BumFluff said:
Produce some evidence or shut up about it.
Wasn't that asked of you? Did you ever find a student that has made a complaint?
I doubt the university ever approach the "gays in Vancouver" for an endorsement.
Why would the school approach them? If the covenant was truly discrimating they would have taken TWU to task a long long time ago.
Check this out:
Frequently Asked Questions
*
Would gay students be welcome to attend the proposed law school at Trinity Western University?
Yes. Anyone is welcome to attend Trinity Western University, regardless of their sexual orientation or religious beliefs. Many gay students have attended—and graduated—from our university, as have students from many different faiths and ethnicities.
But doesn’t your “Community Covenant” preclude gay students from attending the university?
No. As mentioned, gay students do attend our university. But like their heterosexual counterparts, they do so on the basis of agreeing to honour the traditional, biblical Christian values and principles as set out in our Community Covenant. The sanctity of Christian marriage between a man and a woman is addressed in that Covenant, and is of essential importance to us as Christians. Therefore, we ask members of our community to respect our Christian belief that sexual intimacy be restricted to married men and women.
So “extramarital” sexual relations between an unmarried couple—whether gay or straight—is unacceptable. But what about legally married same-sex couples?
“Civil” same-sex unions are now recognized by Canadian law. But views on same-sex marriage differ widely. Many religions—including many Christian denominations, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Jews—have chosen not to bless same-sex unions, and have drafted resolutions or official church policies, based upon their traditional religious teachings, defining marriage as between a man and a woman. We share those views.
Yes, but Trinity Western isn’t a church—it’s a university. So why wouldn’t the university’s proposed law school recognize the legality of same-sex marriage?
Trinity Western University’s proposed law school would most certainly be founded on and teach the principles of Canadian law. There would be nothing in our curriculum that is “anti-gay” or contrary to current Canadian law. But Canadian law also recognizes the right for people to express and honour their religious beliefs. That is particularly important to us as a community. Trinity Western University has been designated by law as a private religious institution, founded on traditional, biblical Christian values and principles. As such, we are entitled to our beliefs and fully authorized to set standards for our community that are based on those Christian beliefs. The Supreme Court of Canada recognized that in a 2001 ruling on our right to train and certify teachers. The Supreme Court also noted that religious public education rights are enshrined in Section 93 of the Constitution Act, which was drafted in 1867. The pursuit of freedom has always been a guiding force in the constitutional framework of Canada—and freedom includes the right for people to hold their own religious beliefs.
Given the need for students to abide by those standards, could a gay couple be expelled from the university for having sexual relations?
The Community Covenant is primarily based on the integrity of the person signing it. We don’t police compliance by our students, staff, or faculty—nor has anyone ever been expelled from the University for failing to abide by this standard. But we do make it clear to prospective students, staff and faculty that membership within our community is a matter of personal integrity.* As such, if a member of the University community can’t or won’t accept those standards, we invite them to seek one of many other living/learning situations that would be more acceptable to them.
So you expect gay students to ignore their natural instincts and remain chaste the entire time they attend your university?
We expect any student—gay or heterosexual—to honour the traditional, Bible-based Christian standards that guide us as a community. While that may demand a high level of self-discipline for unmarried students, we believe (as do members of most other world religions) that sexual promiscuity (in any form) is unhealthy—to both the individuals involved and the community at large. Prospective students are well-aware of that—and gay or straight, they have the option to go elsewhere if the prospect of honouring those standards would be too rigorous for them. Having said that, we are also a highly forgiving community. We are not saints—and no one among us can claim perfect adherence to these principles. Our goal is to achieve spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.
Still, aren’t your Christian values biased against the gay community?
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that there was “not a shred of evidence” to suggest any bias on the part of Trinity-educated teachers towards gay students (in the decision to allow our Teacher Certification Program). Our university prides itself on open dialogue and critical examination of beliefs and values. Further, our Christian values are founded on love and respect for others. So while some of our beliefs and values may differ from those held by the gay community, we are taught to love and respect all peoples, regardless of their race, religion or sexual orientation. And we practice what we preach: Trinity Western students routinely volunteer to assist low-income residents in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside; build houses with Habitat for Humanity; support health clinics in developing countries; and many of our students, faculty and staff members have performed mission work around the globe in the most immediate of schools, hospitals, shelters and churches.
What other behavioral standards must students agree to uphold?
At the heart of our beliefs is the need for members of our community to conduct themselves with a high degree of personal integrity and self-discipline, and to exhibit the kind of love and respect for others that is so important to Christian life. We ask our members to develop healthy living habits and to refrain from the use of tobacco, alcohol or other forms of substance abuse; to have a positive regard for the well-being of others and to avoid swearing or the use of profane language; to refrain from harassment, and all forms of dishonesty including cheating and stealing; to avoid gambling or the viewing of pornography; and to respect our views on the sanctity of marriage. Through the application of those core values, our community has been infused with a loving, positive spirit that has helped transform the lives of countless students.
Isn’t it strange for a university to try to dictate the behavior of its students?
We don’t “dictate” anyone’s behavior. Ours is but one of many universities in Canada, and students have many other academic options available to them if they feel Trinity Western isn’t right for them. As for the “strange” nature of our community standards, many world-renowned universities have religious affiliations, along with defined codes of behavior to encourage academic and personal integrity. But aside from universities, most “communities” enact standards of behavior. If you join the military, for example, you must respect the authority of your superiors and obey a chain of command. If you’re a man entering a synagogue, you are required to cover your head. If you’re a woman in a devout Muslim country, you must cover both your face and your body. And if you attend a spiritual retreat in India, you might be required to remain silent, or observe a strictly vegetarian diet. Our beliefs point to the larger experience of a segment of Canadian society. Trinity Western serves the Evangelical Christian community of Canada. There are millions of Canadian employees, students, and congregants who adhere to these principals for daily living.*
But doesn’t adherence to Trinity Western’s Community Covenant effectively limit the opportunities for gay students to apply for and be accepted into Canadian law schools?
Again, anyone is welcome to attend Trinity Western University. Their sexual orientation is never a consideration. Further, there are many well-established law schools across the country—so prospective law students have many options to choose from. Those options don’t currently exist, however, for law students interested in a “faith-based” law school education. Faith-based law schools have long been established in the United States and other parts of the world, but do not exist in Canada. We would like to address that need in building a faith-based, ethically-driven, privately-funded Canadian law school.
What is a “faith-based” law school?
A great deal of our western legal system is based on Judeo-Christian values and principles—from a moral code that condemns theft and murder to ethical standards that have guided civilization. We see the opportunity to connect those ethics and values to our students’ Christian beliefs as a very positive way to reinforce both their faith and their professional standards as lawyers. We also foresee a unique opportunity for our students to examine the connection between other world religions and the evolution of legal systems within those jurisdictions. As with any field of study, it’s always a worthwhile exercise to examine and learn from what’s being done elsewhere. Canadian law schools tend to focus solely on Canadian law, and we feel the Canadian legal system as a whole can benefit from a more global, faith-based approach to legal education. So, too, can lawyers.
Does Trinity Western University receive public funding?
As a private university, TWU does not receive public funding for its operations. However, there are two instances where TWU has received government financial support. First, the federal government is the largest source for research funding in the country. TWU’s faculty, like faculty at all universities in Canada, compete for research grants through the processes established by the various funding agencies. It is a small but important part of our budget and helps us raise the profile of TWU within the academic community in Canada. Second, back during the last recession, the federal government made available one-time funds under its Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) to help stimulate the economy. TWU successfully applied for and received some funds at that time.
https://www.twu.ca/academics/school-of-law/faq.html
