U.S. Court of Appeals Upholds Religious Liberties

The Sixth Circuit issued a ruling on Friday in Julea Ward’s suit against Eastern Michigan University (EMU). The University expelled Ms. Ward, a counseling student, when she expressed concerns about counseling individuals engaged in extra-marital sexual relationships.

In the original incident, Ms. Ward agreed to counsel a gay client on a range of issues but asked that the student be referred to another counselor if the conversation turned to his relationship with his partner. Julea indicated she would take the same position for a heterosexual client who is unmarried and in a sexual relationship. Ms. Ward sued EMU for expelling her, saying it violated her sincerely held religious beliefs to compel her to help clients engage in such behavior.

Ms. Ward lost on the District Court level but won on appeal. The Court found that “a reasonable jury could conclude that Ward’s professor ejected her from the counseling program because of hostility toward her speech and faith, not due to a policy against referrals.” The Court of Appeals reversed the lower Court’s decision and remanded it back to the District Court for further consideration.