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Tom HolsingerFriesen's avatar

Thanks for a great analysis, John. Since the federal government is attempting to interfere with the freedom of even private institutions to educate in the way that aligns with their mission, why do you think Christian institutions are not speaking out against it? Do you think they aren't cognizant of the threat?

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John Hawthorne's avatar

There are several options: 1) they would speak out but don’t want to upset their conservative supporters, 2) they are so safely cocooned that they aren’t aware of their commonality with all of higher ed, 3) they were never serious about their claims that the govt was out to get them.

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Sarah Smith's avatar

A number of administrators at Catholic universities signed the AAC&U's open letter, "A call for constructive engagement", but I don't see any CCCU signatories so far.

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John Hawthorne's avatar

I thought at least the CCCU would sign the letter.

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Janine Hartman's avatar

This is a very important analysis that speaks well of the highest traditions of fairness in thought in all universities and belief communities.

Many thanks!

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David Terrell Ph. D.'s avatar

I don't think that during my lifetime there has been a situation like this one. It is scary, and it will bring unintended consequences. Harvard's position and test, without a doubt, teach us a deep lesson about the value of wisdom and knowledge.

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Bruce Barron's avatar

Thanks as usual for your careful analysis of complex issues. The Trump administration has no conservative principles, so it has no compunction about using the levers of the federal government in non-conservative ways. They will say "we're just doing to them what they did to us," but does that make it right? You are absolutely right that the CCCU should be speaking up in Harvard's defense, just as Christian leaders in the realm of religious freedom defend the rights of people of other faiths or no faith as readily as they defend the rights of Christians. Maybe they will.

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