Oxford University seems to have some balls after all.
Students are demanding Oxford University sacks a Roman Catholic professor for allegedly criticising homosexuality.
They claim essays published by John Finnis, 77, emeritus professor of law and legal philosophy, attack same-sex relations and are ‘discriminatory’.
Campaigners say his presence on campus threatens gay people, and a petition demanding his removal from his academic position has 350 backers so far.
He’s a Roman Catholic, so of course he is going to be critical of homosexuality. However, free speech gives him that right. If people feel threatened by that then the problem is with them. However, the real issue here is that students now seem to think that it is within their remit to issue demands. The appropriate response to such demands is to remind them of their place. They are there to learn, not to make demands and fucking right off is what they can do.
However, Oxford has supported his right to academic freedom.
Precisely. And if students are triggered, then they can leave.
Why don’t they just criticise the Catholic Church in response? It is after all the most corrupt and evil organisation that ever existed in the whole of human history and, as such, a very target rich environment. By definition, anyone who wants to be a part of it is a reprehensible scum bag and in no position to pass moral judgement on anything.
Well, quite. Respond to the ideas. Debate them, challenge them, but no, not our whiny, entitled students. They want him sacked.
More evil and corrupt than the EU?
Or than the religion of peace?
As far as I can tell, he was doing his job in explaining the classical positions. He may happen to endorse them but even if he didn’t, his job would still be to explain that thinking as part of the job of critical analysis.
What is the point of going to university if you are not going to look critically at trains of thought?