« BACK  |  PRINT

RS

EDITOR OF REDSTATE

Christians Discriminated Against at Augusta State University?

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  July 28th, 2010 at 07:44 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Hot Air has the story about Jennifer Keeton. Keeton, trying to graduate from Augusta State University in Augusta, Georgia, has been told she cannot get certification in counseling unless she abandons orthodox teachings of her Christian faith.

You guessed it — Keeton, a Christian, is not supportive of “gay rights”.

CNN has an interesting roundtable on the case of Jennifer Keeton, who has sued Augusta State University to keep from getting expelled for not repudiating her statements about homosexuality. Keeton expressed her biblical perspective on the subject in and out of class while working toward a degree in counseling, and the school mandated a “remediation plan” that appears to have required her to renounce her Christian doctrine in order to gain a diploma from the school.  The school has responded that a bias against homosexuality would disqualify Keeton from certification, a position that would put most Christians in Keeton’s position.

Christians should be more than a little troubled by the University’s bias.

I hope Georgia’s legislators are paying attention. Augusta State’s position seems to be that a bias against Christians is preferable to Christians holding on to orthodox teachings of their faith.

You can call President Bloodworth over at August State at 706-737-1440 and let him know what you think.

[UPDATE:] In Michigan, a federal judge has upheld the expulsion of a graduate school student for believing homosexuality is morally wrong.

Tags: , ,

COMMENTS

POSTING RULES  |  LOGIN TO COMMENT  |  REGISTER TODAY
  • NeoKong

    Apparently they want her to get her mind right on homosexuality.
    They are requiring her to participate in a gay pride festival, do a few gay sensitivity seminars and I think also they want want her to write a paper on how homosexuality is just another one of nature’s way.

    I’m surprised they haven’t committed her to a hospital and given her shock therapy yet. This is a blatant and outrageous example of trampling on free speech rights and religious freedom.
    They would never have the guts to pull that crap with a Muslim student.

  • wannabeanncoulter

    Perhaps Keeton should have gone to Liberty University, or just about any other private college or university. Government schools are government schools: When the government supports homosexuality, it’s going to be extremely difficult for an individual to get government certification to teach, counsel, etc when the individual does not support homosexuality.

    I given Keeton credit: She’s taking the hard path. Personally, I would have opted for the path of least resistance.

  • NeoKong

    Twice in one day we are blessed with the wisdom of a federal judge.
    Is there any dilemma they cannot solve….?

    A federal judge has ruled in favor of a public university that removed a Christian student from its graduate program in school counseling over her belief that homosexuality is morally wrong. Monday’s ruling, according to Julea Ward’s attorneys, could result in Christian students across the country being expelled from public university for similar views.

    (sigh…)

    I might start drinking early tonight.
    Why the hell not…?

  • charliebravoNH

    This is so unconstitutional and illegal to force someone to repudiate their religion. Of course don’t expect the justice department or that bigot of a President we have to do anything.

    What this story demonstrates how far anti Christian bigotry has spread. If you can’t stop this in Georgia where can you stop it? Georgians who are outraged by this aught to hold the State Legislature and Governor responsible for this. This is a State University and they are the elected State Officials and this is an election year. Let em have it.

  • jeffreywturner

    I would be very interested to know if they would pull this with a Muslim.

    Liberal pansies rarely act so cavalier when confronting Muslim teachings.

  • grandma

    I refer to a 7 part article entitled Of Mice and Mormons by Mike Adams for Townhall.com

    http://townhall.com/columnists/MikeAdams/2007/08/27/of_mice_and_mormons

    The knowledge of the goings on at PUC via the article, plus my friend knowing the wife of the student in question at PUC, was one of the main reasons I left.

    The offering of a 3 cr. hour human sexuality course in which we were to watch porn movies and read a text that elevated Kinsey to the status of a god, and Margaret Sanger to Joan of Arc cinched my decision.

  • jeffreywturner

    They need to DEMAND that every dollar of state support be yanked from this school unless this is reversed, and vote out ANY legislator who does not vote to do so.

  • pamela1631

    To major donors on the Alumni list might reverse things for Miss Keeton. A sudden loss or removal of serious funding can work miracles.

    Plus calls to the State house.

  • techsan

    Hmmm….Islamic coutries seem much less tolerant than Christianity. Wonder when one of those cases will hit the courts? Or perhaps religions which set up alternate judicial systems governed by Shari’a law don’t have to concern themselves with such trivialities as the seemingly-arbitrary US Judicial system.

  • http://phxg.wordpress.com/ phxg

    and have been exposed to these ideas from many in the field. While I too hold traditional Christian values similar to Ms. Keeton there is nothing I have ever experienced in working with those in the gay community that compromises my ability to provide competent care.

    The problem lies squarely with those who believe every Christian is a homophobe and out to “convert them”.

  • http://www.2010blog.net jsanzone

    It’s arguable that being outspoken about the wrongs of homosexuality, as the student was, disqualifies her from being able to counsel unsure or homosexual people.

    That being said, the actions taken by the school are a bit outrageous.

    But, why did this even become an issue, unless she made it explicitly clear that she was going to tell gays/lesbians/whatever that their feelings or actions are wrong and sinful? Something doesn’t seem right about this story–it’s clearly not an “assault on Christianity in public education” that many are trying to say. There are countless other examples of that phenomenon; this is a story of someone who just can’t set aside bias in order to successfully counsel potential patients.

  • Achance

    Who runs the University System? Even in conservative states with Republican governments, since it is all so deadly dull, communist academics have been allowed to run the university systems. A few years working in the fields chopping cotton and such should either cure or kill them.

  • bens

    http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/Sunday_Reflections/Higher-education_s-bubble-is-about-to-burst-95639354.html#ixzz0v1nKoZCv

  • qsclues

    …she has a right to her views. If she were counseling people to kill all those who oppose her, like some religions out there, that would be a different story. But this is quite ridiculous.

  • http://www.downstateiladvocate.com anacreon

    Exactly when did it become a bad thing to be a Christian?

    I swear this country is going to hell in a hand basket.

  • tcgeol

    You seem to know what both the student and the school have in mind quite well for someone who either isn’t the student’s best friend or isn’t on the university’s board.

    Unless you do know something that hasn’t been made public, you might want to hold off on prophecy.

  • taxpayer1234

    espouse “certain” views as a condition of graduation.

    There’s another great organization, along with ADL, that helps students of all beliefs exercise academic freedom: The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). Check it out at www.thefire.org.

  • http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

    I don’t much like Ann, but I don’t think she ever shied away form the path of most resistance.

  • http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

    When have you ever known leftists to not go down the path of intolerance, reeducation, and censorship?

  • http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

    When have you ever known leftists to not go down the path of intolerance, reeducation, and censorship?

  • indyooper

    But is this not one of the reason the founders thought the first amendment important, and provided for the separation of church and state. Does the second part of the establishment clause state “or prohibiting the free exercise thereof?” From here we can say that one, there is no freedom of religion, instead it is only interpreted as a universal freedom from religion, and two, there is no freedom of speech when the speech disagrees with progressive doctrine. We, my friends, are on a very dangerous and slippery slope.

  • http://online.logcabin.org/about/ suzieQ

    Hindus, Muslims, Jewish, and even Buddhists all have very similar views regarding homosexuality. This policy seems to be discriminatory against religion in general. Aside from that, shouldn’t her future clients be the real deciding factor here? Those who know me or who have read the diary I posted here know that I am lesbian. I am very open about that fact. I would not personally be a client of this counselor. But that is no reason that she should not be allowed to graduate. This is treading heavily on her freedom of religion and freedom of speech. I may not personally agree with her views, but the school is dead wrong in this case.

  • ghostship

    I don’t hold much hope that in today’s world of left-wing activist judges that she has much chance of winning this case on first amendment grounds.

    However, she might have a chance if she argued breach of contract on the part of the university. If she has paid for and passed all the courses required for the degree then it should be difficult for the university to argue that they’ve upheld their end of the transaction.

  • http://www.veronicaestrada.com Veronica

    From the update:

    “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”

    What do they mean “consistently refuse”? How do they know and how can they predict?

    Does this mean she could never CHOOSE to be a Christian counselor for Christians? What happened to choice?

    This is theory she’s studying. Her grades and the caliber of her work say nothing about her anticipated “behavior” (blech!).

    This is like anticipating mind-crime — and yet, they let pedophiles out of jail on the belief that, gosh, they would never go near a child again, right?

  • Superheater

    If colleges were publicly traded, I’d be shorting them like mad.

    Sooner or later, people are going to tell these intellectual concentration camps that indoctrination masquerading as education is theft by deception.

    I have a BS and an MBA, but don’t advise others to follow. To easy to be outsources, downsized, rightsized or whatever other words the creative types in HR dream up to euphemize “you’re fired”.

  • Superheater

    But they make classless jokes about DNA.

  • wannabeanncoulter

    I wannabe Ann Coulter because she is TOUGH! She is my model. Sadly, it doesn’t mean I come anywhere near to achieving Coulter status, though. ;-)

  • patriot601

    Posted here 5 days ago…

    http://www.redstate.com/patriot601/2010/07/23/augusta-state-university-to-student-lose-christianity-or-face-expulsion/

  • wannabeanncoulter

    Keeton is obviously a devout Christian who does not seem to have expressed any concerns about accepting and counseling substance abusers, gamblers, adulterers, child abuseers, spouse abuses, etc.

    Perhaps rather than pursuing a state-granted, state-certified LSW from a state university, where her views regarding homosexuality are bound to conflict with licensing and accreditation boards, Keeton should pursue studies in pastoral counseling instead.

    It seems Keeton is seeking secular certification for what is a pastoral calling.

  • JoeG

    I hope some Augusta student tests them.

    They could claim that they are muslim and that because of their religion that they are opposed to homosexuality. Then we’d know if they hold the same requirements for non-Christians.

  • grandma

    classes or as a trainee or working under a mentor.

    Often professors, adjuncts, T.A.s or fellow students who have personal issues will seek out and bait with aim to destroy a person who isn’t PC. If you have not seen this happen, then you haven’t been in a college environment in the past 20 years.

    Please read the article I previously posted. http://townhall.com/columnists/MikeAdams/2007/08/27/of_mice_and_mormons

  • JoeG

    Not that the university would be up on the idea, but that’d be funny if a court ordered it.

  • Joliphant

    nt

  • moderaterepub

    I think you’re conflating two very separate things. Believing homosexuality is “morally wrong” is one thing, refusing to treat homosexual patients is another thing entirely. It’s absurd to think that counseling someone means you have to condone their behavior: plenty of people in therapy are in therapy precisely because they have or do engage in behaviour many people would consider morally repugnant.

    On another issue, there is a considerable public benefit that comes from training health professionals and at public colleges there is also a considerable public investment. Should taxpayers really be helping to fund degrees for people who only want to refuse to use their degrees to help certain types of people? What if she had refused to treat Muslim patients because she was uncomfortable with their beliefs or practises? Or if she had refused to treat Christian patients because of their religion?

  • streiff

    that isn’t the issue. The student hasn’t stated she refused to treat anyone. She has said that homosexuality is wrong, which, if you believe in natural law is intuitively obvious. Funny they didn’t make her renounce her beliefs on drug addiction, pedophilia, alcoholism, or any other social pathology.

  • trilogy

    I assume this same judge should also allow any school to withhold an individual that is a homosexual who disagrees with traditional marriage.

    This is how ludicrous our society has become, our court system is not judging by law they are judging by personal choices.

  • BA Cyclone

    Who should force any one person to provide their services to another?

    A person in a profession of caring is still a professional providing a service – hopefully to the need of others. They are selling their skills for the benefit of others. It is and should be a free exchange of value.

    If said professional says – “I am not qualified to help you, here is a list of others you can consult” – what is your problem with that?

    When does the rights of an individual to their intellectual intelligence begin or end? Why should any State have a right to define that?

    Frankly, not knowing the details of the individual cases at hand, is the above even the issue? I’m sure counselors of any stripe advise people and help people dealing with issues with which they find morally wrong all the time. They may or may not offer their service to them. For an institution to make blanket requirements about “acceptable belief systems” for any educational program – particularly programs supported by State dollars – would seem be prima facie un-Constitutional.

  • moderaterepub

    I was referring to the Bolton case, as was the commenter I replied to. From Fox:

    “U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh dismissed Ward?s lawsuit against Eastern Michigan University. She was removed from the school?s counseling program last year because she refused to counsel homosexual clients.”

    But wow, homosexuality is a disease? Nice, bro. Where did you get your medical degree?

  • moderaterepub

    Sorry, I meant Ward.

  • BA Cyclone

    They are judging based upon anticipated future choices.

    Please apply for your free speech and free religion cards:

    Dear Leader
    1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
    Washington, D.C.

  • BA Cyclone

    They are judging based upon anticipated future choices.

    Please apply for your free speech and free religion cards:

    Dear Leader
    1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
    Washington, D.C.

  • Bill S

    streiff didn’t use the word “disease”, did he? He used “pathology”, which is what homosexuality was officially considered to be for many decades (centuries) and is still being debated.

  • moderaterepub

    Main Entry: pa?thol?o?gy
    Pronunciation: \-j?\
    Function: noun
    Inflected Form(s): plural pa?thol?o?gies
    1 : the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them
    2 : the anatomic and physiological deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease
    3 : a treatise on or compilation of abnormalities

    Quick tip no. 2: “It had a following for a long time” is not a good argument to use when discussing medical issues. The idea that the mentally ill were possessed by evil spirits had a huge following for ages.

  • cookcountyconservative

    Just ask Professor Ken Howell dismissed from the UofI http://tiny.cc/wh6f3.
    I ADL is working with him.

  • streiff

    just against natural law and a social pathology.

  • streiff

    definition
    A departure or deviation from a normal condition: “Neighborhoods plagued by a self-perpetuating pathology of joblessness, welfare dependency, crime” (Time).

    but now you have more free time to read the dictionary.

    No, please, you don’t have to thank me.

  • Kudzu

    I was scheduled to start at ASU this fall after an overseas trip. That trip pushed got pushed back so no school. But I had registered in my major, criminal justice, which is in the ASU sociology school. In those halls are three professors who have pro-socialist and anti-war slogans, sticker, and posters. Among the most offensive to the American way is a very complimentary picture of Karl Marx. ASU actually has a Fall 10 course titled Socialist/Marxist Theory tought by two of those professors.

    The best part of that walk through the hallway was one professor who had a small pro-2nd Amendment/gun sticker on his door. I had to thank him.

  • http://www.2010blog.net jsanzone

    “[Y]ou are requiring me to alter my objective beliefs and also to commit now that if I ever may have a client who wants me to affirm their decision to have an abortion or engage in gay, lesbian, or transgender behavior, I will do that.

    “I can’t alter my biblical beliefs, and I will not affirm the morality of those behaviors in a counseling situation.”

    Particularly, “…I will not affirm the morality of those behaviors in a counseling situation.”

    The article also discusses “her open disagreement with gay and lesbian lifestyles in her classes and her writing assignments.”

    And this is what the school ‘has in mind’:

    “Augusta State officials have said Keeton’s conduct violates the code of ethics to which counselors and counselors in training are required to adhere.”

    I didn’t try to say anything outside of what the AOL article contained.

  • taxpayer1234

    Education and social work programs have been using what’s called “dispositions theory” to “assess’ students’ personal and philosophical views. In essence, it’s a litmus test of political correctness. Students who don’t toe the line are not allowed to graduate unless they go to mandatory “re-education” (brainwashing).

    David French of ADL is the former president ofFIRE. Both orgs have worked together closely on a number of cases.

  • el_cid01

    Erik, this story presents a good opportunity for me to ask you a question regarding the Handel/Deal run-off on Aug 10 that I hope you can respond to. I’m leaning towards Handel and several of my family members are leaning towards Deal. Our main concern is who will compete the best against Barnes, but there are a few periphery issues.

    I don’t like Deal’s business even if he didn’t break any ethics rules. It’s not a true, free market business, but something that makes money from taxpayers that are forced to use that service because of local laws. That Deal appears to have used his influence to keep the business profitable is more troubling to me.

    For my family members who support Deal, however, the Log Cabin Republican thing is a concern. And no, not because we fit the liberal stereotype of conservatives that sit around hating gay people all day long. We all think gay people should be as welcome as any other group to vote Republican. Rather, the concern is due to the exact type of issue you cover in your post.

    One of my relatives served in local GA politics and had very harsh run-ins with radical left, gay activist groups. Not saying the L.C.R.s meet that description, but what if Karen was presented with an issue like this Eastern Michigan/Augusta business? What would she say? Would she support the student or would she try to pander and play identity politics?

    I would appreciate your thoughts, Erik, but would like to hear from anyone else, too. Just trying to definitively decide who to vote for.

  • tcgeol

    Why does she have to positively affirm homosexuality to be a good counselor? The connection there is tenuous.

    I didn’t realize that counselors had to have such an open mind that their brains fell out.

  • Bill S

    You were bound to get gak’d sooner or later.

  • el_cid01

    Did I wait too long to make a comment? Are we bored with this topic already?