Father John Sims Baker, chaplain of the group that has been told to stop calling itself Vanderbilt Catholic
Posted on 04/13/2012 4:55:24 AM PDT by markomalley
Forced to leave campus for reasons of conscience, Vanderbilt University's Catholic student organization has now been ordered by the university to change its name.
“The name that's important is the name of Jesus Christ. I don't think they can take that name from us,” said Father John Sims Baker, chaplain of the group that has been told to stop calling itself Vanderbilt Catholic.
“Technically and legally, if we wanted to push the issue, I doubt that the university could keep us from that,” Fr. Baker told CNA on April 12.
He indicated that the group could also switch to a name incorporating the phrase “at Vanderbilt,” which would “certainly” be acceptable.
University spokesperson Beth Fortune told Fox News that students groups “who choose not to comply with the university’s nondiscrimination policy” thereby “forfeit the privileges associated with registered student organization status and that includes the use of the Vanderbilt name.”
Vanderbilt Catholic is leaving the campus over a dispute with the administration’s “non-discrimination” policy, a rule that Fr. Baker has criticized as a form of religious discrimination in itself.
Under the recently-confirmed policy, any student must be considered potentially eligible for offices in a registered student organization. Groups such as Vanderbilt Catholic would be forced to allow non-Catholics to serve in leadership positions.
Confronted with the new policy, Vanderbilt Catholic chose to forfeit its status as a registered group – a choice which will also require it to find a new name.
The university, Fr. Baker said, seemed to be focusing on small details of the situation, while “glossing over” the “fundamental issues” such as students' religious freedom.
“This whole policy,” the chaplain said, “is detrimental to the mission of a university. But Vanderbilt seems intent on going down this path.”
“It undermines so many of the kinds of things that Vanderbilt says it stands for: diversity of points of view, including religious expression, and that sort of thing.”
“They're saying that religious can only be tolerated, frankly, if you don't really take it seriously – if you say, 'Well, it doesn't really matter who leads our group, then religious can be tolerated.'”
“But if you say, 'No, who we are as Catholics really is fundamental to what this organization is about,' then you're not welcome on campus.”
While Vanderbilt Catholic has chosen to move and change its name, 11 other student religious groups – acting under the name “Vanderbilt Solidarity” – have simply refused to change their statutes. On April 9, they registered with the school while keeping their previous faith requirements.
Vanderbilt Catholic has not joined the campaign, and Fr. Baker is not aware of any official response from the university to the Solidarity group's non-compliant charter submissions.
The priest urged students, alumni, and other concerned observers to pray for university officials, and to maintain an attitude of love and charity in the course of the dispute.
Meanwhile, Fr. Baker said Vanderbilt Catholic has “gotten a lot of supportive comments from people who certainly aren't Catholic or even particularly religious,” who nonetheless see the denial of religious freedom as a loss for the school.
“I don't think you have to be religious to see what is wrong with this,” the priest observed.
I still like the name posted on another thread yesterday: ~~Catholic, but not “Vanderbilt” Catholic~~
The people at Vanderbilt who are shoving this down everyone’s throats are authentic bigots.
I wonder if the school will force gay groups to accept Christians as leaders.
“ok class. Lets stop kissing and open our Bibles.”
it would be interesting if conservative students joined the gay group and black group, and voted themselves into leadership positions.
I had suggested that a Christian group should “invade” the University’s Muslim student organization and run for all the officer positions. I GUARANTEE that there would be changes made in the policies and procedures. Of course, then again, Vanderbilt might decide to file some type of harrassment charge in that situation.
Maybe the Vanderbilt Catholic group should rename itself after St. Cornelius (pope 251-253).
I have three alma maters, and now refuse to donate to any of them because of their shameful policies and attitudes.
I suppose the corrupt Federal student loan give-aways, and Federal grants and other indirect taxpayer support, will keep them afloat no matter the price for the product, but other than that they will never get a dime of my money unless they change their ways - and they won’t.
Reading this, if there is a movement by some non-catholics to run for leadership roles in a catholic organization, I have to guess it’s the gays again.
**Under the recently-confirmed policy, any student must be considered potentially eligible for offices in a registered student organization. Groups such as Vanderbilt Catholic would be forced to allow non-Catholics to serve in leadership positions.**
This reaks of discrimination.
Mark do they realize that Vanderblit was found for Christian minsters HELLO
Wasn't it Methodist?
Vanderbilt has basically lost their mind. Rumor has it that the Muslim student organization has an exemption. And it's not rumor, but fact, that none of the Greek organizations on campus are going to be required to accept "all comers" as officers. And obviously the university would not for an instant tolerate evangelicals or Catholics taking over homosexual or pro-abortion student groups.
It's true that Vanderbilt is a private university. It's also true that, like most private universities, they get loads of support from the federal government. It's also true that the student organizations are supported by activity fees collected from all students.
I think it was Methodist it same I bet the foundering fathers be rolling in their graves
I think it was Methodist it same I bet the foundering fathers be rolling in their graves
I think it was Methodist it same I bet the foundering fathers be rolling in their graves
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