Friday, March 29, AD 2024 2:04am

Anti-Catholic Bigotry Alive and Well at the University of Illinois

I am an alum of the U of I.  I obtained my BA in 79 and my JD in 82.  My wife is also an alum of the U of I, obtaining her MA in Spanish in 82.  Our eldest son will be entering the U of I as a freshman in August.  I therefore found the news that  Professor Kenneth Howell, an adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois, has been fired for teaching in a course about Catholicism  basic Catholic doctrine on homosexuality quite alarming:

Go here to read the story at the News-Gazette, the local paper in Champaign-Urbana.   This truly makes my blood boil.  The U of I has always had its share of left wing kooks, but kow-towing to this know-nothing bigotry is beneath contempt.    Professor Howell, if you happen to read this, google “Donald McClarey attorney” and call me if you care to discuss your legal options.  I will be happy to be of service to you pro bono in any way that I can.

Update I:  Thomas Peters here has more details.  Here is Professor Howell’s description of the events that led up to his firing.  Here is a facebook page where you can support Dr. Howell.  Catholics need to stand up for Dr.  Howell.  This firing basically says that faithful Catholics need not apply in academia.  I will be hanged if I’ll put up with this type of blatant bigotry against the Faith.

Update II:  From the Facebook page set up to support Dr. Howell:

If you would like to write to an involved party in support of Dr. Howell, the names and addresses are as follows:

“President of the University of Illinois:

Office of President Michael J. Hogan
364 Henry Administration Building, MC-346
506 S Wright Street
Urbana, IL 61801-3649

OR

Office of President Michael J. Hogan
414 Administrative Office Building, MC-760
1737 W Polk Street
Chicago, IL 60612-7224

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

Office of Chancellor Robert A. Easter
317 Swanlund Administration Building, MC-304
601 E John Street
Champaign, IL 61820-5711

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

Chaplain and Director of St. John’s Catholic Newman Center:

The Reverend Monsignor Gregory Ketcham
604 E Armory Avenue
Champaign, IL 61820-6286

Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria:

The Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C
Spalding Pastoral Center
419 NE Madison Avenue
Peoria, IL 61603-3719

Please remember to maintain an attitude of respect and Christian charity in all your correspondence.”

0 0 votes
Article Rating
39 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Christina
Christina
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 1:30pm

Looking at the e-mail from the student to the administration, and the original e-mail from Howell, two things seem clear:

1. Neither the student nor his “friend” have a clear understanding of the purpose or content of Howell’s e-mail. They clearly cannot distinguish between advocacy and presentation of a fairly standard-issue argument in Catholic moral theology. I might expect this of high school students. College students should know better.

2. This supposed college student’s grasp of standard English is most distressing. “Anyways”? Yikes!

I am forced to question the Department Chair’s ability to notice the above.

j. christian
j. christian
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 1:33pm

In other words: Teach Catholicism, but don’t teach that it has anything to do with reason and reality. We must continue the lie that faith and reason are at odds, that the Church opposes gay marriage solely as a matter of religious faith, and that religion is purely a matter of private opinion, not public action.

And this is supposed to “promote independent thought”? I’d wager that those students have never encountered any though quite so radical as Prof. Howell was exposing them to. He was doing exactly what they say they wanted.

Jim
Jim
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 1:45pm

Elena Kagan demonstrated how liberal pandering to any special interest group trumps your right to freedom to exercise your religion.

Kagan on Whether Catholic Church Could Recruit at Harvard Law

http://tinyurl.com/369nxwj

This is precisely how Hitler took over Germany. It began with politically correct “thinking” which led to politically correct “law” and everything Hitler did was “legal”. This “judge” who never met a politically correct cause she didnn’t love and support (regardless of it’s standing the law) is about to take a seat on the highest court in the land.

Yet she is touted for her “brilliance” and legal scholarship. They teach you all about the law in law school – they don’t teach you a thing about JUSTICE.

———————–
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

~ President John Adams

“Authentic democracy is possible only in a state ruled by law, and on the basis of a correct conception of the human person. It requires that the necessary conditions be present for the advancement both of the individual through education and formation in true ideals, and of the “subjectivity” of society through the creation of structures of participation and shared responsibility. Nowadays there is a tendency to claim that agnosticism and skeptical relativism are the philosophy and the basic attitude which correspond to democratic forms of political life. Those who are convinced that they know the truth and firmly adhere to it are considered unreliable from a democratic point of view, since they do not accept that truth is determined by the majority, or that it is subject to variation according to different political trends. It must be observed in this regard that if there is no ultimate truth to guide and direct political activity, then ideas and convictions can easily be manipulated for reasons of power. As history demonstrates, a democracy without values easily turns into open or thinly disguised totalitarianism.”

~ Pope John Paul II – Centesimus Annus

Tito Edwards
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 2:41pm

theory of Catholicism

So now Catholicism is a theory and not a faith?

j. christian
j. christian
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 2:49pm

Just read the emails. I’m no natural law philosopher, but wasn’t the professor’s explanation of natural law a little weak? It was more about biology than teleology. Nor was his description of utilitarianism exactly correct.

Still not grounds for dismissing him, however.

Paul
Paul
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 3:04pm

Does anyone else see the immediate bias by Kaler when saying “the theory of Catholicism.” This sums the issue up. Another situation of higher education punishing the religious guy.

TonyC
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 3:08pm

I hope that it is starting to dawn on the “Catholic Church” that when you sleep with dogs you wake up with fleas. Amen!

Tito Edwards
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 3:42pm

TonyC,

Are you referring to the U of I as dogs?

afl
afl
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 4:19pm

Do you think if he had taught what Islam tenets are in the Koran on morality and homosexuality and the handling of those of that orientation, he would have lost his post.

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 4:23pm

“When I joined the military it was against regulations to be homosexual, then it became optional. I’m getting out before it becomes mandatory.” GySgt Harry Berres, USMC

Anthony
Anthony
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 5:02pm

Guys, guys! Remember, you’re free to talk all you want about Catholicism, as long as you don’t believe it!

Karl
Karl
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 5:18pm

Very, very troubling indeed! May God have mercy on us. It is so hard for me to see the radical decay all around. May I work to be faithful, to pray for the Catholic Church and for men like this, punished harshly for speaking of their religious beliefs, that were once protected by the very Constitution that is now used to persecute them.

Elaine Krewer
Admin
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 5:25pm

This is just awful. Kenneth Howell, in case you don’t know, is a former Presbyterian minister who converted to the Catholic faith — which of course, forced him to give up THAT job — and who has written several books on Catholic doctrine. He converted well BEFORE he took this job. He was hired by the U of I specifically to teach classes on Catholic doctrine, which have been offered, for credit, for decades. It should not surprise anyone that he agrees with Catholic teaching on homosexuality and other issues.

What he said is not “hate speech” any more than, say, an observant Orthodox Jewish professor who teaches classes specifically on Judaism attempting to explain kosher dietary laws and having a student who raises hogs back home take offense at it.

American Knight
American Knight
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 5:45pm

Friend, huh? Might this ‘friend’ not be a student? Is it possible that someone just wants a politically correct elucidation of the theory of Catholicism without any of the truth of what the Church teaches?

I am also curious, how does saying that sodomy is an unnatural act ostracize people with homosexualist proclivities? Any biologist would tell you that certain human orifices are for evacuation and not anything else, except in cases of medical testing. Should we outlaw the theory of biology?

Apparently the school wants to teach the theory of Catholicism and disassociation themselves from what the Church actually teaches. Why? Does anyone really think the UI Religion Dept. is somehow associated with the Church or with Catholics in anyway? Why did his statement violate the ‘inclusivity’ policy? Was he banning homosexualists from his class? Did he tell them that Sodomites aren’t allowed to learn about the theory of Catholicism? Were they told they were not allowed to disagree with Natural Law? Since when does the Church or those who teach her truths believe that humans don’t have free will?

Are we going to fire history teachers who teach the offensive act of killing Jews? How do you study Nazi Germany without addressing the wholesale slaughter of Jews, Catholics, etc.? You can’t. It is the truth. Nazis did kill Jews. It is offensive. It certainly isn’t inclusive. I seriously doubt that any history teacher worth their mettle thinks it is OK to kill Jews – but they teach it nonetheless, because that is what Nazis did and what they believed. No one has to agree with it. This is ridiculous.

I wonder if its OK to teach about Nazism because most Nazis were Sodomites and not OK to teach about Catholicism because the Church teaches that Sodomy is not OK, despite the proclivities of a small number of her members – of course, we don’t talk about pederast priests, we talk about pedophile priests because if we addressed the real problem, we may have to indict Sodomy. Me thinks there is an agenda here and just like in the late Wiemar Republic it starts with the homosexualists.

Elaine Krewer
Admin
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 6:26pm

I was tempted to say that this development would make Msgr. Edward Duncan, the VERY longtime U of I Newman Center chaplain (over 50 years, from the 1940s to the 1990s), “turn over in his grave”, but after doing a quick google search on his name it appears he’s still alive, or was as recently as 2008. Anyone know his status? I don’t doubt he would have a LOT to say about this.

Bill Russell
Bill Russell
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 7:10pm

Will they fire Muslims for taking the same position?

Elaine Krewer
Admin
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 7:26pm

“spineless reaction of the Newman Center to this outrage”

I just hopped over to Thomas Peters’ blog and read the actual letter from Dr. Howell himself, explaining his side of the story.

After reading it, I’m almost as ticked off at the Newman Center and the Diocese of Peoria as I am at the university! It APPEARS that they told him “Sorry, can’t help you, and by the way, we no longer need your services either, so good luck and don’t let the door hit you on your way out.” What’s up with that?

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 7:49pm

Do I have this right? A man teaches the 2,000 year old teachings of Holy Mother Church in a U course on Catholicism and is terminated for hate speech.

But Obama supporters call for murdering crackers and their babies; and that’s free speech.

Go figure.

Elaine Krewer
Admin
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 9:57pm

If the “Institute of Catholic Thought” for which Dr. Howell worked is structured in such a way that an instructor can no longer work for the Institute if they no longer work for the university, well, isn’t this living proof that the Newman Foundation and the Diocese had better do something about that? If they don’t, then I will have to take back all my past comments about the U of I being a more “Catholic” university (because of the quality of its Newman Center, and of the ICT classes) than some Catholic in name only schools are.

trackback
Friday, July 9, AD 2010 10:30pm

[…] Read more here « NJ report: Privatize some state services at schools, prisons, parks West Virginia: Legislature to Consider Special Election – New York Times » […]

James
James
Saturday, July 10, AD 2010 12:09am

As a no longer proud alum of U of I it shows me that the motto Learning and Labor has left the learning behind. Universities understand only one thing now and that is money. Don’t just write comments on blogs, write the president of U of I at mjhogan@liinois.edu If you are an alumm tell him you won’t send them another dime until this is fixed. Send emails to all of your alumni friends. Post this on all of your blogs.

trackback
Saturday, July 10, AD 2010 3:00am

[…] Anti-Catholic Bigotry Alive and Well at the University of Illinois – The American Catholic […]

Kelly
Kelly
Saturday, July 10, AD 2010 3:18am

Msgr. Duncan is still alive. His health isn’t so great anymore, but he occasionally makes appearances at St. Johns. I know he was there as recently as last fall for a special event.

Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Saturday, July 10, AD 2010 6:50am

This is simply further proof that the so-called Diversity Movement is about anything BUT diversity. It is about conformity to a set agenda with dogmas as entrenched as those of the Catholic Church with whom they are at war. Homosexuality and the praise thereof top the list of that agenda.

I was particularly awed by the following excerpt taken from the email sent by the offended students “friend” and the mention of “independent thought” : “Teaching a student about the tenets of a religion is one thing,” the student wrote in the e-mail. “Declaring that homosexual acts violate the natural laws of man is another. The courses at this institution should be geared to contribute to the public discourse and promote independent thought; not limit one’s worldview and ostracize people of a certain sexual orientation.”

Who is genuinely aware of the meaning of true public discourse here? Who is promoting genuinely independent thought? Who is being ostracized? It certainly isn’t the Diversity Movement, not is it the offended student, who is still a student, while the good Prof. is beating the streets looking for a job.

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Saturday, July 10, AD 2010 7:17am

Food for thought received in an email from the Manhattan Declaration group:

” . . . may be one of the gravest, most insidious threats to religious freedom I’ve seen in my lifetime: What may be an attempt, at the very highest levels of government, to RE-DEFINE the very meaning of religious freedom, from “free exercise” to merely private worship.”

Jasper
Jasper
Saturday, July 10, AD 2010 7:34am

“Will they fire Muslims for taking the same position?”

No, only anti-catholic bigotry is allowed.

george martin
george martin
Saturday, July 10, AD 2010 8:23am

Is there any anti-Buddhism, anti-Hinduism, anti-Islamic, anti-protestant? Why there is anti-Catholic Bigotry? If there is answer please answer me. Thanks!

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Saturday, July 10, AD 2010 9:25am

GM: I think (bombs away!) that there is anti-Catholic bigotry because Holy Mother the Church (the minority that actually adheres to its precepts) is a major safeguard against secular humanist cultural/societal hegemony.

And, if one believes (as a small minority of so-called Catholics believes) that we are IN this world, but not OF this world, one is less easily controlled and, thus, one is a threat to the statist, fascist far-left liberals intent on controlling aspects of our lives.

And, because the majority of bishops, nearly all so-called catholic scholars, catholic university regimes, etc. have sold out to Obama and the socilaists. In this rounnd the bowl of pottage is full of human dignity, peace, social justice, etc.

I could barf!

Tito Edwards
Saturday, July 10, AD 2010 6:42pm

T. Shaw,

Food for thought received in an email from the Manhattan Declaration group:

” . . . may be one of the gravest, most insidious threats to religious freedom I’ve seen in my lifetime: What may be an attempt, at the very highest levels of government, to RE-DEFINE the very meaning of religious freedom, from “free exercise” to merely private worship.”

That is why the Obama administration and many liberals continue to say “Freedom of Worship” instead of “Freedom of Religion”.

They want to eliminate faith completely from the public square by redefining certain precepts of the U.S. Constitution.

Logan Anderson
Logan Anderson
Sunday, July 11, AD 2010 6:14pm

You can say that Catholic bigotry is alive at the University of Illinois, but your church is a most dangerous foe of civil and religious liberty. The Catholic Bishops descended on Congress and pressured our legislators to pass Obama’s health care bill, even though the nation could not afford it and is on the verge to ruin and bankruptcy. The Bishops have no respect whatsoever for the U.S. Constitution. All across the board the church is pushing its’ agenda, seeking to dominate and control. The papacy is battering down the walls of church-state separation every where she can. She is pushing to enforce Sunday observance upon all of Europe, and is pushing for Sunday enforcement in the U.S. also. The Founding Fathers enacted safeguards, but these are being dismantled. Persecution is returning as sure as day. The words of John Adams, our second president, are proving true, as liberty of conscience is more and more threatened, “I have long been decided in opinion that a free government and the Roman Catholic religion can never exist together in any nation or Country.” “Liberty and Popery cannot live together.”

Tito Edwards
Sunday, July 11, AD 2010 6:20pm

Logan,

The Catholic Bishops are U.S. citizens.

You need to brush up on the constitution.

The last time I read it we all have freedom of expression.

American Knight
American Knight
Sunday, July 11, AD 2010 7:28pm

Logan, if you are some sort of Christian, then you should prayerfully read John 8:32.

If you aren’t Christian, then you should pray, “God, if you really exist, help me understand what you are telling me in this Scripture reading.” and then read John 8:32.

God and His Church do not impose, He proposes – the rest is up to you. Know that your Father loves you, despite any feelings you have otherwise.

American Knight
American Knight
Sunday, July 11, AD 2010 8:21pm

Logan,

The wall of separation between Church and States is from a letter Jefferson wrote in 1802 to the Danbury Baptists, a religious minority fearing that they would not be able to worship the way they were inclined and Jefferson was assuring them that the first amendment to the Constitution protected their religion from interference by the federal government.

Jefferson was an adept diplomat and knowing his audience, Baptists, he wrote in terms they would understand. The wall of separation was drawn from a sermon by Roger Williams, whose sermons would have been known well among Baptists in 1802.

The particular sermon is titled, “The Garden in the Wilderness” preached in 1644. He said, “When they have opened a gap in the hedge or wall of separation between the garden of the Church and the wilderness of the world, God hath ever broke down the wall itself, removed the candlestick, and made his garden a wilderness, as at this day. And that there fore if He will e’er please to restore His garden and paradise again, it must of necessity be walled in peculiarly unto Himself from the world.”

Clearly Jefferson was referring to the fact that the wall separated the Church (the garden) from the State (the wilderness of the world) to protect the Church from the corruption of the political power. He was not even intoning that the State had a right to be ‘protected’ from the Church. In Jefferson’s time, even though it followed the Enlightenment, people of faith knew that religion formed men in virtue and virtuous leaders, men of character, were what was required to govern the Republic.

Twisting this wall of separation to mean that religion has no place in public life is an atheistic Communist ploy. Probably concocted by the Communist front – the ACLU. It is a lie and intelligent people using the gift of human reason wouldn’t employ such a tired and weak argument.

Kathy
Kathy
Thursday, July 15, AD 2010 10:06am

“Will they fire Muslims for taking the same position?”

An excellent question! Are similar courses in Islam being taught there?

trackback
Monday, July 26, AD 2010 5:31am

[…] on July 9, here, I wrote about Dr. Kenneth Howell who was fired by the University of Illinois for setting forth […]

trackback
Thursday, July 29, AD 2010 6:03pm

[…] 1.  Anti-Catholic Bigotry Alive and Well at the University of Illinois […]

trackback
Thursday, October 21, AD 2010 5:31am

[…] Kenneth Howell at the University of Illinois.  I have posted on his firing and subsequent rehiring here, here, here and here.  Briefly, Dr. Howell taught a course on Catholicism at the University of […]

Discover more from The American Catholic

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Scroll to Top