|
Case of dismissed Catholic professor under review |
|
|
|
By The Catholic Spirit
|
|
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 |
A University of Illinois faculty committee is reviewing the dismissal of a Catholic adjunct professor of religion after a student complained about the instructor’s explanation of the church’s teaching that homosexual acts are morally wrong.
The review comes after Kenneth Howell, the professor who also directed
the Institute of Catholic Thought at the St. John’s Catholic Newman
Center at the university, said he was told after the spring semester he
would no longer be teaching two courses on Catholicism even after
offering to change the content of the class in question.
Howell’s dismissal followed a complaint from a student, writing on
behalf of another student in the “Introduction to Catholicism” class
who wanted to remain anonymous, to Robert McKim, head of the religion
department. The complaint said the professor’s May 4 e-mail to students
explaining the morality of homosexual acts amounted to “hate speech.”
With the loss of the teaching position, Howell also lost his Newman
Center position. His salary was paid by the Diocese of Peoria, Ill., and
his position at the Newman Center was dependent on teaching the
courses.
Attorney Patricia Gibson, chancellor for the Diocese of Peoria, which is
Howell’s employer, said in a statement July 15 that the university
contacted the diocese to schedule a meeting to discuss the instructor’s
case and “who will teach these courses in the future.”
“The Diocese of Peoria is committed to pursuing this matter and looks
forward to cooperation from the University of Illinois so that a just
resolution can be obtained,” she said.
No date for the meeting had been set, according to the statement.
University Chancellor Bob Easter asked the Faculty Senate Committee on
Academic Freedom and Tenure to review Howell’s case July 12, according
to Robin Neal Kaler, the university’s associate chancellor for public
affairs.
He asked that the review be completed before the start of classes Aug. 23.
 |
Sign up for our eNewsletter and get
Show/hide comment form