NASHVILLE, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Critics say Vanderbilt University's non-discrimination policy discriminates against religious organizations at the private Nashville school.
The Christian Legal Society, after changing its by-laws to make membership open to all, balked when university officials demanded it drop a requirement the president lead "Bible studies, prayers and worship" at chapter meetings and a quotation from the Bible that suggests homosexuality is a sin, The (Nashville) Tennessean reported.
The society is getting support from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education in Philadelphia.
"The message here is clear: Vanderbilt believes that its institutional ideological beliefs should take precedence over students' own beliefs or consciences, particularly when it comes to its students' attitudes towards sexual activity," Robert L. Shibley, the foundation's senior vice president, said in a letter to Vanderbilt.
The university, which has about 12,700 students, began its push after a gay student was expelled from a Christian fraternity.
"We are committed to making our campus a welcoming environment for all of our students," Vanderbilt said in a statement given to The Tennessean on Monday.
