PLAY
A federal judge ruled in favor of a public university who removed a Christian student over her belief that homosexuality is morally wrong. The decision, 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 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 Radio they will appeal the ruling.
Todd Starnes is a FOX News Radio reporter and best-selling author.
I want all the Christians should boycott the school and let them run the school with ACLU family. Once America was helping people in other countries for religious freedom. Now even in America there is no religious freedom. I beleive that there is some other religious forces behind the organisations those are against christianity in America.
This is so typical of the left. Total intolerance for any views but their own.
Suppose her religious views were that "all Jews should be killed and Israel destroyed". That would be just peachy with these leftist judges.
I just want to say that the foundation of this country is "one nation, under GOD". Every dollar you spend says "in GOD we trust". For anyone who disagrees it's simple, move, don't vote, or stay hidden in your own house and world. This Nation was designed to be GOD based and "WE" continue to deny that foundation. Everyone who lives and is an American should be taught and raised under GOD publicly because that is this nations core. Everyone should have the "freedom" to practice what they want within there homes which is what the constitution designed. GOD is GOD so that leave it open to different religions teaching which still gives choice but, GOD needs to be back in the front of our lives and country.
I guess that the first amendment is only good if your not a Christian, to think that growing up I said the pledge of allegiance, we had prayer and no one was offended. Then all the sudden it seems we offend everone who was not raised here, and the goverment that Freedom of Religion was established by now finds it to be unconstitutional. Thank God, if it doesn't offend anyone to say it, that America will soon feel the effects of God and Jesus being offended.
Glad to know that there are people unafraid to stand for what is right according to God's law, not man's. I just lost a dear friend over the same argument. What God calls wrong is just that. The courts can laugh and snear and rule in favor of the almighty dollar all they want, their time will come when they too will be challenged by God Almighty!!Dont' be afraid, Christians, we were told perilous times would come… just look up, for your redemption draweth nigh!!
if youre a true believer there is absolutely no REASON to be afraid. one of GODS wonderful promises, born again believers would be spared from the wrath to come. be careful what you say lest someone get the wrong idea of GOD and my personal savior JESUS CHRIST.
And the Radical Left continues with its agenda to replace God with Gay in schools…
It is time for a final solution to end this Liberal plague. Clearly we need a separation of Liberalism and State.
Religious freedom was the basis for the founding of this country. Weather or not the government allows Christians to practice their religion will not stop the them from practicing their religion.
So, would you support a medical school allowing one of its students to refuse to treat women during their menstrual period because of his adherence to Old Testament laws? Apply a bit of reality. This student was NOT expelled because of her religious beliefs. She was expelled because of her actions — she wanted to refuse treatment to people who do not practice her religion.
Since the university has a rational basis for requiring students to counsel clients without imposing their personal values, would the university remove students in the program over their beliefs that Christianity and being a Christian was morally wrong? What if they tried to use their non-religious views to discourage a patient from believing?
She wasn't kicked out for her CHRISTIAN VIEWS. She was kicked out for her DESCRIMINATORY ACTIONS.
The belief that homosexuality is wrong is not the same as using your position to discriminate and punish those whose lifestyle you disagree with. She was fired for biggotry .
Fox News is mis-leading its readers with this headline. This case has nothing to do with religious freedom. This is about someone refusing to do what they agreed to do. This would be like removing a medical student who refused to treat patients with different political affiliations. The student was not removed because of her beliefs — she was removed because of her actions (or lack
The ACLU has COMMUNIST BEGINNINGS. Obama is a radical Islamist. Atheists and Islamic radicals are surrounding us. FIGHT BACK! http://www.nmatv.com/video/618/What-Islam-Is-Not http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUaGe63Aqv4
Ok your Expelled from this country for your belief that Obama is a radical Islamist. LOL
The reason this country is in such deep shit, is because of Politicions, Lawyers, College Professors, & dumb ass voters.
The left is always there to back ya….as long as its in their best interest. I also believe that Gay is wrong, but that hasn't stopped a single person from being gay. If someone ask my view, I tell them my view, and why I think the way I do. I believe the Bible, and the word of God. If you don't, that is your choice. But to punish a student for being their own person, and standing up for what they believe is just flat wrong!
She was "removed" from the counseling program. The articles headline attracts attention and readers, which is SOP, particularly in the current media enviorment. Why she was removed is the subject matter, anyone should understand that. To bad some of us think that headlines give the whole story, but hey, you got to love the liberal leaning media.
what i find most offensive about this, if it is accurate, is that the university's response to her not wanting to counsel a gay client, was to require her to take a remediation course so that she would "see the error of her ways, and change her belief system about homosexuality."
expell her for refusing to do the course requirement, okay. but to totally
declare her belief system "wrong" is outrageous.
Jesus did indeed counsel prostitutes, thieves, whoremongers, etc. And what was His counsel…."go and sin no more!"
Would we accept a doctor who refused to treat Jews because of his sincere Islamic beliefs? I do not believe we would. Nor should we accept a counselor who refuses to counsel homosexual clients.
If a Christian can be expelled for there beliefs so can the one that diagrees with the Christian for there beliefs against the Christian… Fair is Fair
Without the rule of law there is chaos, even among the many branches or Judeo-Christian believers. Again, you can not make a sound argument without giving labels to anyone that disagrees with your warped thinking. That is rather sad and unChristian of you.
It's people like you that give Christians a bad name and why you should feel persecuted. You are a fool. Jesus counselled beggars, thieves and prostitutes. MS Ward is being very unChristian if she refuses to work with gay people. How does she know someone is gay. Maybe that person came in for counselling on school, finance or family issues that may be totally unrelated to being homosexual. If you go to medical school you can not reject offering medical help to any person. That is what you agree to do. Again, Ms Ward is being a bigot and she has no LEGAL claims against the school. She did not meet the obligations required by her program.
Christians like you are demonized because you bring it upon yourself for being overly righteous and a hypocrite. You are only a human, not the right hand of God.
You clearly do not know the law. Quit trying to be an amateur online lawyer.