an anonymous student who claimed to be "offended" by a May 4 e-mail Howell sent to students elaborating on a class discussion concerning Catholic beliefs about sexual behavior.

If true, the Screw of I is on real shaky ground. Anonymous complaint?

[Salvation]

Insight Scoop

Dr. Kenneth Howell reinstated!

From ChicagoBreakingNews.com (ht: American Papist):

An instructor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign -- barred from teaching after a student called his explanation of Roman Catholic teaching on homosexuality "hate speech" -- has been asked to return this fall, the university said today.

Kenneth Howell was barred last month from teaching two courses in the university's Religion Department after explaining during class and in an e-mail why the church believes  homosexual behavior violates natural moral law.His case has been taken up by First Amendment advocates and others, and his supporters have created a Facebook page with more than 6,100 people supporting him.

The university released a statement today saying that Howell's appointment as an adjunct instructor in the Religion Department -- teaching Religion 127, Introduction to Catholicism -- will be continued for the fall.

Read more.

The report concludes: "From now on, Catholic studies instructors teaching courses for U. of I. credit will be paid by the university, according to the university." It will be interesting to hear more about that decision/change.

Posted by Carl Olson on Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 04:06 PM

[Lee N. Field]

He's at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, hardly a "Catholic school" (though they do have a pretty solid Newman center, I'm told).

UI Newman Ctr. has a decent cafeteria, anyway. At least it did 20 years ago. Everything else around has changed, I wouldn't be surprised if they'd bulldozed it and put in computer labs.

(My old neighborhood is just plain gone. Replaced by ugly condos.)

[mlizzy]

Yes an anonymous complaint about an anonymous student. UIllinois jumped on this faster than Obama did after hearing about the Breitbart video. Smart people discern/investigate. Others, jump to conclusions and make themselves look a bit like fools. I'm really pleased he's back. So are his students I'm sure.

"Fail" to the "Chief," now fear the "Queer": My "Easter" letter to the U of "I" [previous article my husband wrote in this regard]

[Erasmus]

Which neighborhood, perchance? I’m most familiar with the 2nd & John St area, and with the old 6-pack dorms (MRH). Both of those places have changed a lot since the U’s centennial.

[Lee N. Field]

Trailer park on north Lincoln Avenue. It was never anything but a slum, but it was what we could afford.

I passed through town a 4 or 5 years ago, taking my oldest to Carbondale. UI was massively built up since my days there. Depressing, to me.