Liberty University Revokes Recognition Of Democratic Club

(AP)

Liberty University in Lynchbyrg, Va., has revoked its recognition of the campus Democratic Party club because, according to a university official, the club's "parent organization stands against the moral principles held by Liberty."

In a May 15 e-mail to the student group, Liberty Vice President for Student Affairs Mark Hine said the club must end its affiliation with University. The group can no longer use Liberty's name, logo, or seal for its publications, Web sites, Facebook page, Twitter account or anything else.

"The Democratic Party platform is contrary to the mission of LU and to Christian doctrine (supports abortion, federal funding of abortion, advocates repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, promotes the 'LGBT' agenda, Hate Crimes, which include sexual orientation and gender identity, socialism, etc)," Hine wrote in the e-mail to the LU College Democrats.

Liberty, which was founded by the late Christian evangelist Rev. Jerry Falwell, has had a College Republicans club for years. The College Democrats formed late last year and supported Barack Obama in the presidential election.

The university's action has become a rallying point for Democrats. The College Democrats of America Alumni Association is raising money online to show administrators at Liberty "that attacking our freedom of expression will only strengthen College Democrats nationwide."

All three Democratic candidates in the Virginia gubernatorial race have spoken out on the school's decision, according to the Lynchburg News and Advance. Democratic National Committee chairman and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, who is Catholic, also put out a statement.

"I urge the leadership of Liberty University to reverse this attack on the liberty of its students and allow the College Democrats to have the same rights on campus as their counterparts, the College Republicans," he said.