Why are University Professors Sometimes so Uneducated?

A 2023 MSN article about whether Australia should ban smacking of children, contains the following section –

Australian Catholic University Professor Daryl Higgins, a co-author, said there was a need to question “literalist” interpretations of the Bible used to justify hitting children.

He cited one such passage from Proverbs which reads: “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.”

The Institute of Child Protection Studies director said he did not believe that outlawing corporal punishment was inconsistent with Christian doctrine.

“I do not think it goes against Christian teaching; one of the most consistent and clear Christian teaching is the commandment to love one another,” Professor Higgins said.

So it sounds like this ‘professor’ regards the Biblical emphasis on loving one another, as overruling the Biblical advice that smacking children is okay. This is despite him quoting the Bible as basically saying that smacking is a loving act! Gotta wonder whether this professor would punish his children at all then? Has he not read Hebews 12:5-11 eg

“… we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. … For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

or 1 Peter 4:1 or Romans 5:3-4 or Hebrews 5:7-9? Why has a Catholic University employed a professor who teaches the opposite of what the Bible says?

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