Mar 21, 2014 12:14 PM EDT By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

An "honors-caliber" college student said he was denied readmission into Hannibal-LaGrange University, a Christian college, because he is gay, the Associated Press reported.

Chase Martinson spent his first two years at the northern Missouri Baptist school. He withdrew in October due to an illness but hoped to return in fall 2014. During the time he was away, he came out on Facebook, he believes his declaration was the reason the University blocked him from returning, the AP reported.

In January, the 20-year-old was initially accepted to return and offered a spot in the college's honors program in early March before he received another letter saying his application was inactive. The letter he received also alludes to a schools morals clause that refers to homosexuality as a "misuse of God's gift."

Martinson said the school admissions director told him that he was outside the moral guidelines of the school.

The school gave him two options: appeal the decision directly to its president or write a statement renouncing his homosexuality.

 "I know one student who became pregnant on campus and all they had to do was recommit their life to the Lord and they were able to continue their education," Martinson told the AP. "It's ridiculous. If they're so firm upon their Christian views as biblically founded, they should be more accepting of everyone."

Martinson, who grew up in Baptist household but doesn't identify with the Protestant denomination, plans to attend the University of Missouri-St. Louis next fall, the AP reported.

Legal experts told the AP that the school's private status and religious affiliation allow for such exclusions.

"There's no federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or sexual identity," said Marcia McCormick, a constitutional law professor at St. Louis University.

Hannibal-LaGrange officials did not respond to several telephone and email messages seeking comment. 

Students at other Christian colleges have reported being kicked out of school for similar concerns.

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