Are You Sure You Want To Do That?

This is gonna be a bit of a soap box, but hey, isn’t this whole blog about that?

Anyway, today, I read an article by Central’s newspaper about how they are one of nine state public universities to support Eastern in a law suit against them for alleged religious discrimination.

Brief summary, in 2009 Miss Julea Ward was dismissed from Eastern Michigan University’s counseling program for refusing to counsel a gay student due to her religious views. She has since sued the school stating that she was dismissed for “alleged religious discrimination.”

Article from Central can be found here: CM Life
Also, an editorial here: CM Life – Editorial
Article from Eastern can be found here: The Eastern Echo
Article from University Of Michigan can be found here: The Michigan Daily
with a letter to the editor here: The Michigan Daily- Letter To The Editor
Articles from Ann Arbor News can be found here: “State’s Attorney General…” and “Lawyers for dismissed…”

Ok, so there’s all that, I just went to find them, I didn’t actually read them, because I don’t think I need to, to have a soapbox. And here it is.

Soap box? Good for the school! I mean, yes, Miss Ward did ask if someone else could see the gay student. But if the reason for asking if someone else could see the gay student simply because the student is gay, and it conflicts with your values. Shame on you. I feel that this sexual discrimination by Christians is hurtful to our Accept Everyone reputation we have. Or think we have. Whatever happened to that standing? I would think Mr. Brennan Manning would list her as one who creates Atheism. (I love that quote by him)

If you want to be a counselor, and at a school at that, you do not get to pick and chose who you see, because many schools assign by alphabet (letters A-J see counselor A, letters K-T see counselor B, and letters U- Z see counselor C) You are GOING to, by definition, see students who are gay, and are atheist, or agnostic, or Buddhist, or anything you do not agree with. One thing you are supposed to do, as a professional, is leave your religious beliefs at the door. If you want to help people do not let religion interfere, it shouldn’t. If it does, you lose your job.

Now, if you want to counsel, and keep your beliefs in the open, go to a Christian school, and get a degree there, now, according to a friend, these Christian affiliated schools prep you for dealing with people who you do not agree with (at least hers, and I don’t see why any other’s wouldn’t, unless they’re extremest or something.)

She says she was religiously discriminated against, well, she discriminated first.

If you can’t set your religious opinions aside to help people in a non-religious profession, maybe you should go do something with religion.

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