Evangelical university Wheaton College has generated global attention by suspending and initiating the firing of Professor Larycia Hawkins. She had asserted that Christians and Muslims worship the same God, quoting Pope Francis. Wheaton justifies its punishment of Dr. Hawkins theologically, stressing inviolable differences between Islam and Christianity.
Wheaton found itself the object of attention when many interpreted Dr. Hawkins’ actions as endorsing Islam, creating what Time magazine termed a “public relations disaster.” Wheaton’s leadership felt pressured to take action, with its Provost stating “We are being asked to defend why we have faculty openly rejecting with (sic) the institution stands for.”