Catholic university bans ‘proselytizing’ on campus

Zachary Petrizzo

Zachary Petrizzo Wisconsin Campus Correspondent
  • Marquette University students are free to “evangelize” on campus, but they are not allowed to “proselytize.”
  • Unlike the dictionary, the Catholic university’s Religious Activities Policy defines “proselytize” to mean depriving people of their “inherent value as persons.”

Marquette University students are free to “evangelize” on campus, but may not “proselytize.”

The restriction is part of the Catholic university’s Religious Activities Policy, which is intended to serve as a rule book for religious organizations on campus, but also operates as a sort of pledge to the school community.

“The university welcomes in its midst students of varying religious backgrounds and persuasions…and in no case attempts to proselytize them.”   

“The university welcomes in its midst students of varying religious backgrounds and persuasions, respects the individual religious commitments of students, and in no case attempts to proselytize them through its programs or sponsored activities,” the school explains. “Similarly, the university does not allow any other individual or organization internal or external to the university to proselytize its members using facilities, programs, or activities controlled by the university.”

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Merriam-Webster defines “proselytize” as “to induce someone to convert to one’s faith.”

According to Marquette, however, proselytization occurs when someone attempts to “influence people’s faith convictions, choices, or commitments in ways that de-personalize or deprive them of their inherent value as persons.”

Marquette elaborates that proselytization could include “exploitive techniques or manipulative appeals which bypass a person’s critical faculties,” “physical coercions,” “inducements for conversion,” “psychological pressure,” “moral compulsion,” and more.

Notably, the school also outlines four “additional activities” that may be classified as “indicators of proselytizing” on campus.

These broad indicators include “unjust or uncharitable references to others’ beliefs and practices,” “comparing faith traditions by emphasizing only the achievements and ideals of one, and the weaknesses and practical problems of the other,” “using advertising or promotional techniques that might bring undue pressure on persons,” and “ignoring the religious realities and identities of other faith traditions.” read more here: https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=10988