Free Republic

Last week, Bob Jones University issued a public apology for its racist past. When I attended the Protestant fundamentalist college in the mid-1970s, the institution was still struggling to overcome the blatant racism for which it had become famous. While I was a student, the first black man was admitted. He was an older married man who lived off-campus, and the unspoken suspicion was that as such, he was therefore not a danger to the white girls on campus. Although the ban on black students had just been lifted, there was still a rule against interracial dating. Not only were...

A top official at Bob Jones University, the Evangelical Christian school with a history of anti-Mormon rhetoric, plans to throw his weight behind Mormon presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Robert R. Taylor, dean of the university’s college of arts and sciences, said he believes the former Massachusetts governor is the only Republican candidate who both stands a chance of winning the White House and will reliably implement the anti-abortion, antigay marriage, pro-gun agenda of Christian conservatives.[...] This afternoon, Bob Jones III, chancellor of the university, told the Greenville News that he, too, is endorsing Romney. “This is all about beating Hillary...

As recently as 2000, Bob Jones III wrote an open letter that referred to both Catholicism and Mormonism as “cults which call themselves Christian.” And yet, seven years later, a top official at the conservative, fundamentalist Bob Jones University is throwing his political support to Mormon presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Robert R. Taylor, dean of the university’s college of arts and sciences, said he believes the former Massachusetts governor is the only Republican candidate who both stands a chance of winning the White House and will reliably implement the anti-abortion, antigay marriage, pro-gun agenda of Christian conservatives. “The fact that...

Republican Sen. John McCain says he would consider speaking at Bob Jones University, a school he criticized during the 2000 presidential campaign for its ban on interracial dating and anti-Catholic views. "I can't remember when I've turned down a speaking invitation. I think I'd have to look at it," McCain told The State newspaper in South Carolina. The potential 2008 presidential candidate and Arizona senator said he would have to look at Bob Jones University's latest policy statements. "I understand they have made considerable progress," he said. In 2000, McCain assailed the Christian fundamentalist school for its policies and rival...

Abercrombie and Fitch and its subsidiary Hollister have shown an unusual degree of anatagonism to the name of Christ and an unusual display of wickedness in their promotions.In protest, we will not allow articles of clothing displaying their logos to we worn, carried or displayed. (even if covered or masked in some way)

In "God On The Quad" Naomi Schaefer Riley reveals that some of the popular assumptions made about religious colleges — citadels of intolerant thinking, with inferior curricula and in-your-face religious zealotry — are either outdated or simply wrong. She profiles a number of individual schools including: Mormon stronghold Brigham Young University; Fundamentalist Christian Bob Jones University; Catholic Notre Dame and Thomas Aquinas College, one of the quirkiest schools mentioned; Jewish Yeshiva University, and Evangelical (Baptist) Baylor University. Unsurprisingly, the biggest issue religious colleges face is how to reconcile the seemingly incompatible nature of secularism, with its accent on post-modern, radical...

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) -- Bob Jones III said Thursday he will retire as president of the Christian university that bears his name, ending a 34-year reign during which the school grabbed headlines because of its racial policies and fundamentalist views. Jones' son will take over as president of the school in May. The 65-year-old Jones, whose grandfather founded Bob Jones University 78 years ago, said it was time for someone younger and "closer to the present generation" to take over. "I've seen too many institutions -- churches, Christian ministries -- suffer when somebody stays too long," he said. "And...

Presidential campaigns conflicting with day jobs WASHINGTON - Two congressional Democrats running for president have missed nearly every House and Senate vote in the past two weeks, choosing the campaign trail over their day job. U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) have only cast one vote each since Congress returned from its spring recess April 28. Gephardt skipped 36 of 37 roll calls in the House. Lieberman missed 11 of 12 Senate votes. At the same time, Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry skipped half the Senate votes. And Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) skipped three-quarters of the...