British Columbia Lawyers Vote to Deny Accreditation to Christianist Law School

In a move that ought to be replicated in America, lawyers in British Columbia have voted to deny accreditation - which usually is a prerequisite for graduates to be able to sit for the bar exam - to a proposed law school that imposes a Christofascist statement of faith on students and faculty.  Here in Virginia, both Regent University and Liberty University impose statements of faith on faculty and students.  It goes without saying, one cannot engage in rigorous academics and legal analysis when everything must be viewed within the myopia of religious dogma and myths.  Yes, many students sign the statement of faith with a wink and a nod with no intention of truly following it, but it remains a cloud over one's head throughout enrollment.   The Vancouver Sun reports on the move to withdraw accreditation from a proposed law school at Trinity Western University.

Nearly 6,000 B.C. lawyers — about half the profession — have voted to have the provincial law society withdraw accreditation from a proposed law school at Trinity Western University.

In a historic provincewide poll conducted this month, 5,951 lawyers (about 75 per cent) voted to withdraw accreditation from the school, compared with 2,088 who wanted to maintain the society’s earlier approval of the new law faculty.

The Langley-based university’s spokesman, Guy Saffold, said it was disappointed with the vote.

“Trinity Western believes in diversity and the rights of all Canadians to their personal beliefs and values,” he said, noting gay and lesbian students attend and graduate from the institution.

The benchers originally endorsed the school April 11 but thousands of lawyers rose up in revolt and at a special general meeting June 10 demanded their governors reconsider.  At that passionate gathering, an overwhelming number of the lawyers — 3,210 to 968 — demanded the benchers reverse their decision.

They objected to the Evangelical institution’s practice of having staff, faculty and students sign a Community Covenant that among other tenets restricts sex to traditional marriage between a man and woman.

“The large return and clear result sends an important message about the core values of the legal profession that include upholding the legal rights of all persons. The clear message to TWU is this: if you wish approval from the legal profession in B.C. you will need to cease your discriminatory practices. The discipline or expulsion of students and staff for private sexual activity is unacceptable.”

Law societies in Ontario and Nova Scotia already have taken a stand against the proposed law school over its covenant, triggering litigation.

It is expected the Supreme Court of Canada will be the final arbiter of the dispute that brings under scrutiny the scope of religious freedom.

No one is attacking the school's religious freedom.  They are free to do whatever they want.  But that does not mean that others - in this case the legal profession - is required to endorse and/or approve of their batshitery.  If you want to be a legitimate university with degrees recognized across the profession, then be one and throw out the statement of faith requirement.  It is far past time the special rights and deference be given to self-anointed Christians.