Libertarian Librarian

I agree with you, Nick, that the rant described in the link in your post doesn't really seem to be appropriate for a college classroom (even though it is a sociology class). The instructor does have a right to his opinion, although that doesn't mean that he can (or, rather, should) use his educational bully-pulpit to present that opinion to a captive audience in place of actual classroom instruction.

I also agree with your assertion that separation of church and state (which isn't in the Constitution to begin with) seems to be sacrosanct when invoked against a positive expression of religion, but that same separation of church and state seems to be non-existent when there is a negative expression of religion (except, of course, when that negative expression of religion is deemed to be "hate speech").

Should the instructor of a sociology class be tearing into Catholicism and conservatives during a class at Marquette? Not without good cause in relation to the subject being taught. If he had looked at Catholicism and conservative principles in relation to the subject being focused on, that would be one thing; but just stating an opinion about conservatives in general, and the tenets of the Catholic faith in particular, should bring reprimand or censure at a Jesuit university.

The only thing with this incident, however, is that Marquette is a private, Catholic college. I would probably agree completely if this was UWM that was being discussed, but I do believe that religion should be in the classrooms of a Jesuit university, at least in spirit, regardless of any alleged separation of church and state which might be enforced in some manner due to federal funding issues. Depending on tenure, or how well he can spin this if it is taken up for academic review, it may be a non-issue anyway.

I do think you're right, but I think the argument would be more persuasive if this incident occurred at a public university.