UCLA Professor Prohibits Student from Thanking ‘Jesus’ in Graduation Speech
A University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) has prohibited a graduating student from saying “I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” in her own graduation speech.
Students were instructed to send their professor their speech to have read aloud at a pre-graduation ceremony, according to a Christian Newswire press release.
UCLA Biology Professor Dr. Pamela Hurley censored Christina’s proposed speech because Christina wanted to thank her Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hurley replied back to Christina saying: “UCLA is a public university where the doctrine of separation of church and state is observed.” Hurley suggested Christina remove all references to Jesus Christ.
In response to Christina objection, Hurley threatened to not read any of her speech if she didn’t go by the rules.
“If you prefer, Christina, I can read none of what you wrote. I am very sorry that this is a problem for you,” said Hurley.
Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, the former Navy Chaplain who was punished for praying publicly “in Jesus name” (but was later vindicated by Congress), issued the following statement:
“I am not Christina’s personal spokesman, but I admire her courage. Jesus is not an illegal word, and UCLA has no business censoring her speech, especially if they claim to celebrate ‘academic freedom.’ Instead, Dr. Hurley has terribly misapplied her own twisted idea of the separation of church and state. As a Government school, UCLA has absolutely no right to prohibit Christina’s freedom of religious expression, and she’s earned the right to speak her own words at her own graduation. UCLA is crossing the line of separation, not Christina, and we pray UCLA will repent of their anti-Christian discrimination.
Related posts:
- UCLA Now Says Student Can Thank Jesus At Graduation Ceremony
- Liberty Counsel Petitions U.S. Supreme Court to Hear School Graduation Free Speech Case
- Professor Fired For Teaching Catholic Doctrine On Homosexuality Is Reinstated
- N.C. Pastor Fired For “Jesus” Prayer At State Capitol
- Judge Says Public High Schools Can Continue Graduation In Church
Short URL: http://www.christianlawjournal.com/?p=1509
