Home » News » University »

CMU files brief siding with EMU in alleged religious discrimination case with former student

By Ariel Black on March 17, 2011 3:23 pm in University / 4 comments

 

Central Michigan University and eight other state public universities have issued support for Eastern Michigan University in a case filed against it for alleged religious discrimination.

Julea Ward was an EMU student enrolled in the counseling program and,  after refusing counsel to a gay client, the school dismissed her from the program. Ward claimed in her suit her dismissal violated her religious beliefs against homosexuality.

EMU reportedly said Ward was dismissed because her refusal to counsel the patient did not follow the assigned curriculum and professional ethics guidelines set up by the American Counseling Association.

“EMU is a public institution, so they should be non-discriminatory toward all students,” said Justin Gawronski, SPECTRUM member and a Macomb freshman at CMU. “Since she couldn’t perform that duty as a counselor, she should be at a private institution.”

When questioned about why CMU chose to side with EMU, CMU General Counsel Manuel Rupe referred CM Life to the amicus brief filed and University Communications. Director of Public Relations Steve Smith said the amicus brief would answer all questions.

The position of EMU has been upheld by Judge George Steeh of the U.S. District Court in Detroit last July.

The district court ruled Ward “does not have a constitutional right to interfere with the program curriculum established by EMU by demanding that she be allowed to set her own standards for counseling clients.”

State Attorney General Bill Schuette sided with Ward in her appeal to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. He reportedly said she was discriminated against by EMU because her Christian beliefs prohibited her from counseling a gay client. Several religious organizations also have publicly supported Ward with briefs.

Calls to the Attorney General’s office were not returned for comment.

“Fundamentally, this case raises the question of whether universities have the freedom to determine their own curricula or whether they must fashion their curricular requirements around the religious, political, social, philosophical, and ideological beliefs and expressions of each and every student,” the brief stated.

The brief also said counseling requires a relationship of trust conveying to the client a non-judgemental attitude, empathy and understanding.

Calls to Grand Valley State, Michigan State and Wayne State universities, which were among the universities to sign the brief in support of EMU, were not returned.

- The Detroit Free Press contributed to this report

 

Tags

, ,

Related Posts

 
  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jared-Ruminowski/100000331462431 Jared Ruminowski

    No, you are NOT a Christian, you are what the Bible considers a heretic, slithering into Christ’s body of believers, for on purpose. To steal them away to give to your father, the Devil. Nothing you claim, nothing you teach and little that you claim to believe, is found in God’s Word.
    It’s time for us to start calling you liars on the carpet for your abominable works to destroy young people and rip the church apart. Although you and your homosexual allies have done well to fill hell, it is you who will pay the price.
    You are INDEED a “religious professional” of the same mold and flavor that rebuked Christ his whole time on earth, and who Christ, rebuked by calling vipers, hypocrites, dogs and swine. Ezekiel tells us of your end, and it can’t come soon enough when considering how many more kids your going to destroy.
    You’re a LIAR, A CHEAT, A STEALER OF SOULS, and those in the body of Christ, have every duty to JUDGE YOU, and EVICT YOU, as and for that!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jared-Ruminowski/100000331462431 Jared Ruminowski

    No, you are NOT a Christian, you are what the Bible considers a heretic, slithering into Christ’s body of believers, for on purpose. To steal them away to give to your father, the Devil. Nothing you claim, nothing you teach and little that you claim to believe, is found in God’s Word.
    It’s time for us to start calling you liars on the carpet for your abominable works to destroy young people and rip the church apart. Although you and your homosexual allies have done well to fill hell, it is you who will pay the price.
    You are INDEED a “religious professional” of the same mold and flavor that rebuked Christ his whole time on earth, and who Christ, rebuked by calling vipers, hypocrites, dogs and swine. Ezekiel tells us of your end, and it can’t come soon enough when considering how many more kids your going to destroy.
    You’re a LIAR, A CHEAT, A STEALER OF SOULS, and those in the body of Christ, have every duty to JUDGE YOU, and EVICT YOU, as and for that!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jared-Ruminowski/100000331462431 Jared Ruminowski

    Christ, would have said, EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID to every single person that He offered His Salvation to. And in EVERY INSTANCE, it began with, a SHOUTED – REPENT! Then, and only then, did he “counsel” the Kingdom, IF, the person hung out after being REBUKED.
    Why, you might ask?
    Because something of God has been lost / hidden, in today’s homosexual church. The most important characteristic of God, EVEN BEFORE the FACT that God is love? That is, GOD IS HOLY. Hence, a Holy God, just by the inherent fact of His Holiness, CANNOT be partaker or surround Himself with UNHOLINESS. He just cannot. Else, He would no longer BE HOLY. This is why, the homosexual church works so tirelessly to teach abominations like their latest assault and newest doctrine, “that Christ is supposedly, a homosexual.”
    Those teaching all these abominations, CAN NOT search out a Holy God, because His very presence will highlight their unholiness and they will no more fit in God’s Kingdom then a rabbit will survive in a pen of starving lions. REMEMBER what Christ Himself said. HE SPEAKS, HE IS, HE DOES, what His Father, speaks, is and does. This is also why the homosexuals work so hard to separate God from His Father. Once you do that, you can make Jesus, (in the minds of unbelievers) anything you wish, including a homosexual pervert. Nope, like the “religious professional” above and ALL the unrepentant homosexuals mocking Christ, they all, actually hate God, they hate Christ, and they hate life itself.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jared-Ruminowski/100000331462431 Jared Ruminowski

    Christ, would have said, EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID to every single person that He offered His Salvation to. And in EVERY INSTANCE, it began with, a SHOUTED – REPENT! Then, and only then, did he “counsel” the Kingdom, IF, the person hung out after being REBUKED.
    Why, you might ask?
    Because something of God has been lost / hidden, in today’s homosexual church. The most important characteristic of God, EVEN BEFORE the FACT that God is love? That is, GOD IS HOLY. Hence, a Holy God, just by the inherent fact of His Holiness, CANNOT be partaker or surround Himself with UNHOLINESS. He just cannot. Else, He would no longer BE HOLY. This is why, the homosexual church works so tirelessly to teach abominations like their latest assault and newest doctrine, “that Christ is supposedly, a homosexual.”
    Those teaching all these abominations, CAN NOT search out a Holy God, because His very presence will highlight their unholiness and they will no more fit in God’s Kingdom then a rabbit will survive in a pen of starving lions. REMEMBER what Christ Himself said. HE SPEAKS, HE IS, HE DOES, what His Father, speaks, is and does. This is also why the homosexuals work so hard to separate God from His Father. Once you do that, you can make Jesus, (in the minds of unbelievers) anything you wish, including a homosexual pervert. Nope, like the “religious professional” above and ALL the unrepentant homosexuals mocking Christ, they all, actually hate God, they hate Christ, and they hate life itself.