The University of Illinois Department of Religion has decided it will no longer use his services. Why? A student complained that Howell was engaging in “hate speech.”

For nine years Kenneth Howell has been an adjunct lecturer at the University of Illinois in its Department of Religion. One of the courses he has taught for the school is “Introduction to Catholicism.”

As part of this course, Howell discusses natural law theory and its application to social issues. In preparation for an exam, Howell emailed his students a lengthy discussion of the theories of utilitarianism and natural law and how they would apply in judging the morality of homosexual acts.

Here’s a small portion of that e-mail:
“Natural Moral Law says that Morality must be a response to REALITY. In other words, sexual acts are only appropriate for people who are complementary, not the same.”

Professor Howell is not breaking news here. He’s simply explaining the theory of natural law and how it is used in Roman Catholic teaching regarding homosexual acts. It’s what he’s paid to do.

Or was paid to do.

The University of Illinois Department of Religion has decided it will no longer use his services. Why? A student complained that Howell was engaging in “hate speech.”

A friend of one of Howell’s students emailed the head of the religion department with the complaint, apparently because the student wished to remain anonymous.

Read More (including more than 85 comments on this story): http://online.worldmag.com/2010/07/16/religion-professor-fired-for-teaching-religion/