Free Republic

A St. Louis scientist who was among a select group picked by the Obama administration to pursue a solution to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has been removed from the group because of writings on his website, the U.S. Energy Department confirmed Wednesday. Washington University physics professor Jonathan Katz was one of five top scientists chosen by the Department of Energy and attended meetings in Houston last week. Though considered a leading scientist, Katz's website postings often touch on social issues. Some of those writings have stirred anger in the past and include postings defending homophobia and...

A conservative professor at Washington University in St. Louis is under fire from students for declaring on his faculty website that homosexuality is sinful. A small firestorm began after senior Jeff Stepp wrote an article in the student newspaper Student Life, arguing that Professor Jonathan Katz's views on homosexuality should be removed from the faculty website. In his column, Stepp rejects the professor's reasoning but says he is most disturbed by the fact that Katz's essays -- including one entitled "In Defense of Homophobia" -- are hosted on web space that is owned by the school and funded by student...