Monday, November 26, 2012

Steubenville Concedes to Anti-Catholic Media on Course Description

[Steubenville, OH]  Recently, the Franciscan University of Steubenville Ohio had come under fire for an excerpt in its course catalog which compared homosexuals to criminals. The course description created a tremendous amount of attention from the anti-Catholic media. The description for Social Work Research 314, as it has stood for about 30 years is as follows:


"SWK 314 DEVIANT BEHAVIOR focuses on the sociological theories of deviant behavior such as strain theory, differential association theory, labeling theory, and phenomenological theory. The behaviors that are primarily examined are murder, rape, robbery, prostitution, homosexuality, mental illness, and drug use. The course focuses on structural conditions in society that potentially play a role in influencing deviant behavior." 3 credit hours

The Catholic University Faculty has already voted to reword the course description while insisting that it will remain faithful to the Catholic teaching on homosexuality that homosexuals are to be treated with respect and dignity, but have a disordered condition.

At this point, the faculty has conceded that those who have been critical of the school, including one former student who is no longer Catholic because of the Church's teaching on homosexuality, that the statement in the course catalog comparing homosexuality to other forms of deviant behavior have a point.

14 comments:

beagle said...

So now they seem to be giving the impression that objections to homosexuality are only faith-based and not based on biology, anatomy, psychology, etc etc. Cowards and idiots.

We're dealing with hard science here, but now everybody's too scared to say so. 'I'm ok, you're ok' has replaced rationality in the psychiatric field.

Geremia said...

They should change the word to "sodomy". "Homosexuality" is a modern (ca. 1890s), equivocal word: it could mean those who have same-sex attraction or those who act upon such temptations. Clearly, this course is speaking of the latter.

Walt said...

To have the belief that rational thinking has a place within the social arena is, in itself, a comical thought. The truth, as we can all stand witness to, in these times of apostasy and outrage has no place. There is no truth but what an individual believes to be "their" truth. Thankfully, we are, so it appears, in the end times. Afterward, we can get back to a proper and decent state of order.

Restore-DC-Catholicism said...

Steubenville! Et tu, Brute??

Michael Sirilla said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tancred said...

As you probably know, I'm in the habit of making stuff up.

Elizabeth said...

Gosh, the way these items are couched is amazing to me. My objection to the course description was correct based on equating conditions and orientations with behavior, which as any halfway decent social scientist should know is an error. Also, the description did not really describe the course itself. The new description is much more scholarly, clear, and academically appropriate. Herewith Tim's note to me:

Hi Elizabeth,

I wanted to shoot you a quick follow up on the social work course description. The faculty voted on Friday to approve the modified version. The new course description for Social Work 314, Deviant Behavior, reads:

Deviant Behavior examines the complexity of defining deviance and the influences on individuals engaged in deviant or diverse behaviors. The behaviors will be analyzed using micro and macro theories that explain difference and deviance. Students will be challenged to think about their own preconceptions as well as interventions that can be utilized in social work practice.

Apparently the faculty agreed that the other description was improper. This was not an attack on Catholicism, and anyone who says it was has a very specific agenda. As one of the principles involved, I can say that I am pleased with the outcome. I have no interest in interfering with the school's religious freedom, this was about academic rigor and appropriate descriptors.

Tancred said...

The "orientation" of sodomy is a disorder, just as any supposed predisposition to criminal behavior would be a disorder.

There was nothing wrong with the original course description. They're just making concessions to people who aren't going to be mollified anyway, but Catholics may be alienated and choose not to send their children here. (Not likely)

They agreed that a previous course description which has been in place for decades was suddenly "improper" because of intense media pressure and the threat of being investigated by government oversight, which has an agenda all its own, an anti-Catholic agenda.

beagle said...

Who doesn't have an 'agenda' aymore?

It's a course in Deviant Behavior, and it listed some of the behaviors discussed. It ain't that hard.

beagle said...

Ok, so saying mental illness is a 'behavior' is poor English, but would you object if they said 'homosexual acts' or 'sodomy' instead of 'homosexuality?' Mental illness could simply be 'acts deriving from mental illnesses' or some such. I suspect the 'gay alum and allies' group mentioned at

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/franciscan-university-defends-deviance-course-against-critics/

wouldn't be happy with that.

And you mention a 'Gregory' in the comments there, apparently (if I'm not mistaken) the pro-homosexualist who is said to have renounced his faith? Semantic hair-splitting aside, can you really say this is all about wording and pure, clinical science and has nothing whatsoever to do with the feelings or ideology of gay activists?

If I misunderstand someone's intentions here, I apologize, but this is being used as a political club by leftwing and gay groups, regardless of original intent, and FSU are cowards to buckle under instead of changing a couple words.

beagle said...

FUS, whatever. It sounds like something that would go on at Florida State, but alas...

Tancred said...

I've pretty much given up on expecting any intellectual honesty from Neocatholics who have a financial stake in this snake oil.

Steve said...

Hi, all. I'd like to share the truth direct from the horse's mouth, so to speak. I am someone who is 'afflicted' (yes, afflicted) with a same-sex orientation, and I live according to the Church's teaching on this. Guess what? It's a disorder, folks, and the Church is exactly right on Her teaching. What is the teaching? Very simple. Those who have a same-sex attraction are included with those who are heterosexual but not yet married, and also those who find themselves in civil divorce: They are not permitted to use their sexual faculty. THAT'S IT. How does one live the affliction of a same-sex attraction? By frequent reception of the Sacrament of Confession and reception of the Eucharist in a state of grace.

Anonymous said...

Oh boy!! There's no dancing around that one.

That's why we all have to start considering truly Catholic Colleges like Fisher More College in Fort Worth, Texas. www.fishermore.edu

Philip