Reportedly, a
Harvard-affiliated hospital expelled a popular doctor after he voiced his
religious beliefs about homosexuality.
Dr. Paul Church, who had
admitting privileges at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston,
was told his position on homosexuality constituted “discrimination,” “harassment,”
and “unprofessional conduct;” and that Bible verses regarding homosexuality are
similarly “offensive” and discriminatory.
“Dr. Church was censured
and subjected to disciplinary action for stating an objection on medical and
religious grounds to the promotion of homosexuality,” says Richard Mast, a
Liberty Counsel attorney representing Church.
Mast confirmed Church received a letter from the hospital, assessed the
letter and exercised his rights under the bylaws for admission purposes. Though the hospital had handed down the
expulsion in March, Church was denied an appeal in early September.
LifeSiteNews
reports the hospital began censuring Church’s comments more than a decade ago.
Church’s comments were
allegedly posted on a BIDMC communication several years ago. Church reportedly wrote: “The evidence is
irrefutable that behaviors common within the homosexual community are unhealthy
and high risk for a host of serious medical consequences, including STD’s, HIV
and AIDS, anal cancer, hepatitis, parasitic intestinal infections, and
psychiatric disorders. … Life expectancy is significantly decreased as a result
of HIV/AIDS, complications from the other health problems, and suicide. This alone should make it reprehensible to the
medical community, who has an obligation to promote and model healthy behaviors
and lifestyles.”
For attorney Mast,
Church’s case represents the fight for religious freedom many Christians face
when making their faith public in the private sector. Just because an act is legal — be it
abortion, education standards or gay marriage — doesn’t make it moral, Mast
says.
“This needs to be a
wake-up call for America,” Mast says. “What
we see being enacted in corporate America is vague terms like labeling
something ‘offensive’ is grounds for being fired. We’re seeing delegitimized expressions of
religious beliefs. ... Rather than disagreeing with ideas, (corporate America)
is characterizing the expression of a Christian worldview as offensive, hateful
and hurtful; effectively enacting gag orders across corporate America for
religious beliefs.”
Rev.
Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor,
Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
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