Franciscan University Deviant Behavior Class Equates Homosexuality With Rape, Murder

[cleanhippie]

Alumni of Franciscan University of Steubenville, a Catholic institution in Ohio, are outraged to discover a course at their alma mater equates homosexuality with rape, murder and prostitution. Yet, when they reached out to voice their concern, they were met instead with a threat from a lawyer.

The Franciscan University Gay Alumni and Allies first raised the alarm when they discovered the course description for SWK 314: Deviant Behavior reads:

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.

The American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality as an illness in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1973. The Human Rights Campaign notes categorizing same-sex attraction as “deviant” has also been debunked by the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association.

However, Franciscan believes it still makes sense for them to consider it a "deviance."

"Franciscan University follows Catholic Church teaching in regard to homosexuality and treats homosexual persons with 'respect, compassion and sensitivity' (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2358) while holding homosexual acts as 'intrinsically disordered,'" the university said in a statement.

--snip--

Franciscan has made headlines before for controversies on its campus. They dropped their student health insurance and sued the Obama administration over contraception coverage.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/11/franciscan-university-deviant-behavior_n_1874760.html?ir=Religion&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

Stubenville...where have I head that name before?

OH YEAH! It's the city that has this University and its christian cross on the city logo.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/121838291

[rug]

1. This is the full statement from the group.

Franciscan University continues to class gay people with murderers and rapists.

Outdated prejudices appear to be given more weight than scientific truth at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. A recent survey of Franciscan University’s course offerings found this active course description on their website:

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 (Bold font added for emphasis)

Despite more than 25 years of solid mainstream scholarship in the fields of psychology, social work, and mental health demonstrating the psychological health of gay and lesbian individuals, Franciscan University continues to teach otherwise, allowing pseudo-science to be taught at an accredited university.

To classify the normal day-to-day life of gay and lesbian citizens as being on par with that of murderers, rapists, and prostitutes is offensive, untrue, and an example of religious ideology being allowed to trump the scientifically demonstrated truth of the matter.

The latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) does NOT include homosexuality as a disorder or form of deviant behavior. All major professional mental health organizations have gone on record to affirm that homosexuality is not a mental disorder or deviant behavior. The continued classification of homosexuality as deviant behavior is rejected by the overwhelming majority of the professional psychological community and by many Catholic theologians.

The alarm must be raised that psychology and mental health graduates from Franciscan University are less prepared than graduates at other universities and colleges, being taught ideological falsehoods in the classroom rather than solid, proven research and evidence.

Further concern must be raised that such classifications feed cultural biases and promote hatred for lesbian and gay individuals and runs counter to official Roman Catholic teaching on this matter.

We urge Franciscan University to revise its course descriptions and to stop contributing the culture of hate and ignorance that is already too pervasive. The University should conduct an audit of its entire curriculum and remove any information being taught on this subject that is outdated and not substantiated by sound scientific fact. It is about time the University aligns itself with the truth of this matter and gets on board with the positions of respected scholars and professionals who operate from valid and repeatable research and evidence.

Gay Alumni and Allies of Catholic Universities

http://www.wtov9.com/news/news/-unedited-franciscan-gay-alumni-allies-statement-s/nR5mn/

[cleanhippie]

2. It's a shame. In this light, it makes even more sense to remove that cross from the city seal.

Despite more than 25 years of solid mainstream scholarship in the fields of psychology, social work, and mental health demonstrating the psychological health of gay and lesbian individuals, Franciscan University continues to teach otherwise, allowing pseudo-science to be taught at an accredited university.

If for no other reason than this.

[rug]

3. It has nothing to do with the city logo.

What is interesting is this complaint was brought to light by presumably Catholic graduates asserting, among other things, that the course description violates Catholic doctrine.

Further concern must be raised that such classifications feed cultural biases and promote hatred for lesbian and gay individuals and runs counter to official Roman Catholic teaching on this matter.

[cleanhippie]

6. Sigh. I know that. I'm making a larger point here.

The point being that the logo can now be honestly associated with hate and intolerance because it carries a picture of Franciscan U with a cross. That alone should be enough to warrant a change of the logo.

Come on, rug, work with me man, I'm really trying here.

[rug]

7. I know, I appreciate that.

But symbols have all sorts of meanings associated with them. To Steubenville, the University has a bigger association that this ridiculous little course.

Personally, I think they should replace it with a picture of native son Dean Martin.

[cleanhippie]

8. That is wanting to have cake and eat it too.

When these cases come up, we invariably hear how "that cross is not a christian symbol, its an historical one" while at the same time we hear, in another case, "that cross is a sign of my god and religion."

In this case, the cross IS a christian symbol on a city seal that is supposed to be secular, the cross DOES represent Franciscan U which DOES believe that homosexuality is a deviant behavior. This is just another reason for this cross to be removed from the logo. And THIS example, of this beloved university that is so near and dear to the heart of the city, is a hateful and intolerant institution, regardless of everything else they might do.

Consider this statement; "What if you're a gay student at Franciscan University? How are you going to feel if you're sitting in that class and they're putting you in the same category as murderers?" asked Gregory Gronbacher, a 1990 Franciscan grad, in a radio interview.

This makes me think of the adage from my Navy days; "A million 'atta-boys' (good works) is instantly erased by a single 'aw-shit' (fuck up)." No matter how good this school is in other areas, it is overshadowed by its stance on this...

The American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality as an illness in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1973. The Human Rights Campaign notes categorizing same-sex attraction as “deviant” has also been debunked by the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association.

[rug]

11. I'm stealing your Navy adage.

There's a lot of truth in it.

But I'll give you one in return:

“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” ― Napoleon Bonaparte

[cleanhippie]

12. My apologies. Please continue without interruption.

[rexcat]

4. This...

from an organization (the Church) who institutionalized pedophilia. I wonder how much on the topic of pedophilia is discussed at this University in its proper context?

[rug]

5. The Church's reaction to the sex scandals did not "institutionalize" pedophilia.

It was a, what's the word, "deviant" reaction by leaders who valued power over right.

[rexcat]

9. In my view...

the church leadership protected the pedophiles from the law because of some misguided religious belief that redemption was possible. I think "deviant" might not be the correct term, more like criminal behavior by the church leadership would be a better term.

[rug]

10. It was certainly criminal. Most crimes are rooted in seeking power of one kind or another.