This week our friends at Vanderbilt+Catholic announced that they will not re-register as a student organization at Vanderbilt in the fall due to a university policy requiring student leadership positions in student organizations to be open to any student whatsoever (for example the ministry would have to be open to allowing a non-Catholic to be in a position of leadership for their Catholic organization) - a policy which basically throws all common sense out the window. Regardless of whether an organization is Catholic or not, it would make no sense to have leaders who are not in agreement with and living out the mission of the organization. For example, for the sake of argument, would it make sense to have a vegetarian in charge of the bacon club? Neither does it make sense to have anyone but a practicing Catholic in leadership for a Catholic organization, a practicing Baptist in leadership at a Baptist organization, a practicing Buddhist in charge of a Buddhist organization, an atheist in leadership of an atheist organization, etc. You get the point. It's a contradiction all in the name of false tolerance. To have someone who believes in and stives to live out the identity of the organization in leadership is not discrimination, it's sensible and logical. Are all students welcome to be involved at Vanderbilt+Catholic? Of course. Can anyone be in a leadership position in representing them? No and it would be scandalous if the answer were yes. Here is a portion of what the chaplain, Fr. John Sims Baker, of Vanderbilt+Catholic wrote to students, alumni and friends:
As you well know, the controversy over religious freedom has been brewing all year at Vanderbilt University. With the publication of the non-discrimination policy finally released last week, it is undeniable that Vanderbilt University has forced our hand. Vanderbilt+Catholic will not re-register as a student organization at Vanderbilt University, effective Fall Semester 2012.
But we will not cease to exist. As God has clearly closed this door, He has also clearly opened other windows of opportunity to propose Jesus Christ and to form His disciples at Vanderbilt and at other campuses throughout the city.
The following is an excerpt from a letter sent to Vanderbilt+Catholic students by our student board:
After much reflection, discussion, and prayer, we have decided that Vanderbilt+Catholic cannot in good conscience affirm that we comply with this policy. While organizational skills and leadership abilities are important qualifications for leaders of Vanderbilt+Catholic, the primary qualification for leadership is Catholic faith and practice. We are a faith-based organization. A Catholic student organization led by someone who neither professes the Catholic faith nor strives to live it out would not be able to serve its members as an authentically Catholic organization. We cannot sign the affirmation form because to do so would be to lie to the university and to ourselves about who we are as an organization.
While this policy may change our status as a registered student organization, it will not change our mission. We will continue to serve the Vanderbilt community as a welcoming and faithful Catholic campus ministry, proposing Jesus Christ in all that we do.
I am proud of our student leaders. This is exactly the fruit that an authentic campus ministry should produce. Their resolve makes our situation a success story rather than a failure. It has become quite clear to the students that we either stand for something or fall for anything. We choose to stand for Jesus Christ, and we expect that our leadership do the same.
With Bishop Choby’s complete support, we will continue to serve the students of Vanderbilt as a non-registered ministry. We will open our doors wider in order to make a greater effort to reach out to the Vanderbilt campus and to all college students in Nashville.
Read the entire letter
here. God's blessings upon them as they continue to serve the students of Vanderbilt as a non-registered ministry.
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