A religion professor at the University who was asked to leave and then reinstated after a summer controversy isn’t just back on campus for the fall — on Tuesday, he was asked to return to teach during the spring semester as well.

Professor Kenneth Howell said the decision to approve his position for the Spring semester is one he is very happy about.

“I would like to go back to the quiet life of being a teacher,” he said.

Howell was an adjunct professor of Catholic studies at the University, a position that was financed and coordinated by the Newman Foundation. Howell’s dismissal came about after he sent an e-mail in May discussing the Catholic Church’s opposing view to homosexuality, about which a student complained.

After the University was threatened with a potential legal battle, Howell was rehired for the fall semester. His position will now be paid for by the University instead of St. John’s Catholic Newman Center.

Howell remains involved with the Institute of Catholic Thought, and also receives a salary from the Newman Center for his work there.

Howell had been a professor since 2000 before he was told by Department of Religion Head Robert McKim that he was being terminated.

Howell’s dismissal was recently under fire; a report by the University’s Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure suggested that Howell was not given due process when he was asked to leave without a formal hearing.

The report indicates the University did not feel the need to explain Howell’s termination because adjunct professors have the understanding that they can be dismissed whenever.

The report also indicates that it became clear the University wanted to terminate Howell in fear that his continued employment might label the University as hostile to the LGBT community.

Howell said it is not his job to not offend students, but rather to create discussion.