Lawsuit tests religious speech in class

In a lawsuit that's shining a spotlight on the role of religion in higher education, an Ohio community college philosophy professor says administrators punished him because he made a point of disclosing his Catholic beliefs in the classroom.

While the college hasn't presented its side of the story yet, it appears that the case will pit the professor's freedom of speech against the school's right to control its staff. There's a larger question too, one that will be debated outside the court system: Even if it's legal, should educators ever tell students about their faith?

One national organization has already jumped into the fray. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), a five-year-old legal advocacy group, is assisting James Tuttle, who filed suit on June 30 against Lakeland Community College of Kirtland, a Cleveland suburb.

"Apparently, at Lakeland College, Thomas Aquinas wouldn't be able to teach philosophy," says David French, president of the Philadelphia-based FIRE.

In the lawsuit, Dr. Tuttle says he got into hot water with the college's administration in 2003 after a student complained about his discussions of his Catholic beliefs. Among other things, the student mentioned a note in the class syllabus that Tuttle describes as a "disclaimer."

In the note, Tuttle describes himself as a "catholic Christian philosopher and theologian" who is "passionate, controversial (not politically correct), candid and zany/earthy." He urges students to "be aware of where I am coming from" and says his critics often "have personal issues with faith, religion, morals and ideology."

He finishes the disclaimer by urging students who are "uncomfortable" to talk to him and try to resolve any problems.

According to the lawsuit, Tuttle's supervisor wrote the professor a letter saying the disclaimer bothered him more than the student's complaint. The supervisor allegedly suggested that the part-time professor, who did not have tenure, "would be happier in a sectarian classroom."

Tuttle claims he received only one class assignment last fall, even though he'd received high rankings from students in surveys. When the college later refused to assign him to his requested classes, he refused to teach at the school.

"They directly responded to his viewpoint by essentially demoting, railroading, and terminating him," says Jeffrey Brauer, Tuttle's attorney.

Lakeland Community College's attorney, Bradley Sherman, says the administration did nothing wrong and has a "different view of the facts" than the professor. Mr. Sherman declined further comment.

Tuttle, who drives a limousine for a living, continues to teach part time at another community college, his attorney says.

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