Hate The Sin, But Love The Sinner, Huh?

University of the Cumberlands, a private Baptist college in Kentucky, has expelled a student just weeks before the term ended for a horrific crime. No, he isn't accused of gang-raping a stripper. Nor is he accused of a sickening hazing that ended in the death of a young man.

Instead, this student wrote about his boyfriend on his myspace.com profile. His boyfriend.

(Jason) Johnson, a sophomore majoring in theater arts, was expelled from the university Thursday because he declared online that he is gay. In a statement released last week, the university's president, Jim Taylor said students are held to a "higher standard" and that "students know the rules before they come to this institution."

But a copy of the student handbook provided by the university confirmed the policy was not spelled out in 2003-04, when Johnson chose to attend. The school did not provide a copy of the policy for the 2004-05 school year. The 2005-06 student handbook says: "Any student who engages in or promotes sexual behavior not consistent with Christian principles (including sex outside marriage and homosexuality) may be suspended or asked to withdraw."

First, why does a Baptist college have a theater arts department in the first place? And who do they think majors in theater arts? For that matter, who do they think teaches theater arts? But I digress ...

Now, I can make the argument that the college has the right (as a private institution) to select who attends the school, no matter how bigoted and narrow-minded the decision is. But University of the Cumberlands apparently has no problem accepting the tax dollars of homos all across Kentucky.

At least one state legislator is attempting to do something about that, albeit the only openly gay assemblyman.

"We should not be budgeting bigotry," Sen. Ernesto Scorsone, D-Lexington, told colleagues before voting on the $18.1 billion, two-year budget. Scorsone is the only openly gay member of the General Assembly.

The university made headlines last week when it expelled a student for disclosing on a personal Web site that he is gay.

In an unusual arrangement, the proposed budget includes $10 million of state debt to construct a pharmacy building on the school's Whitley County campus. The budget also includes $1 million to fund scholarships for students attending the college's yet-to-be created pharmacy program.

"If the University of the Cumberlands does not change its policies and practices, we will have a state benefit that is only available to heterosexuals," Scorsone said.

And some students at the college appear to actually take to heart the words of their faith concerning love and tolerance.

But some students are publicly questioning the school's values, Kuder said. Many wore shirts yesterday with "God loves my gay friends" printed on them and are waiting for Johnson to let them know the best response to the university.

"They're being hypocritical, by Christian standards," Kuder said. "If we love each other, accept each other for who we are, why are they kicking him out? I almost feel like they're trying to mold us, me, into a person that I wouldn't want to be.

"There's a letter in the student handbook that says everyone is a unique creation of God, you're special, we care about you. They didn't care if he didn't have a place to go. They could have pretty much ruined his life."

Frankly, I think Jason Johnson's loss will actually be his gain.

WWJD?

"On one occasion Jesus was asked: 'Master, which is the great commandment of the law?' He answered: 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.' " -- Matthew 22:36-40.

That's what Jesus would do.