Student Denied Degree Over Same-Sex Debate
[Student Denied Degree Over Same-Sex Debate: The
Thomas More Society Files Complaint in Defense of Civil and Religious Rights
Springfield, Mo Christian Newswire] "This week, attorneys with the Thomas More
Society, a national public interest law firm, filed a federal civil rights
complaint against the Governors of Missouri State University on behalf of Andrew
Cash. Cash was a student at the university who was dismissed from his M.S. in
Counseling program after expressing concern over counseling same-sex couples due
to his religious convictions. His suit claims that he was unable to complete his
counseling curriculum, and is now prevented from working as a counselor, causing
him daily emotional suffering. He is seeking for MSU to reinstate him in his
counseling program with safeguards put in place so that he can successfully earn
his degree.
Cash began the counseling program at MSU in September
2007. He was a student in excellent standing and nearing the completion of his
degree when the disagreement with the school arose in 2011 over counseling gay
couples.
"Traditionally, universities have been places for free
exchange of ideas and values, both religious and secular," said Thomas Olp,
Executive Director and Attorney for the Thomas More Society. Unfortunately,
Missouri State University departed from its mission by denying educational
opportunity to Mr. Cash simply because he expressed, in an academic setting,
sincerely-held religious beliefs which his advisor deemed hostile to her own and
therefore unacceptable. An educator should not permit her own ideology and
agenda to ruin the educational opportunities of her students. We feel the
responsibility, on Mr. Cash's behalf, to try to correct this."
As a part of the degree program, students are required
to complete clinical internship hours. Cash started his internship in January
2011 with the Springfield Marriage and Family Institute, which had been approved
by MSU as an internship site. At least one other student in the M.S. in
Counseling program had previously completed an internship there. The Institute
is a Christian-based counseling agency, and MSU knew this when it approved
Cash's internship in January 2011.
A class presentation was conducted at the Institute in
order to inform students about Christian counseling. The presentation was
approved in advance by Cash's instructor. During the presentation, the
Institute's chief counselor said that its Christian credentials and values were
openly discussed with potential clients. In answer to a hypothetical question,
the counselor said that while the Institute would and does counsel individual
gay persons on a variety of issues, it prefers to refer gay couples for
relationship counseling to other counselors whose religious views would likely
be a better fit. Following the presentation, a student complained to Cash's
faculty advisor about the statement, who peremptorily ordered Cash to her
office, interrogated him as to his own views on the subject, and when he said he
was sympathetic to them, she ordered him to forthwith cease attending the
Institute, and immediately informed the Institute that it no longer would be
considered an appropriate location for a school counseling internship given
"ethical concerns" that had arisen. MSU later stripped the hours from Cash's
graduate record.
Although Cash worked with the administration to find a
different internship, the faculty advisor required him, as a condition of being
re-accepted to a new internship, to prove to her that he "had learned something
from the experience at the Springfield Marriage and Family Institute." Later,
the same advisor wrote a letter to department officials claiming that it
appeared to her, despite a total lack of evidence, that she suspected that Cash
had not recanted from his earlier-stated religious views. She then made a
recommendation, which was accepted, to force Cash into "remediation." A year
later, in November 2014, the University expelled Cash from the counseling
program, and his appeals fell on deaf ears. Cash was very close to graduating,
but lost his ability to complete his degree by the expulsion..." Full text:
Student Denied Degree Over Same-Sex Debate 1
Thess. 2:15; Rev. 12:13
Homosexuality is: forbidden (Lev. 18:22), considered
an abomination (1 Kin. 14:24), punishment for (Lev. 20:13), unclean (Rom. 1:24,
26, 27).
All you can tell a Sodomite is: Jesus loves you (Jn 3:16). Jesus is willing to save you (2 Pe 3:9). Repent (Eze 18:30-32; Ac 17:30). Believe (Mk 9:23).