As protector of persecuted Christians, Roger Ailes does seem to be quite concerned about the non-discrimination policy at Vanderbilt U.There have been at least seven segments on Fox & Friends, all of which were in support of the Christian groups who object to the policy (described as "slimey" by Foxpriest Jonathan Morris) and none of which addressed the fact that the policy was clarified as a result of a gay student having been asked to leave a Christian fraternity because homosexuality, in their belief system, is immoral. Also missing from the Fox "coverage" was mention of a SCOTUS decision which affirmed that educational institutions are not obligated to recognize organizations that do not allow all students to join. The Vanderbilt policy was clarified to require that "all registered student organizations to allow any student to eligible for membership and leadership." As such, the Vanderbilt Catholic group will not be registering as a student group because of its "faith based qualifications for leadership." Naturally, their next step was to go on Fox & Friends where good Catholic Steve Doocy articulated the main talking point for all the Fox & Friends anti-Vanderbilt segments; i.e. that the policy could result in evil atheists taking leadership positions. Oh, nooooo......

Last Friday, Steve Doocy reported that "Vanderbilt Catholic" is taking action because complying with the non-discrimination policy would "force them to lie." He introduced his guests, Fr. John Sims Baker, the chaplain of the group and group president PJ Jedlovec. Doocy dramatically intoned that the policy, which requires campus organizations to be open to all comers, means that "anybody regardless of background could be the leader including" (his voice was rising to shriek level) "including, your organization, you might have to have" (ready for it) "an atheist" (he bobbed his head up and down) "head up the Catholics."

Sims Baker said that it was a "possibility" and that their faith based qualifications for leadership are vital to their mission. He expressed uncertainty about what the future would bring to the group but noted that they're still talking with the school. Jedlovec described the policy as well-intentioned but not being able to fulfill its purpose of non-discrimination because it's discriminating against faith-based organizations. (Who discriminated against a gay student but that's never mentioned on Fox & Friends.) In responding to Doocy's contention that they will have to leave campus to observe their faith, Jedlovec said that they will still be a vibrant presence on campus.

The priest and the student were actually quite rational. And as usual, Steve Doocy proved that he is a true wall of genius.

And BTW, when I checked the Fox Nation post about this issue, it was filled with the perfunctory frothing and the occasional homicidal ideation about how this is just part of the evil librul, atheist, secular, Obama agenda. It's now closed to comments. Wonder why!