Posted on 08/26/2006 5:36:29 PM PDT by FJ290
Georgetown University has banned outside Protestant ministries from holding on-campus events and using the school's name, prompting group leaders to question whether the prestigious Catholic school is restricting religious choice.
"All we're wanting is diversity," said Kevin Offner, a staff leader for InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship. "We're simply saying, 'Can't we worship and conduct our meetings in a way appropriate to our tradition?' And it feels like [Georgetown is] saying 'no.' "
In a letter last week to leaders of the campus's Affiliated Ministries, the Rev. Constance C. Wheeler, a Georgetown Protestant chaplain, said that "as a result of our new direction for the upcoming academic year, we have decided not to renew any covenant agreements" with the groups.
The decision -- which affects a few hundred students belonging to six Christian groups -- forbids the ministries from having any "activity or presence" on campus, including worship services, retreats or helping students move into their dorms.
The groups also are prohibited from using the Georgetown name in publicity.
Group leaders say university staff read the letter at an Aug. 17 meeting that began and closed with prayer. During the meeting, the leaders said, school officials stated they made the decision because the Office of Campus Ministry could not control what type of message the groups teach.
Georgetown is "caught between being a private institution with a particular identity, but also wanting to be a real university," said Shawn Galyen, a leader of Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, which ministered to more than 100 Georgetown students. "They essentially have weirdly split the difference by choosing to disallow us."
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
"All we're wanting is diversity," said Kevin Offner, a staff leader for InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship.
THEN GO TO A STATE SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Georgetown is (supposedly) a Catholic university. CATHOLIC. Not DIVERSE. Catholic.
"Georgetown is "caught between being a private institution with a particular identity, but also wanting to be a real university," said Shawn Galyen, a leader of Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, which ministered to more than 100 Georgetown students. "They essentially have weirdly split the difference by choosing to disallow us.""
What?
So you can't have a REAL university if it is a "private institution with a particular identity"? Someone better wake all those dead people from the Middle Ages and let them know they never invented REAL universities!
Got that right. CINO
But as a hypocritical liberal private school they can be Moonbats like anyone else.
It said:
"The school welcomes people of all faiths, and employs chaplains that minister to and hold worship services for Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox Christian and Protestant students, according to its Web site. "Students are permitted to join any group they wish," Georgetown spokesman Erik Smulson said. "This decision affects [only] campus ministries."
Why should Protestant ministries be allowed to run the campus of a PRIVATE Catholic University? Did you see in the article where Baylor University "Baylor University officials said the Baptist school does not officially recognize organizations outside of its own Baptist Student Ministries, but allows other Christian organizations to advertise on campus and hold one on-campus event each semester?" ONE?? How generous of them, LOL! Well, as a private religious university that is their business.
And the problem is????
Georgetown University is a Jesuit run Catholic University and has been so for over 210 years. The university was opened in 1789. It's no secret that it is bought and paid for by the Catholic Church and every student who applies to the school is fully aware of that fact before they ever submit an application. This is no different than Methodist schools, Baptist run colleges or any other church affiliated school. If they don't like the school or its rules- find another university. The same holds true for the university staff.
Uh..no. My kid says it is about the proselytizing that goes on there. I don't pay for my child to go to a Catholic school to let Protestants, conservative or otherwise, try and lure her out of the Church.
Dear FJ290,
I read the article that you posted. Thanks.
It appears that Protestant ministries aren't being excluded from the campus, but rather that they are being "rationalized" to the official Protestant chaplains hired by the university. Am I getting that right?
Thus, what's really going on is that Protestant groups independent of the university administration will no longer have any official sanction from the university, nor will they be able to conduct official activities on the campus.
But Protestants will still have campus ministers available to them.
Did I understand this all correctly?
By the way, I'm interested in your child's experience of Georgetown. I have a couple of fellows who aren't too far away from the college experience.
Thanks,
sitetest
Agreed!
I will share this with you. During orientation last week, she had someone come up to her on campus, try to push a pamphlet in her hand and asked her if she knew Jesus, if she died that night did she know if she would go to heaven, etc. She was quite upset by it. Didn't expect this kind of thing to happen on a Catholic campus. This is one of the things Georgetown is trying to avoid and SHOULD!
You can always PM me about continuing info on Georgetown. So far.. she loves it!
Dear FJ290,
Thanks!
So, she's a freshman this year?
I'd be very much interested in updates from time to time about her experience.
I went to cross-town CUA (a looonnnggg time ago). It wasn't especially Catholic then. I had a full professor of Catholic theology, with a papal license to teach Catholic theology, deny the physical Resurrection of Jesus. Yikes!
But I have a friend there now who is a tenured professor in the philosophy department, and he says that things are on the mend, that it is slowly re-becoming a Catholic university. It'd be great if that is happening at Georgetown, too.
I have a few years before the issue is hard upon us - my older son is just going into 7th grade.
But I'm already scouting out potential places.
sitetest
Um you're wrong. When my wife graduated undergrad and law there in '99, between their pro-gay and pro-abortion positions from the faculty it's hardly controlled by the Church.
You should have tried Catholic University or Thomas Aquinas if you wanted a real Catholic Education.
Not to mention you conveniently over look their real hypocrisy of allowing non-catholic clergy preach at the campus parish. That's more formal non-catholic proselytizing than any campus groups.
Yes, she's the baby of the family. Going for a degree in Business. My wife was inconsolable as this was the last one flying from the nest, LOL! I didn't like it much either, but you have to set them all free eventually.
I went to cross-town CUA (a looonnnggg time ago). It wasn't especially Catholic then. I had a full professor of Catholic theology, with a papal license to teach Catholic theology, deny the physical Resurrection of Jesus. Yikes!
Yikes indeed! Well, looks like you turned out for the best in spite of it.
But I have a friend there now who is a tenured professor in the philosophy department, and he says that things are on the mend, that it is slowly re-becoming a Catholic university. It'd be great if that is happening at Georgetown, too.
I've read Pope Benedict XVI wants to get these Catholic universities under control that have liberal elements in them. It may take some time, but it's worth the effort. My daughter hasn't been there long enough to see much, but tells me there are liberals and there are traditionals there. She said that from what she's seen so far, it's mixed. I told her, "You hang out with the traditionals young lady, LOL!"
I have a few years before the issue is hard upon us - my older son is just going into 7th grade. But I'm already scouting out potential places.
That's actually very wise. It's never too early too start.
I'd be very much interested in updates from time to time about her experience.
I'd be more than happy to share them.
Um..I'm wrong?? Let's see.. your wife graduates from there in 1999 and my kid is going there in 2006. That's a 7 year difference and not to mention someone that is actually experiencing the campus right now.
This isn't a question of Georgetown promotiing Catholicism (which it quite clearly doesn't), but about Georgetown furthering its identify as a liberal/atheist institution by banning anyone who would take any flavor of Christian faith seriously.
UNCONSTITUTIONAL!
Are you a Catholic?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.