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Apparently through the miracles of bureaucratic logic, the University of North Carolina-Greensboro has determined that a Christian student group at the school isn’t actually religious and must, therefore, operate rather differently.
According to a piece posted on the website of the Alliance Defense Fund:
UNC-Greensboro’s nondiscrimination policy contains an exemption for student groups that select their members based on a shared set of beliefs. The exemption states, “Student groups that select their members on the basis of commitment to a set of beliefs (e.g., religious or political beliefs) may limit membership and participation in the group to students who, upon individual inquiry, affirm that they support the group’s goals and agree with its beliefs.”
The “Make Up Your Own Mind” club at UNC-Greensboro applied for recognition under this exemption, but university officials denied the request, saying that the club is not religious even though the club has a clear religious mission and purpose and requires its members and leaders to agree with its statement of faith and beliefs about the value of innocent human life.
The university declined to recognize the group for months, finally permitting recognition under this interesting standard. By the institution’s rules the club “must allow students of other religions and belief systems to become leaders and members as a condition to being a recognized group,” according to the article.
The school’s rules seem bizarre, essentially forcing a deliberately religious organization to pretend that it’s a nonreligious one. It is worth pointing out, however, that also seems very unlikely that there are a signification number of non-Christian students at UNC-Greensboro eager to join and lead a Christian group.
The club is now suing the school.
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Phalamir on March 06, 2012 7:51 PM:
"It is worth pointing out, however, that also seems very unlikely that there are a signification number of non-Christian students at UNC-Greensboro eager to join and lead a Christian group."
Considering the group, I think it is more factually correct to say that the entirety of the club's current membership are not Christians, and so the peculiar ruling by UNC-Greensboro was made specifically to allow them to remain part of their own club.
paul on March 08, 2012 8:59 AM:
Seems to me that a lot would depend on how you parse "religious" or "political" belief for the purpose of this rule. The belief that black people are inferior and need to be closely regulated for the safety of society is a political belief that has had plenty of currency in the US, but I doubt UNC would be compelled to host a Klan chapter. Similarly, the notion that christian nations need to be humbled and their inhabitants converted by fire and the sword is a religious belief, but it's doubtful that even a peaceful offshoot of Al Qaeda would be allowed on campus.'
So the the question is whether belief in forcing women to give birth under threat of violent sanctions falls on the "we all believe the nicean creed" side of the line or somewhere else.
Snarki, child of Loki on March 09, 2012 7:54 AM:
@paul: "The belief that black people are inferior and need to be closely regulated for the safety of society is a political belief that has had plenty of currency in the US, but I doubt UNC would be compelled to host a Klan chapter."
They just have to call it "Young Republicans" and they're good to go.
I do wonder if this case is also about 'truth in labeling', since when I read 'Make Up Your Own Mind', I'd think it was a group of agnostics, not a bunch of anti-abortion fundies.