Gubernatorial candidate Mark Green says it’s "just plain stupid" that the Knights of Columbus is no longer a recognized student group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The university told the group this summer that it cannot be a recognized student organization because it does not allow all students to participate, the group told The Associated Press.
Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men’s fraternal benefit society, has been a recognized student organization for 30 years. But this summer, the university said that because the group only allows Catholic males as members, it violates university policy. The group has been told it may not recruit members on campus or use university buildings for their meetings.
Another Christian group on campus, the UW Roman Catholic Foundation, has also been told it will not be recognized. That group is preparing to challenge the decision.
The groups are citing a recent 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that forced Southern Illinois University to recognize the Christian Legal Society despite its requirement that members pledge to adhere to Christian beliefs.
So I guess to be consistent they will also be canceling football this year. Those all-male Badgers really need to taught a lesson about tolerance.
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Ah, the advantages of “higher” learning. I hate to “Badger” my alma mater, but that ruling is dumber than a bratwurst sundae.
It is not like the same group of men would be welcome at the campus ALGBT etc.. meetings. Although they should give that a try just test the definition of inclusivity.
I mean if all student groups have to be inclusive regardless of race, gender, religion, etc, then wouldn’t that mean there would be only ONE student group in the end? I wonder (rather ironically) if anyone here can think of such a UNIVERSAL group.
Hmm…
I used to be proud to say I was born in Madison. Because of things like this and others like it I now just say I’m originally from Wisconsin.
Now could a group with seditious plans go into a GLBTA meeting on voting day and elect themselves to the hirearchy by sheer numbers?
UW is for the libs.
Pretty soon the football team will have to accept hockey players, not because they want to play football, but just because they exist. Or something.
These decisions only happen because someone complains. If I had to guess, I would think it was one of those liberal catholics that also thinks women should be ordained.
For once, a quote from someone other than GKC. This was written in 1891 by Leo XIII, in one of the most important works of the 19th century, Rerum Novarum:
72. Although private societies exist within the State and are, as it were,so many parts of it, still it is not within the authority of the State universally and per se to forbid them to exist as such. For man is permitted by a right of nature to form private societies; the State, on the other hand, has been instituted to protect and not to destroy natural right, and if it should forbid its citizens to enter into associations, it would clearly do something contradictory to itself because both the State itself and private associations are begotten of one and the same principle, namely, that men are by nature inclined to associate. Occasionally, there are times when it is proper for the laws to oppose associations of this kind, that is, if they professedly seek after any objective which is clearly at variance with good morals, with justice, or with the welfare of the State. Indeed, in these cases the public power shall justly prevent such associations from forming and shall also justly dissolve those already formed. Nevertheless, it must use the greatest precaution lest it appear to infringe on the rights of its citizens, and lest, under the pretext of public benefit it enact any measure that sound reason would not support. For laws are to be obeyed only insofar as they conform with right reason and thus with the eternal law of God.[*37][note 37: “Human law is law only in virtue of its accordance with right reason: and thus it is manifest that it flows from the eternal law. And in so far as it deviates from right reason it is called an unjust law; in such case it is no law at all, but rather a species of violence.” St. Thomas, “Summa Theologica”, I-II, Q.93, Art. 3 ad 2.]
Just another reason I’ll be voting for Green.
I’m a member of this council and I found out the news via the internet. Apparently this deal has been brokered:
http://www.news.wisc.edu/12756.html
Fine. But the fact that the University claims that the KofC were engaging in religious discrimination is unbelieveable. Up is down, left is right, etc.
Of course, now we’ll probably be getting people in the KofC Affiliate group who will attempt to subvert the Catholic mission of the group. We’ll have to stay strong.
I guess they’ll also ban the Catholic Church from campus, because you have to be a Catholic to be a member…
The UW system is corrupt. Madison is 50 square miles surrounded by reality.
In spite of the fact that other courts have ruled such actions are a violation of Constitutional rights, our system of “higher education” in Wisconsin still feels it is above those rulings. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re doing this so the WI supreme court – liberal in make up – votes against those other rulings and opens the door for more campuses to throw out religious organizations.
That settles it…let’s all send our kids to the Franciscan University of Steubenville so they can get a “real” education!
I don’t understand all the huffing. I mean, does the group say “don’t come into our clubhouse, Protestant!”? can’t they let these people in and allow them to participate, and if they cause trouble, just kick ’em out? That way, they’re making the decision at a moment when the group actually HAS some information about the prospective member, right?
Very well John but the Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men’s organization – ie. membership is limited to “practical Catholics” who are male.
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