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Vanderbilt University tells Christian groups to accept Atheist or Non-Christians to lead their groups or be kicked off Campus! Fair or foul?

Space Invader 2012/10/05 20:24:05
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Vanderbilt Religious Groups

By Annalisa Musarra
Religion News Service

(RNS) A coalition of 11 Christian student groups at Vanderbilt University are insisting their leaders should be chosen based on shared faith -- the newest front in a growing battle over "religious freedom."

The campus groups, who call themselves Vanderbilt Solidarity, joined together to oppose the university's "all-comers" policy, which says student groups must be open to all students, including in leadership, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

The religious groups say they cannot be led by students who do not share or profess their group's faith.

"Until recently, Vanderbilt explicitly protected the freedom of all student organizations to select members and leaders who shared and supported the group's purpose, including -- for religious groups -- its faith," the Solidarity groups said in a statement on Monday (April 9).

Claiming the policy violates "the central tenets of our faith," the faith-based groups applied for registered status on campus, but included their own constitutions containing faith-based requirements for leadership positions. If the school does not recognize the constitutions, the groups would be considered unregistered next year.

Solidarity's decision comes two weeks after another campus group, Vanderbilt Catholic, decided not to register as an official student organization because of the school's policy.

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Top Opinion

  • Maynard 2012/10/06 12:17:23
    FOUL!!
    Maynard
    +5
    FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION.

    Don't like it? LEAVE AMERICA.


    It's the American Way.


    OTHERWISE?

    The ACLU will fight to give the kkk rights to the Congressional Black Caucus

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  • Captain-Morgan 2012/10/07 04:22:47
    FOUL!!
    Captain-Morgan
    +1
    Acts of Biblical Hostility by President Obama (with a time line)

    I HAD HEARD OF SOME OF THESE, BUT I WAS SPEECHLESS WHEN I READ THE ENTIRE LIST. I CANNOT BELIEVE PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS DONE THIS MUCH IN ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT MIGHT COME NEXT FOR US AS CHRISTIANS IF HE IS ELECTED TO ANOTHER 4 YEARS. WE NEED TO ALL BE IN SERIOUS PRAYER TO GOD EVERY DAY FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

    Note there are 4 main categories of hostility, with numerous items listed under each.

    David Barton of Wallbuilders.com http://wallbuilders.com/ has come
    Out with a list explaining why Barack Obama is the most biblically
    Hostile President of all time. While most of these stories have been
    Seen before, seeing them all laid-out in one list, is pretty
    Astonishing !

    1. Acts of Hostility Toward People Of Biblical Faith:
    A. April 2008: – Obama speaks disrespectfully of Christians, saying
    They “cling to their guns or religion” and have an “antipathy to people who are not like them.”

    B. February 2009: – Obama announces plans to revoke conscience
    Protection for health workers who refuse to participate in medical
    Activities that go against their beliefs, and fully implements the
    Plan in February 2011.

    C. April 2009: – When speaking at Georgetown University , Obama orders
    That a...




































































































































































































    Acts of Biblical Hostility by President Obama (with a time line)

    I HAD HEARD OF SOME OF THESE, BUT I WAS SPEECHLESS WHEN I READ THE ENTIRE LIST. I CANNOT BELIEVE PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS DONE THIS MUCH IN ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT MIGHT COME NEXT FOR US AS CHRISTIANS IF HE IS ELECTED TO ANOTHER 4 YEARS. WE NEED TO ALL BE IN SERIOUS PRAYER TO GOD EVERY DAY FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

    Note there are 4 main categories of hostility, with numerous items listed under each.

    David Barton of Wallbuilders.com http://wallbuilders.com/ has come
    Out with a list explaining why Barack Obama is the most biblically
    Hostile President of all time. While most of these stories have been
    Seen before, seeing them all laid-out in one list, is pretty
    Astonishing !

    1. Acts of Hostility Toward People Of Biblical Faith:
    A. April 2008: – Obama speaks disrespectfully of Christians, saying
    They “cling to their guns or religion” and have an “antipathy to people who are not like them.”

    B. February 2009: – Obama announces plans to revoke conscience
    Protection for health workers who refuse to participate in medical
    Activities that go against their beliefs, and fully implements the
    Plan in February 2011.

    C. April 2009: – When speaking at Georgetown University , Obama orders
    That a monogram symbolizing Jesus’ name be covered when he is making his speech.

    D. May 2009: – Obama declines to host services for the National
    Prayer Day (a day established by federal law) at the White House.

    E. April 2009: – In a deliberate act of disrespect, Obama nominated
    three pro-abortion ambassadors to the Vatican ; of course, the pro-life
    Vatican rejected all three.

    F. October 19, 2010: – Obama begins deliberately omitting the phrase
    About “the Creator” when quoting the Declaration of Independence; – an omission he has made on no less than seven occasions.

    G. November 2010: – Obama misquotes the National Motto, saying it is
    “"E pluribus Unum"” rather than "“In God We Trust,"” as established by federal law.

    H. January 2011: – After a federal law was passed to transfer a WWI
    Memorial in the Mojave Desert to private ownership, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that the cross in the memorial could continue to stand, but the Obama administration refused to allow the land to be
    Transferred as required by law, and refused to allow the cross to be
    Re-erected as ordered by the Court.

    I. February 2011: – Although he filled posts in the State Department,
    For more than two years Obama did not fill the post of religious
    Freedom ambassador, an official that works against religious
    Persecution across the world; he filled it only after heavy pressure
    From the public and from Congress.

    J. April 2011: – For the first time in American history, Obama urges
    passage of a non-discrimination law that does not contain hiring
    protections for religious groups, forcing religious organizations to
    hire according to federal mandates without regard to the dictates of
    their own faith, thus eliminating conscience protection in hiring.

    K. August 2011: – The Obama administration releases its new health
    care rules that override religious conscience protections for medical
    workers in the areas of abortion and contraception.

    L. November 2011: – Obama opposes inclusion of President Franklin
    Roosevelt’s famous D-Day Prayer in the WWII Memorial.

    M. November 2011: – Unlike previous presidents, Obama studiously
    avoids any religious references in his Thanksgiving speech.

    N. December 2011: – The Obama administration denigrates other
    countries’ religious beliefs as an obstacle to radical homosexual
    rights.

    O. January 2012: – The Obama administration argues that the First
    amendment provides no protection for churches and synagogues in hiring their pastors and rabbis.

    P. February 2012: – The Obama administration forgives student loans
    in exchange for public service, but announces it will no longer
    forgive student loans if the public service is related to religion.
    Acts of Hostility From The Obama-Led Military Toward People Of
    Biblical Faith:

    A. June 2011: – The Department of Veterans Affairs forbids references
    to God and Jesus during burial ceremonies at Houston National
    Cemetery .

    B. August 2011: – The Air Force stops teaching the Just War theory to
    officers in California because the course is taught by chaplains and
    is based on a philosophy introduced by St. Augustine in the third
    century AD; – a theory long taught by civilized nations across the
    world (except America).

    C. September 2011: – Air Force Chief of Staff prohibits commanders
    from notifying airmen of programs and services available to them from
    chaplains.

    D. September 2011: – The Army issues guidelines for Walter Reed
    Medical Center stipulating that “No religious items (i.e. Bibles,
    reading materials and/or facts) are allowed to be given away or used
    during a visit.”

    E. November 2011: – The Air Force Academy rescinds support for
    Operation Christmas Child, a program to send holiday gifts to
    impoverished children across the world, because the program is run by
    a Christian charity.

    F. November 2011: – The Air Force Academy pays $80,000 to add a
    Stonehenge-like worship center for pagans, druids, witches and
    Wiccans.

    G. February 2012: – The U. S. Military Academy at West Point
    dis-invites three star Army general and decorated war hero Lieutenant
    General William G. (“Jerry”) Boykin (retired) from speaking at an
    event because he is an outspoken Christian.

    H. February 2012: – The Air Force removes “God” from the patch of
    Rapid Capabilities Office (the word on the patch was in Latin: Dei).

    I. February 2012: – The Army orders Catholic chaplains not to read a
    letter to parishioners that their archbishop asked them to read.
    Acts of Hostility Toward Biblical Values:

    A. January 2009: – Obama lifts restrictions on U.S. government
    funding for groups that provide abortion services or counseling
    abroad, forcing taxpayers to fund pro-abortion groups that either
    promote or perform abortions in other nations.

    B. January 2009: – President Obama’s nominee for deputy secretary of state asserts that American taxpayers are required to pay for abortions and that limits on abortion funding are unconstitutional.

    C. March 2009: – The Obama administration shut-out pro-life groups
    from attending a White House-sponsored health care summit.

    D. March 2009: – Obama orders taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research.

    E. March 2009: – Obama gave $50 million for the UNFPA, the UN
    population agency that promotes abortion and works closely with
    Chinese population control officials, who use forced abortions and
    involuntary sterilizations.

    F. May 2009: – The White House budget eliminates all funding for
    abstinence-only education and replaces it with “comprehensive” sexual
    education, repeatedly proven to increase teen pregnancies and
    abortions. He continues the deletion in subsequent budgets.

    G. May 2009: – Obama officials assemble a terrorism dictionary
    calling pro-life advocates violent and charging that they use racism
    in their “criminal” activities.

    H. July 2009: – The Obama administration illegally extends federal
    benefits to same-sex partners of Foreign Service and Executive Branch
    employees, in direct violation of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

    I. September 16, 2009: – The Obama administration appoints, as EEOC
    Commissioner, Chai Feldblum, who asserts that society should “not
    tolerate” any “private beliefs,” including religious beliefs, if they
    may negatively affect homosexual “equality.”

    J. July 2010: – The Obama administration uses federal funds in
    violation of federal law to get Kenya to change its constitution to
    include abortion.

    K. August 2010: – The Obama administration Cuts funding for 176
    abstinence education programs.

    L. September 2010: – The Obama administration tells researchers to
    ignore a judge’s decision, striking down federal funding for embryonic
    stem cell research.

    M. February 2011: – Obama directs the Justice Department to stop
    defending the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

    N. March 2011: – The Obama administration refuses to investigate
    videos showing Planned Parenthood helping alleged sex traffickers get
    abortions for victimized underage girls.

    O. July 2011: – Obama allows homosexuals to serve openly in the
    military, reversing a policy originally instituted by George
    Washington in March 1778.

    P September 2011: – The Pentagon directs that military chaplains may
    perform same-sex marriages at military facilities, in violation of the
    federal Defense of Marriage Act.

    Q. October 2011: – The Obama administration eliminates federal grants
    to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, for their extensive
    programs that aid victims of human trafficking, because the Catholic
    Church is anti-abortion.
    Acts Of Preferentialism For Islam:

    A. May 2009: – While Obama does not host any National Day of Prayer
    event at the White House, he does host White House Iftar dinners in
    honor of Ramadan.

    B. April 2010: – Christian leader Franklin Graham is dis-invited from
    the Pentagon’s National Day of Prayer Event, because of complaints from the Muslim community.

    C. April 2010: – The Obama administration requires rewriting of
    government documents and a change in administration vocabulary to
    remove terms that are deemed offensive to Muslims, including "jihad,"
    "jihadists," "terrorists," "radical Islamic," etc.

    D. August 2010: – Obama speaks with great praise of Islam and
    condescendingly of Christianity.

    E. August 2010: – Obama went to great lengths to speak out on
    multiple occasions on behalf of building an Islamic mosque at Ground
    Zero, while at the same time he was silent about a Christian church
    being denied permission, to rebuild at that location.

    F. 2010: – While every White House traditionally issues hundreds of
    official proclamations and statements on numerous occasions, this
    White House avoids traditional Biblical holidays and events, but
    regularly recognizes major Muslim holidays, as evidenced by its 2010
    statements on Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr, Hajj, and Eid-ul-Adha.

    G. October 2011: – Obama’s Muslim advisers block Middle Eastern
    Christians’ access to the White House.

    H. February 2012: – The Obama administration makes effulgent
    apologies for Korans being burned by the U. S. military, but when
    Bibles were burned by the military, numerous reasons were offered why it was the right thing to do.
    Many of these actions are literally unprecedented––this is the
    first time they have happened in four centuries of American history.
    The hostility of President Obama toward Biblical faith and values is
    without equal from any previous American president.
    (more)
  • frank 2012/10/06 18:04:37
    FOUL!!
    frank
    +1
    There is NO reason in the world that would justify forcing Christian Groups to allow non Christian or atheist to join their groups
  • beachbum 2012/10/06 14:31:50
    FOUL!!
    beachbum
    +2
    A stupid decision on the university's part.
  • Flamingolady 2012/10/06 14:25:23
    FOUL!!
    Flamingolady
    +1
    Foul and downright stupid.
  • pops 2012/10/06 14:24:46
    FOUL!!
    pops
    +1
    Why do they even have text books anymore?
  • Maynard 2012/10/06 12:17:23
    FOUL!!
    Maynard
    +5
    FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION.

    Don't like it? LEAVE AMERICA.


    It's the American Way.


    OTHERWISE?

    The ACLU will fight to give the kkk rights to the Congressional Black Caucus
  • Prophet of the FSM 2012/10/06 06:13:06
    Undecided
    Prophet of the FSM
    too little information to go on, would need more to make a decision.
  • TruBluTopaz 2012/10/06 02:38:17
    FOUL!!
    TruBluTopaz
    +3
    So will they be pushing for the African American students' groups to be led by white males?
  • Flaming... TruBluT... 2012/10/06 14:25:04
    Flamingolady
    +2
    Oh, yeah, that would fly.
  • TruBluT... Flaming... 2012/10/07 01:26:18
    TruBluTopaz
    +1
    Mayhaps they could let a man run the Womyn's Rights group.
  • Flaming... TruBluT... 2012/10/07 03:35:20
    Flamingolady
    +1
    Yeah, or a woman play football.
  • Pedalpusher 2012/10/06 02:25:32
    FOUL!!
    Pedalpusher
    +3
    They are trying to tell a Christian group or any other that they have to accept someone that doesn't have the same interest or believe as they do as President? What the hell is this world coming to? I'm not going to have a Muslin that doesn't believe in the bible run a bible loving group. That's just unbelievable!
  • Mr Chin 2012/10/06 01:42:23
    Undecided
    Mr Chin
    +1
    I wouldn't want a Christian in an Atheist group that I was a part of. Maybe the college just wants an excuse to get rid of them so that things can become neutral. It's certainly a possibility. Who knows. As for the laws on the subject,. I don't know.
  • Carl 2012/10/06 00:08:32
    FOUL!!
    Carl
    +1
    More than likely they are being pressured by the Feds.
  • jerry 2012/10/05 22:51:46
    FOUL!!
    jerry
    +5
    Everyone has rights but Christians....make no mistake, there is a war on Christianity, and there are more Christian martyrs now than at the time of the Roman Empire. coptic Christian martyrs coptic Christian martyrs
  • Barbara 2012/10/05 22:26:19
    FOUL!!
    Barbara
    +3
    Why would an atheist or non-Christian want to belong to a Christian organization?
  • Space I... Barbara 2012/10/05 22:34:42
    Space Invader
    +1
    simply to disrupt it; of course
  • Barbara Space I... 2012/10/05 22:36:34
    Barbara
    +3
    Contention seems to be an American way of life now.
  • robert.goldsmith.14 2012/10/05 22:02:54
    FOUL!!
    robert.goldsmith.14
    +2
    A clear violation of religious freedom right there. The college has no right to try and regulate christian groups or any other religious groups.
  • Larry robert.... 2012/10/05 22:27:22 (edited)
    Larry
    They're not,, they are picking group leaders, the Chritians are objecting because not all group leaders are Christian, but the school does not claim to be (Only a Christian school) anyway that's the way I perceive the problem to be
  • Barbara robert.... 2012/10/05 22:38:03
    Barbara
    +3
    Or any groups, period. I don't want to belong to a men's club. I know some women want to. If I belonged to a women's club, I wouldn't want a man joining.
  • beachbum Barbara 2012/10/06 14:30:58
    beachbum
    +1
    Agree.
  • vdehl 2012/10/05 21:45:30
    None of the above
    vdehl
    If it bothers the student so much, he or she can attend another school. I attended Fordham University in NYC. It is a well known Catholic University. I believe ranked number 60? Their motto is "Fordham is my school. New York is my city". The only thing that was mandatory for the average person is that they take a 3 credit course on various religions. It was ok. I got a B+. I graduated with a 3.7 which is a cum laude average. So this was a low grade for me. Fordham University
  • Space I... vdehl 2012/10/05 22:27:57
    Space Invader
    +2
    yep; go with the flow; as soon as someone challenges your beliefs; make sure you agree to turn your back on them...go guts; no glory....I guess Fordham doesn't teach that do they...
  • Arel 2012/10/05 21:30:28
    Undecided
    Arel
    +1
    Meant to hit foul.
  • Larry 2012/10/05 21:14:02
    fair?
    Larry
    They payed to attend a private college, this college does not claim to be a Christian college only
  • Space I... Larry 2012/10/05 22:31:59 (edited)
    Space Invader
    +1
    THEY PAID FOR IT.....so they are the actual employers of the Wig Heads; amazing how Unions think they can dictate peoples beliefs; notice allot of that going around...sorta like the Gestapo
  • Larry Space I... 2012/10/06 06:32:37
    Larry
    They can chose another school,atheist, Christians I don't think they're forced to go to that school
  • TuringsChild 2012/10/05 21:07:28
    FOUL!!
    TuringsChild
    +4
    Fine. I now want to see atheist groups headed by Christians. lol
  • ladyjane 2012/10/05 21:00:58
    FOUL!!
    ladyjane
    +2
    You are so right. I don't know how else you could look at it. I hope the students stand their ground!
  • Mark 2012/10/05 20:58:08
    FOUL!!
    Mark
    +3
    In the interests of fairness, I wonder if these university leaders would like a butcher to perform their next surgury. I hear Abu Hamzar is coming over soon.
  • Tennessee3501 2012/10/05 20:50:21
    fair?
    Tennessee3501
    +3
    Vanderbilt University is one of the best Universities in the country. This decision sounds strange, but what religious group would ever elect a leader who did not share the religious objectives of the group. Would an Obama for President Club elect Newt Gingrich to lead their group? I don't think so!
  • Iamfree 2012/10/05 20:42:20
    FOUL!!
    Iamfree
    +2
    How bizarre. Still more political correctness run amok.
  • rightside 2012/10/05 20:36:49
    FOUL!!
    rightside
    +3
    Its crap and it won't hold water.
  • Tony 2012/10/05 20:28:04
    None of the above
    Tony
    +4
    How about stupid! Stupid that this is even an issue. Why in the nine hells would a non-Christian ever be a part of a Christian group? A Christian isn't going to join or try to be a leader of the Jewish or Muslim club!
  • Jackie G - Poker Playing Pa... 2012/10/05 20:27:23
    None of the above
    Jackie G - Poker Playing Patriot
    +4
    It is incredibly stupid
  • MorbidCynic 2012/10/05 20:27:01 (edited)
    FOUL!!
    MorbidCynic
    +4
    More anti-Christian oppression.
  • Farnsworth 2012/10/05 20:26:57
    FOUL!!
    Farnsworth
    +5
    colleges are nests for communism, socialism, radicalism and anti-christian bigotry.
  • Space Invader 2012/10/05 20:24:55
    FOUL!!
    Space Invader
    +4
    Part of the Obama/Alynski-GLBT groups plans

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