The evangelical theologian Ondrej Prostredník was banned by the Council of Bishops of the Evangelical Church in Slovakia from teaching at the Evangelical Theological Faculty of Comenius University in Bratislava. In the bishops' letter to Prostredník, they justified their step by citing Prostredník's speech delivered in support of LGBTi community rights at the Pride march that took place this August in Bratislava.
"There I supported the call by this community for a legal framework of registered partnership, which is still missing from Slovakia's legal code. I also said that from a theological point of view it is important for people to want to live in a long-term committed partnership," said Prostredník in his reaction to the letter. The letter also notes that he misuses academic freedom to bring in teachings not compatible with the teaching of the Evangelical Church.
The Evangelical Church's Council of Bishops did not wish to comment on the decision, but only stated that it came as a mutual decision from all the bishops. The Faculty's dean has not yet decided how he will proceed, but he notes that besides teaching there are also research positions at the school. Even though Comenius University is a public university, its faculty's internal rules approved by the academic senate allow such an engagement by the church in the academic process.
