Vanderbilt Catholic will not re-register as an official student organization for the next academic year due to the university's enforcement of its non-discrimination policy, which requires registered groups to open leadership positions to all students, regardless of belief.
"Vanderbilt Catholic does in fact have faith-based qualifications for leadership, and so to sign this policy would be dishonest on our part," said Vanderbilt Catholic President PJ Jedlovec "It would be to lie to the administration and to ourselves about who we are, and this is something that we cannot in good conscience do."
The decision, announced Sunday, is a significant loss for the university, which is in the process of bringing select student groups into compliance with the policy.
"We are deeply disappointed in Vanderbilt Catholic’s decision to not re-register as an official student organization for next academic year," said Beth Fortune, vice chancellor for public affairs, in a statement. "We also regret that Vanderbilt Catholic believes its decision is one forced upon them by the university. "
Rev. John Sims Baker, chaplain of Vanderbilt Catholic, said the university has forced the organization's hand with the policy.
“How could we sign such an agreement?” Fr. Baker said. “Our purpose has always been to share the Gospel and proudly to proclaim our Catholic faith. What other reason could there be for a Catholic organization at Vanderbilt? How can we say it is not important that a Catholic lead a Catholic organization?”
According to Fortune, the university does not view its policy as hostile to religious freedom.
"Vanderbilt’s policy does not mandate whom student organizations should elect as leaders — it simply allows for anyone to be eligible for membership and to seek a leadership position," Beth said in a statement. "Student organizations do and will always have the right to elect the leaders of their choosing."
The university published an updated written policy in early March.
University officials began reviewing the constitutions of all student organizations last spring, following the allegations made against Beta Upsilon Chi that an openly gay member was asked to leave the group because of his sexual orientation.
Upon review, administration officials found a number of student groups in noncompliance with the university's nondiscrimination policy because they required leaders to hold the religious beliefs of the organization.
The policy, which administration officials refer to as an "all-comers" policy, requires all registered student organizations to allow any student to eligible for membership and leadership.
Vanderbilt Catholic was not one of the organizations found in noncompliance with the policy upon initial review, but the organization has taken a principled stance on the issue.
“It has become quite clear to the Vanderbilt Catholic students that we either stand for something or fall for anything,” said Fr. Baker in a written statement. “We choose to stand for Jesus Christ, and we expect that our leadership do the same.”
Fr. Baker said Vanderbilt Catholic will re-organize and remain a presence as an unregistered student group on campus.
“With Bishop Choby’s complete support, we will continue to serve the students of Vanderbilt as an independent ministry. We are going to open our doors wider in order to make a greater effort to reach out to all Vanderbilt students and all college students in Nashville," Fr. Baker said.
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