A Christian graduate student in counseling has been expelled from the program because he declined to counsel gay couples.
Andrew Cash, who was pursuing a Master’s degree in counseling at
Missouri State University (MSU) is suing the university for expelling
him, according to The Daily Wire.
Cash was reportedly fulfilling his counseling hours with the Christian
counseling organization, Springfield Marriage and Family Institute,
which was approved by MSU. Another MSU student was also working with the
Institute.
Cash had arranged for someone from the institute to speak to his class
as part of a project. The visiting counselor ended up answering
questions about counseling gay couples and also praying. Employees of
the Springfield Marriage and Family Institute will pray with those who
specifically request prayer. The Institute also refers gay couples to
other counselors because of their religious beliefs.
After this incident, Cash was told that his hours working with the
Institute would no longer count toward his degree. He was also forced to
retake two classes. Eventually, he was told he had been expelled from
the program entirely.
A statement issued by Cash’s lawyer, Thomas Olp, said:
"Traditionally, universities have been places for free exchange of
ideas and values, both religious and secular. Unfortunately, Missouri
State University departed from its mission by denying educational
opportunity to Mr. Cash simply because he expressed, in an academic
setting, sincerely-held religious beliefs which his advisor deemed
hostile to her own and therefore unacceptable. An educator should not
permit her own ideology and agenda to ruin the educational opportunities
of her students. We feel the responsibility, on Mr. Cash’s behalf, to
try to correct this.”
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