Prof accused of religious indoctrination

FRESNO, Calif., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A California community college professor has read from the Bible in class and expressed anti-abortion views as fact, students and civil rights advocates say.

Fresno City College President Cynthia Azari wouldn't comment on the accusations against Department of Health Sciences Professor Bradley Lopez, citing confidentiality issues. But a taped lecture obtained by KMPH-TV, Fresno, Calif., and aired Monday reveals Lopez calling abortion "murder."

"If people don't want to have children what's the scoop on that? Why put ourselves through the expense and torture and the butchering of children?" he reportedly says on the tape.

Two students have submitted grievances against the teacher. One, Jacqui Mahaffey, told the broadcaster, "He actually read the Bible in a couple of occasions and expressed his opinion on homosexuality."

The American Civil Liberties Union asserts the professor has created a "hostile environment" for gay and lesbian students. Elizabeth Gill, staff attorney with the ACLU of Northern California, told KMPH, "A health science instructor is basically using the classroom as a pulpit to teach religious indoctrination.

"Fresno City College has a legal obligation to prevent religious indoctrination in the class room and it should also make sure that the information being taught objective and accurate."