Fired For Being Catholic? – Update

Dr. Kenneth Howell, the professor from the University of Illinois who lost his job for his explanation to his Introduction to Catholicism class of the Catholic Church’s teaching on homosexuality, will be allowed to continue teaching the course this fall, according to a letter , dated July 28, from the University to the Alliance Defense Fund :

The School of Literatures, Cultures, and Linguistics will be contacting Dr. Howell to offer him the opportunity to teach Religion 127, Introduction to Catholicism, on a visiting instructional appointment at the University of Illinois, for the fall 2010 semester. Dr. Howell will be appointed and paid by the University for this adjunct teaching assignment. Read more

This is certainly good to hear, but it’s a far cry from the University admitting any wrongdoing for dismissing Dr. Howell in the first place, though the letter mentions that the University Senate Committee’s investigation into the decision to remove Howell’s teaching responsibilities is still ongoing. It’s also worth noting that this will be a new teaching arrangement, with Dr. Howell teaching as a visiting professor paid by the University rather than by the Saint John’s Catholic Newman Center—perhaps that’s all the religion department wanted to begin with.