Professor FIRED for Being Catholic

By John Ritchie

July 16, 2010

University of Illinois: Why is the truth
being silenced in the very halls that cry
“academic freedom”?

Shocking news: The University of Illinois fires professor for articulating Catholic moral teaching -- Register your urgent protest here

Your voice can make a HUGE difference in this case.

Please join TFP Student Action in urging the president of the University of Illinois to stop the persecution and reinstate Prof. Kenneth Howell who was recently fired – yes, dismissed – for simply repeating Catholic moral teaching on marriage and Natural Law.

According to press reports, this is what happened:

Prof. Kenneth Howell

Adjunct Prof. Kenneth Howell, a Catholic, explained to his students that homosexual vice violates Natural Law during a religion class “Introduction to Catholicism.” However, one of his students accused him of committing “hate speech.” Soon after he was fired from his teaching position.

Update on 07-19-10: How Prof. Howell Was Dismissed for Teaching Catholic Doctrine

(Fox News has more details here)

Are we seeing the beginning of a new religious persecution? A “diversity” dictatorship? Why is the truth being silenced in the halls that cry “academic freedom”?

Sign your name here in peaceful protest

Please invite your friends to join this peaceful protest. The easiest way to spread the word is to forward this post to your friends and family. (Non-Catholics can sign too.)

Many good students on campus are calling for Prof. Howell’s return. You can help them defend moral values by signing and spreading this peaceful protest.

Related Updates:

U. of IL Says Catholic Prof 'Not Fired' - Just Can't Teach
An Update on Professor Howell
Letter and legal analysis by the Alliance Defense Fund

Contact information (Please be polite yet firm)

President of the University of Illinois:

Michael J. Hogan
Office of President
364 Henry Administration Building, MC-346
506 S Wright Street
Urbana, IL 61801-3649
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Chancellor and Provost (Interim) of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign:

Robert A. Easter
Office of Chancellor
317 Swanlund Administration Building, MC-304
601 E John Street
Champaign, IL 61820-5711
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Head of the Department of Religion:

Professor Robert J. McKim
Department of Religion
3080 Foreign Languages Building, MC-166
707 S Mathews Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801-3643
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Comments

0 #3 Jennifer 2010-07-19 08:33

Immediately upon sending in my signature to this petition I received an automated email from the President of the University, assuring me that Prof. Howell was NOT fired, but was being investigated by a panel @ the university. He continues to serve as an adjunct professor. His class quite possibly will be taught next term by someone else, if I am not mistaken.

I don't know what this so-called panel will find, but I suspect that the whole thing started when some gay student was "offended" by his speaking out for family values?? That's usually the case...
At any rate, I will be watching with much interest to see how this whole thing pans out.

Quote

+2 #2 HENRY POTRYKUS 2010-07-18 13:50

Please REINSTATE Prof. Kenneth Howell. I join in urging the president of the University of Illinois to stop the persecution and reinstate Prof. Kenneth Howell who was recently fired – yes, dismissed – for simply repeating Catholic moral teaching on marriage and Natural Law.

Quote

+2 #1 Belinda Roccaforte 2010-07-18 06:25

Please reinstate Professor Kenneth Howell and preserve academic freedom and freedom of speech. There is no way to adequately teach a course about Catholicism and not speak about natural law and the Church's position on homosexuality. This is a seemingly ridiculous issue and is frightening to think that professors are being fired for such reasons. I look forward to hearing of some resolution to this issue.

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Professor FIRED for Being Catholic

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