In a letter sent to Fresno City College earlier this week, the ACLU demanded that Professor Dr. Bradley Lobez refrain from teaching religiously-based views as science or fact. Students at the public college in Fresno, California, have complained that Professor Lopez’s introductory health class has featured multiple lectures that taught “sectarian views and personal bias as fact,” which is a direct violation of both federal and state constitutional protections that guarantee the separation of church and state. Across the US, all publicly funded colleges and schools must follow this separation of church and state to ensure a welcoming environment for all students.
In the letter, the ACLU lists a variety of examples of which Professor Lopez has violated this constitutional protection of student rights including, but not limited to, the following:
- Presented a slide listing “homosexual facts,” including that homosexuality is a “biological misapplication of human sexuality” and said that the “recommended treatment” is “psychological counseling” or “hormone supplements.”
- Presented bible passages as “empirical” evidence that life begins at conception in support of his assertion that abortion is murder and “the leading cause of death in this country” (because there are over a million abortions a year).
- Followed a slide on climate change in a presentation on “environmental health” with a slide containing a Biblical quote about the world ending in fire, and said “that is the real global warming we should be worried about.”
- Repeatedly referenced the Bible and used it as a teaching tool, for example assigning as homework a question as to Jesus’ genetic makeup.
While some feel that Professor Lopez’s teachings are protected under the first amendment, this does not hold true within the confines of a publicly funded institution, where he is a faculty member entrusted with speaking for the institution. Fresno City College President Cynthia Azari declined to comment on the current actions being taken by the college, but did say that “The College takes its non-discrimination and prohibition of harassment policies seriously, investigates alleged violations and takes appropriate actions to enforce compliance.”
The college institution is one that has earned great public trust simply because of its purpose. Young minds attending a health science class expect to be provided with medically accurate information rooted in scientific fact and study. When opinion or belief is presented as fact, it can shake the foundation of trust that is so important within the system of higher education. Because of this, it is certain that President Azari will be taking these alleged violations very seriously.
Tags: ACLU, California Community Colleges, Fresno City College
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Being on both sides having had an abortion and getting pregnant again and deciding to have the baby, has opened by eyes to how wrong it was for me to decide the fate of another person. It took me a very long time to forgive myself. I knew God forgave me and if he could forgive this terrible thing I did, then so must I. When I got pregnant the second time, it was because I could not live with what I did, that is not to say that I seriously thought of aborting again. Being single and on my own I could not see the future as a single mom. All the “HOW WILL” came into my mind, which almost led me to another abortion. The truth is that I cried out to God and asked him to help me. Well I really screamed out to God and very loud, by myself and made promises to him. Lord give me the strength to have this baby no matter what. No matter how hard it is on me, how people see me, just give the strength. God did help me raise my little girl, I was a single parent until she was 9 years old and then I did get married and ended up having another child. It was hard doing it on my own, very rough times, however I always pulled though. God will help you no joke no lie. Not to say there will be bumps and bolders, but it will be ok. The rush came Twenty-five years later which is now. My daugher who is now married had her baby, my grandaugher and she also had a little boy, my grandson. You cannot imagine how much these two little people mean to me. I thank God for them all the time. To think that if I had made a different choice back then, there would not be the two precious little people in my life right now. Can you imagine when that hit me? God may not reward us right away, it can be awhile, but he is a beautiful and wonderful God, he knows just the right time to open our eyes. Please forgive yourself if you have aborted and if you are pregnant now, please pray about it and God will give you the strength you need to have your baby and just look ahead and not behind you have to stand firm in your choice and trust God for the rest.