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Update: The president of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is asking a faculty committee to look at the the firing of adjunct professor who was accused of using "hate speech."
Kenneth Howell, who has taught theology at the U of I for nine years, told students in his "Introduction to Catholicism" course that the Catholic church teaches that "Sexual acts are only appropriate for people who are complementary, not the same" and, he said that he believes what that the church teaches.
Howell has legal counsel and is seeking to be reinstated.
Meanwhile, a student publicaiont, Daily Ilini.com, has an editorial titled UI misses mark with professor firing that says:
"There is a fine line between teaching the beliefs of a religion and teaching students what to believe. That line is crossed when a professor penalizes a student’s grade when he or she personally disagrees with the teachings of the class. There’s no evidence this was a part of this situation. "
I'd say the student's have it right.
