Catholic University Bans Catholic Group Over Catholicism

[missmuffet]

The jury is still out for me.I wonder what you guys think.

http://radio.foxnews...s-catholic.html

Gonzaga, a Roman Catholic university in Spokane, Wash., had concerns over a requirement that “all members of a student Knights of Columbus group must be Catholic.”

“These criteria are inconsistent with the policy and practice of student organization recognition at Gonzaga University, as well as the University’s commitment to non-discrimination based on certain characteristics, one of which is religion,” wrote Sue Weitz, the university’s vice president for student life – in a letter obtained by The Cardinal Newman Society.

Students told The Cardinal Newman Society they had been trying to get university approval for the group for about a year – but school officials have been less than helpful.

“To embrace the diversity and yet endorse a group based on faith exclusivity is a challenge that cannot be reconciled at this time,” she wrote — adding that it was a decision about “social justice, equity, and the desire of the university to create an environment in which none are excluded.”

Weitz told the students in a letter that the ‘Catholics-only’ policy was an issue.

[OneLight]

I think any group that has specific guidelines, not inclusive, will be banned. Get ready for the next step of total tolerance in everything.

[OldShep]

I think any group that has specific guidelines, not inclusive, will be banned. Get ready for the next step of total tolerance in everything.

Not sure that this would mean the next step in total tolerance.

Interdenominational acceptance of other believers in Jesus Christ may be an area that would cause some people to set aside the traditions of man for those that trust and believe in the Son of God. The Knights do some very good things up here in Maine, and it is shame that one can not become a member because they happen to be Baptist, or Protestant, because there can be no doubt that Jesus is loved by each denomination.

Dennis

[Qnts2]

Wow,

If this had been a public college or a private college with no religious affiliation, I would have said that in the name of tolerance, each group should have a place to meet to discuss the particular teachings and concerns with those who are of like belief. Tolerance would say that every religion can have a meeting group.

But this is a Catholic college. So, I would assume that the majority would be Catholic. And I am assuming that they accept students who are not Catholic, and these would be a minority of students. So, they are attempting to be inclusive for the minority of non-Catholics in an overwhelmingly Catholic student population. They don't want the few non-Catholics to feel like outsiders in a Catholic school. And I am assuming they are working to attract non-Catholic students for perhaps a financial reason.

My opinion is that since this is a private Catholic school, where Catholicism is the norm and majority, they have the right to say clubs can not exclude non-Catholic students. They are trying to be non-Catholic friendly and are actually making rulings against their own belief structure to be inclusive. As a private school, they have the right to do that.

[Willa]

Perhaps the fact that less than 10% of "Zag" enrollees attend ANY church on a regualar basis has a bearing on all of this. (Fact obtained from their own web site.)