By McClatchy-Tribune News Service
CHICAGO —
An instructor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign -- dismissed after a student called his explanation of Roman Catholic teaching on homosexuality “hate speech” -- is being offered his teaching job back, the university said Thursday.
Kenneth Howell was barred last month from teaching two courses in the university’s religion department after explaining during class and in an e-mail why the church believes homosexual behavior violates natural moral law.
His case has been taken up by First Amendment advocates and others, and his supporters have created a Facebook page with more than 2,600 people supporting him.
The university released a statement Thursday saying Howell’s appointment as an adjunct instructor in the religion department -- teaching Religion 127, Introduction to Catholicism -- will be continued for the fall. Howell also taught a course on modern Catholic thought, and the statement did not make clear whether he will still do so.
A review of whether Howell’s firing by the religion department violated his academic freedom is continuing, the university said.
“The University of Illinois is committed to upholding principles of academic freedom and the requirements of the First Amendment,” the statement said.
In making the move, the university also announced it will now pay those teaching Catholic-related courses rather than have them paid by a church group.
Since his hiring in 2001, Howell’s salary had been paid by the St. John’s Catholic Newman Center, which is run by the Diocese of Peoria, Ill.
In an arrangement with the Newman Center, Howell has served as director of St. John’s Institute on Catholic Thought, entitling him to teach Catholic theory in the religion department.
From now on, Catholic studies instructors teaching courses for University of Illinois credit will be paid by the university, according to the university.
