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Catholic student group leaves Vanderbilt over policy change

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    Protest over new university policy meant to stop discrimination

  • Duration 2:09
  • Date

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Of elements in a battle over religion playing out on the campus of Vanderbilt University.

One of the largest student faith organizations there is cutting ties with the school after fifty years.

All because of a new university policy meant to stop discrimination.

John Roberts live for us in Atlanta with that John.

Hey good afternoon John we've been telling about Vanderbilt university's nearly -- nondiscrimination policy which prohibits.

A religious student organization from applying a faith based criteria.

For leadership or one organization Vanderbilt Catholics said -- had enough it can't comply with that it's pulling out of the campus.

PJ jetBlue Vick is the president of anti Catholic here's what he set.

That's simply.

Not what our organization is if we didn't have these qualifications if we.

Said oh it doesn't matter Catholic faith and practice don't matter for our organization leaders would be compromising who we are in our integrity.

He says it's absolutely necessary for their leaders to be practicing Catholics.

Vanderbilt University says it's disappointed with the anti Catholics decision but it's sticking by its guns in a statement to Fox News saying.

We do not believe our nondiscrimination policy to be incompatible with religious freedom.

Vanderbilt policy does not mandate -- student organization should should select his leaders it simply allows for anyone to be eligible for membership and to seek a leadership position student organizations do and will always have the right to elect leaders of their choosing.

Father John seems baker is the chaplain of anti Catholic here's what he says.

About the nondiscrimination.

Requirement that they can't have a faith based criteria.

I was trying that with you withhold.

Judgment about it but I do have to say I really felt coming.

Kicked in the got actually -- offense but I felt.

I thought you know I could sort of see where I was afraid this was going and it's not a decision that anybody would want to you know take -- of course.

Now there's a number of other religious organizations on campus to find themselves in the same boat they're going to try one more time to change the university's mind about those restrictions but clearly John.

Vanderbilt Catholic thought that it had no other choice -- a story John Roberts in Atlanta John thank you.

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