Should Public College Campuses Ban Catholic Speakers?

[Proud2BCatholic139]

Well, all my school seems to do is promote GSA, Abortion, and even a nudist community, but when a pro-life speaker came to school, it caused an uproar. How do you feel about this issue?

Edited April 8, 2007 by Proud2BCatholic139

[Maggyie]

Obviously campuses should not ban Catholic speakers, that is, if they really have a dedication to the principle of free speech. It would be different if it were a private school. Private schools can really ban whomever they like. But public schools? No way!

Sadly your school sounds a lot like my alma mater

[track2004]

I understand public schools banning or not inviting speakers if it would disturb student life in such a way that students wouldn't be able to study/ listen in class/ etc, but otherwise no. The question is worded to suggest that any Catholic or Christian wouldn't be able to speak which is crazy because a lot of very smart and decent people are Christian, but there are people who come to a campus only to create an uproar and I think Universities should be careful about that. Ann Coulter came to my school last year and spoke and while not many people on campus agreed with her she had a gig set up at the Aud, not yelling on a street corner during classes. The university life is about being exposed to ideas, whether or not you'll agree with them, and I think the univeristy should promote that as best it can, so long as they realize that students aren't there to get evangalized to or yelled at on their way to classes.

[hoosieranna]

[quote name='track2004' post='1235561' date='Apr 8 2007, 08:40 PM']I understand public schools banning or not inviting speakers if it would disturb student life in such a way that students wouldn't be able to study/ listen in class/ etc, but otherwise no. The question is worded to suggest that any Catholic or Christian wouldn't be able to speak which is crazy because a lot of very smart and decent people are Christian, but there are people who come to a campus only to create an uproar and I think Universities should be careful about that. Ann Coulter came to my school last year and spoke and while not many people on campus agreed with her she had a gig set up at the Aud, not yelling on a street corner during classes. The university life is about being exposed to ideas, whether or not you'll agree with them, and I think the univeristy should promote that as best it can, so long as they realize that students aren't there to get evangalized to or yelled at on their way to classes.[/quote]

I have to agree. Upholding free speech means bringing in organizations of all backgrounds, not just left or right. You learn more from the free exchange of ideas than you do from proselytizing by left or right. I think the only groups I would exclude are those that promote illegal activities.

[jeffpugh]

Yes, freedom of speech is a biggy here... if you push that issue, get the press involved, maybe you could be heard. I am insulted that your campus won't allow Christians/Catholics to speak (assuming it's an auditorium setting). Oy vey... pray for an end to this culture of death...

[RezaMikhaeil]

I'm for Catholic speaker speaking at public universities but most would say that there is "a line". President Khatami [former president of Iran] was invited to speak at Harvard Law reciently and it caused great uproar [and the govenor of that state refused to provide security of the engagement]. Therefore it's more then just "can they speak" but more of an issue that if a college invites someone to speak, can they promise security [among other organizing things] and is it worth it just to get a different perspective? Ultimately Harvard Law forged a way for President Khatami to come and speak but it outraged alot of people. Harvard Law never said that they share his view, but invited him to get a different perspective, as to give the students the ability to chose their own views, based upon hearing various points of view.

There's much more then just "can they speak" but everything else that goes with it...

Reza

[FullTruth]

Even though I'm not Catholic, I believe that is a denial of our rights to free speech.

No government or organization should have any right to ban someone on the basis of their religion. It is against our GOD-GIVEN RIGHTS!

But hey, I'm a Libertarian, not Catholic.

[DAF]

If my tax dollars fund the school, I have a right to speak there. It's MY school too. That's my .02

[N/A Gone]

schools often have "special interest groups" just consider the catholic speaker the same.

My wife went to school in Wisc and it was the same way. We can get in trouble for not supporting some of the homo-promiting clubs, but they could have speakers constantly speak against scripture. Drove me nuts

[Luminessence]

No, they shouldn't be banned. It's a freedom-of-speech thing. Especially if they're allowing speakers who have an opposing viewpoint (in your example, allowing a pro-choice speaker but banning a pro-life speaker). They could make a case for it if they don't allow anything to do with controversial issues, but that doesn't sound like a good way to give students a decent education.

[prose]

pro-life is not only a Catholic issue. That isn't banning a Catholic speaker, that is banning free speech.

[StColette]

Christian speakers were always welcome at the State University I went to but that could be because I'm from the Bible belt

[prose]

Here is an Atheist pro-life group:

[url="http://www.godlessprolifers.org/"]http://www.godlessprolifers.org/[/url]

Would they be banned?

[XIX]

Pah, more than likely.

[scardella]

Of course they should be banned, silly. Catholics have nothing to offer people of rational thought.