Baptist Campus Paper Backs Same-Sex 'Marriages'
by Jim Brown and Jody Brown
March 1, 2004
(AgapePress) - The student newspaper at the largest Baptist university in the world has endorsed homosexual "marriage."
Back in November, Christian pollster George Barna reported that approximately 40 percent of young adults (between the ages of 18 and 38) believe it is "morally acceptable" to have a sexual relationship with someone of the same gender. If one believes those findings, it should come as no surprise that on Friday, the editorial board of the Baylor University Lariat compared opposition to same-sex marriage to discrimination based on skin color or religious beliefs.
After summarizing recent events in San Francisco, where more than 3,500 "marriage" licenses have been issued to homosexual couples in a little more than two weeks, the editorial states:
"Like many heterosexual couples, many gay couples share deep bonds of love, some so strong they've persevered years of discrimination for their choice to co-habitate with and date one another. Just as it isn't fair to discriminate against someone for their skin color, heritage or religious beliefs, it isn't fair to discriminate against someone for their sexual orientation. Shouldn't gay couples be allowed to enjoy the benefits and happiness of marriage, too?"
The paper's editorial board approved the article by a 5-2 vote -- and editor Lacy Elwood says it was "no big deal." But Baylor president Robert Sloan, Jr., evidently thinks differently. Sloan says the editorial board of the Lariat may have violated university policy.
"Espousing in a Baylor publication a view that is so out of touch with traditional Christian teachings is not only unwelcome, it comes dangerously close to violating University policy, as published in the Student Handbook, prohibiting the advocacy of any understandings of sexuality that are contrary to biblical teaching," Sloan says on the university's website.
"We do not support the use of publications such as the Lariat, which is published by the University, to advocate positions that undermine foundational Christian principles upon which this institution was founded and currently operates," the university head says.
Baylor spokesman Larry Brumley says the paper's views do not represent the vast majority of the school's 14,000 students and 100,000 alumni, not to mention its administration, faculty, staff, and board of regents. He says the Waco-based school is outraged over the editorial -- but the students will not necessarily be fired from the newspaper.
"Our student handbook is very clear that homosexual acts are treated with the same disciplinary proceedings as adultery and fornication and other types of sexual sin," he says. "More importantly in this case, what we're dealing with here is an advocacy of a matter that is really outside of traditional Christian teaching."
According to Brumley, the Student Publications Board will be convening in the next few days to discuss what if any punishments will be meted out against the paper's editorial staff. He adds that he is not sure whether the editorial was triggered by the school's recent decision to revoke the financial aid for a homosexual seminary student.
