Crossing a Line

Catholic bloggers and the Catholic League have been up in arms over remarks made by Paul Z. Myers, associate professor in the Division of Science and Math at the University of Minnesota Morris. He had threatened to engage in a public desecration of a Koran, a Catholic Eucharistic host, and, to show he was egalitarian, Richard Dawkins’ book, The God Delusion.

There is a religious liberty argument than can be made, and that is that in a society that values separation of church and state and freedom of speech one must expect that people will voice their disagreement with your beliefs–they may denounce them, publish cartoons poking fun at them, and otherwise infuriate true believers.

Catholic bloggers Mark Shea and Jimmy Akin argue that Myers crossed the line when he obtained, under deceit, the Catholic Eucharist for the purpose of desecrating it.

I agree. Say all you want–but if you go in and take something that is valued as sacred by someone else, something you are not entitled to have, you have crossed a line.

Akin argues that Myers has also violated conditions of his employment:

He also is in violation of the University of Minnesota Code of Conduct, which holds that faculty members “must be committed to the highest ethical standards of conduct” (II:2) and that “Ethical conduct is a fundamental expectation for every community member. In practicing and modeling ethical conduct, community members are expected to: act according to the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct [and] be personally accountable for individual actions” (III:1).

It also stresses that faculty members must “Be Fair and Respectful to Others. The University is committed to tolerance, diversity, and respect for differences. When dealing with others, community members are expected to: be respectful, fair, and civil . . . avoid all forms of harassment . . . [and] threats . . . [and] promote conflict resolution.”

“P. Z. Myers,” says Akin, “has done none of these things.”