This Christian Group Refused to Elect an LGBT Activist as its Leader: Now They're Suing the University That Booted Them

Fr. Mark Hodges : Jan 24, 2018
Lifesitenews

The hypocritical censorship was addressed by Eric Baxter of the Becket Fund who noted that feminist groups have the right to choose feminist-minded leaders, and global warming groups have the right to reject climate deniers as leaders.

(Iowa City, IA)—[Lifesitenews.com] A Christian student group has brought legal action against the University of Iowa (UI) for stripping them of club status after the group disqualified an active homosexual from running for leadership. The group disqualified the homosexual because he refused to agree to the group's policy that leaders must "avoid ... any sexual activity outside of marriage between a man and a woman." (Photo: School mascot Herky the Hawk stands in front of the Old Capitol Museum at the University of Iowa, in Iowa City, Iowa/credit: Reuters/via Fox News)

Business Leaders in Christ (BLinC), a group that focuses on service in the community and meets for Bible study, was told by the school that they were censored because student organizations "must adhere to the mission of the university (and its) policies."

At issue are the qualifications for leadership in the Christian organization. While anyone may attend BLinC meetings, leaders are chosen only from those who agree to BLinC's Statement of Faith, "which includes avoiding any sexual activity outside of marriage between a man and a woman."

"To preserve and fully express its religious mission, BLinC requires all of its leaders (but not members) to affirm that they will embrace and follow the Statement of Faith," the lawsuit states.

When gay activist Marcus Miller applied for BLinC leadership, he was disqualified because he refused to agree to BLinC's convictions. "He expressly stated that he rejected BLinC's religious beliefs and would not follow them," the group explained.

Thus jilted, Miller filed a complaint with the university, claiming he was rejected because he is an openly practicing homosexual. UI, in turn, yanked BLinC's status as a registered student group, effectively halting their activities on campus.

UI accused the group of violating the school's Human Rights Policy, which disallows "discrimination" on the basis of sexual orientation.

BLinC remains banned from reserving campus rooms, setting up at student recruitment fairs, and receiving funding from student activity fees.

"This is premeditated religious discrimination, plain and simple," the Becket Fund's Eric Baxter charged. "Every organization has to be able to select leaders who embrace its mission," the senior counsel handing BLinC's lawsuit added...

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