Christina Popa was just 11 days away from graduation when UCLA tried to give her a final lesson in political correctness. With the rest of her biology class, Christina submitted a short personal statement for her department chair to read aloud as she walked across the stage to get her diploma. These “Words of Wisdom,” as the school calls them, could contain “almost anything.” Anything, it seems, but religious expression. Christina’s statement, which she emailed to her advisor, began, “I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Dr. [Pamela] Hurley responded that this was a violation of church and state, and said, “…[E]ven I would not be personally comfortable reading [it].” She suggested that Christina amend the words to say, “First, I want to thank God.”
But Christina is no stranger to student activism. Her roommate, Lila Rose, has become a household name for launching a grassroots movement to de-fund Planned Parenthood. When Popa protested the decision as “censorship,” Dr. Hurley fired back, “If you prefer, Christina, I can read none of what you wrote.” Popa had no sooner contacted the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) for help than UCLA relented. Just two hours after ADF’s Center for Academic Freedom faxed a complaint to the campus chancellor, the school called Christina and apologized. When she finally walks across the stage this Saturday, it will be to the public glory of Jesus Christ.
“We are pleased that UCLA officials understand that denying religious liberty to students is a violation of the First Amendment, not a requirement of it,” said ADF counsel Heather Hacker. We’ve seen this trend of viewpoint discrimination crop up in cities all over the U.S. Yet when people like Christina fight back, the other side retreats. So be encouraged. The challenges to our faith may be many, but the victories for the Left are few.
Tony Perkins heads the Family Research Council. This article was excerpted from the Washington Update that he compiles for the FRC.
