The Alliance Defense Fund Monday filed a federal lawsuit (text of complaint) against Missouri State University on behalf of a former social work student who alleges that her First Amendment rights were violated when one of her professors insisted that she participate in a project that violated her Christian religious beliefs. The ADF's release says that Prof. Frank G. Kauffman assigned his social work students a project promoting homosexual foster homes and adoption. For it, he required the entire class to write and individually sign a letter to the Missouri Legislature in support of homosexual adoption. Student Emily Brooker refused to sign the letter because it violated her religious beliefs. This led to a complaint being filed against her for violation of the School of Social Work’s "Standards of Essential Functioning in Social Work Education" and to a hearing in which she was asked invasive questions about her views on homosexuality.
The Springfield (MO) News Leader today reports that university officials are investigating the allegations made in the lawsuit. It issued a statement saying: "Missouri State University has been and is committed to protecting the rights of its students, as well as its faculty and staff, including free speech and expression, and freedom of religion."
