Religious right cause celebre sacrificing integrity of her name for case?

The case of Julea Ward demonstrates how not only money can push against truth but also how the religious right exploits potential cause celebres.

Last year, a federal judge, the Honorable George Caram Steeh, dismissed a case brought by grad student Julea Ward against Eastern Michigan University. The college expelled her from its graduate program for refusing to counsel a gay client:

"The university had a rational basis for adopting the ACA Code of Ethics into its counseling program, not the least of which was the desire to offer an accredited program," Steeh said in a 48-page opinion.

"Furthermore, the university had a rational basis for requiring its students to counsel clients without imposing their personal values.

"In the case of Ms. Ward, the university determined that she would never change her behavior and would consistently refuse to counsel clients on matters with which she was personally opposed due to her religious beliefs -- including homosexual relationships."

The judge said Ward's "refusal to attempt learning to counsel all clients within their own value systems is a failure to complete an academic requirement of the program."

Backed up with religious right money and pull (in this case the Alliance Defense Fund),  Ward is now appealing the decision.

Personally I am of the belief that if Ward wants to receive certification from Eastern Michigan University, she needs to follow the university's program. If she doesn't want to counsel gay patients, perhaps it would be better for her to seek a college which would accommodate her.

But something about this entire thing bothers me. It's a seemingly small thing but it sticks in my mind. Her name is Julea Ward. It is how she was referred to in past court documents and the media.

However, in this re-pushing of her case, several religious right sources - one being the National Organization for Marriage - are referring to her as Julie.

To some people, that difference may seem trite, but to me - a member of an ethnic group who has seen and had to deal with folks coming in trying to convert things about our heritage in a poor excuse to gain appeal to a wider base - the name change is bothersome.

Could it be that the folks handling Ms. Ward's case decided that eliminating the ethnicity in her name would help widen her appeal?

If this is so, perhaps Ms. Ward should stop worrying about Eastern Michigan University and start worrying about those claiming to be her friends.