College Course Lumps Homosexuality, Rape, Murder (Franciscan of Steubenville)

NPR ^ | 9/10/2012 | Jeff Brady

[markomalley]

The Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio faces questions about its accreditation because of a course description that links homosexuality with crimes like murder, rape and robbery.

The university's social work program offers the course, called SWK 314 Deviant Behavior. The course description reads: "The behaviors that are primarily examined are murder, rape, robbery, prostitution, homosexuality, mental illness and drug use."

Members of a Franciscan University gay and lesbian alumni group on Facebook discovered the course description and have asked the school to change it.

"As a lesbian and as a psychological professional, I found a couple of things offensive," says Elizabeth Vermilyea, who graduated from Franciscan University in 1991 with a psychology degree. Today she's working on a doctorate and consults with mental health organizations. She objects to including both mental health and homosexuality in that list.

"The state of the art in science on homosexuality is not that it's deviant," says Vermilyea. "The DSM — Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders — has removed it ... as an illness."

Franciscan University sits on a hill in Steubenville, Ohio, nearly 40 miles west of Pittsburgh. With about 2,600 mostly undergraduate students, the university is proud of its rigorous academics and its conservative reputation.

In a written statement to NPR, the school says, "Franciscan University follows Catholic Church teaching in regard to homosexuality and treats homosexual persons with 'respect, compassion, and sensitivity' (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2358) while holding homosexual acts as 'intrinsically disordered.' "

The university says the term "deviant" is used in the sociological sense, to mean "different from the norm." And it says the course "covers a wide range of topics including crime, alcoholism, heterosexual deviance and homosexuality."

But gay and lesbian alumni are not satisfied with that explanation.

"What if you're a gay student at Franciscan University? How are you going to feel if you're sitting in that class and they're putting you in the same category as murderers?" asks Gregory Gronbacher, who graduated from Franciscan University in 1990.

Gronbacher and Vermilyea contacted school officials, trying to get the course description changed. The university's attorney responded instead with an email warning them not to use the university's name or logo in their activities.

Franciscan University now faces questions from the group that accredits its social work program.

"The fact that homosexuality was identified in the course description as a deviant behavior raises a flag," says Stephen Holloway, director of the office of accreditation at the Council on Social Work Education.

Holloway says there is a diversity requirement that includes sexual orientation in his organization's accrediting standards.

"Understanding diversity and difference and their dynamics in society is critical for social workers to be effective in working with diverse populations," explains Holloway.

The CSWE has accredited Franciscan University since 2001, and there is no history of problems.

A spokeswoman for Franciscan University says the school is reviewing the course description to determine whether it needs to be changed.

[markomalley]

From the course catalog:

According to the teachings of the Church:

Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder.

CDF, Letter, Homosexualitatis problema, 3 (1988)

So it seems that, according to the teachings of the Church, the inclination that manifests itself in homosexual acts belongs right there. And, since this is a Catholic institution, after all, they ought to teach what the Church teaches (wish more Catholic institutions did so).

And, oh, by the way, let us not forget Galatians 5:19-21...

[GeronL]

Makes perfect sense to me.

[skinkinthegrass]

oh!.. Liberal ed. Establishment are really going to disturbed pissed this university gets it right.

[LaserJock]

“The DSM — Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders — has removed it ... as an illness.”

After a massive POLITICAL, not scientific lobbying effort.

The same kind of lobbying effort is now building steam in the APA to declare pedophilia (or at least pederasty) a normal and healthy sexual orientation and not a disorder.

[scottjewell]

I guess the truth hurts. But if the shoe fits....

[Cronos]

"What if you're a gay student at Franciscan University? How are you going to feel if you're sitting in that class and they're putting you in the same category as murderers?"

err.. don't attend that class...

[PGR88]

The Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio faces questions about its accreditation

I think I have seen the thin edge of the wedge. While "accreditation" in this case only refers to "social work" (no great loss - social work coursework is the equivalent of attending Communist Party School), it will also be a potent weapon for leftist ideological purity for the future and in other fields. No accreditation? then no Gov't-controlled student loans and no recognition of diplomas by "professional organizations."

[SumProVita]

“The state of the art in science on homosexuality is not that it’s deviant,” says Vermilyea.

___________________________________________

Hogwash!

[SumProVita]

Yes....and here’s more information:

Are Mental Health Professionals Working to Normalize Pedophilia? (Just like Homosexuality in 1973)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2765386/posts

[apillar]

While "accreditation" in this case only refers to "social work" (no great loss - social work coursework is the equivalent of attending Communist Party School),

When I was in college their were two groups of students that majored in "Social Work". The far, far left fringe radical feminist, homosexual types and the slacker, party crowd (it was widely regarded as the easiest major).

(Actually that explains much about why most government employees in the social work fields are either radical lefty's or lazy chair fillers.)

[Del Rapier]

Given that it is a Christian University,they have a right to teach things in line with their religious commitments.It is not for the State to decree the beliefs of religious institutions,unless these beliefs condone illegal actions....which this course obviously doesn’t.

[UnwashedPeasant]

"As a lesbian and as a psychological professional, I found a couple of things offensive,"

I think she means "psychology professional," but she made a Freudian slip. She is psychological, and at some level, she knows it.

The psychology profession has been overrun by homosexual activists. That is why they no longer officially consider homosexuality to be a mental illness.

[Mr. Lucky]

More likely she meant psychotic professional.

[onedoug]

Your buddy....

[Washi]

"As a lesbian and as a psychological professional,I found a couple of things offensive,"

I'm sure that the rapists, murderers, and thieves found it offensive as well.

[IronJack]

This “psychologist” should revisit her Statistics notes. By definition, the behavior of 1 to 2 percent of the population is outside 1, 2, and 3 standard deviations, thereby making it “abnormal” or “deviant.”

I’m sure if you asked the murderers, rapists7, prostitutes, and drug abusers, they would resent being called “deviant” as well. However, in the olden days, science didn’t care one whit for opinion; it was based on fact.

[generally]

Try this.

Go here:
http://books.google.com/ngrams
and type in homosexuality, rape

Not a proof of anything, but a very interesting correlation.

[DPMD]

Well, let us compensate all gays, and once again earn their goodwill, by establishing a course that directly links homosexuality to world peace, universal good health, healing of the planet and slowing the rise of the oceans.

And, of course, a massive same-sex marriage ceremony on the quad.

[Emperor Palpatine]

Social work isn’t a legitimate line of work.

[Emperor Palpatine]

“Anyone who goes to a psychologist should have their head examined!”
-Groucho Marx