There’s a growing trend in Ireland which is worth highlighting – namely, the growing hostility of third-level institutions to groups representing advocating Christian and pro-life ideas.

The phenomenon of universities excluding those who disagree with the current consensus on sexual morality, or the prevailing academic view of abortion, has already been happening for awhile in the US and the UK, but in the last few months it’s increasingly become an issue here.

After a bit of a storm in a teacup in NUI Maynooth a few months ago when protests greeted an attempt by a chastity group to… hand out leaflets (the horror!), there’s been a rather more serious example in the University of Limerick, where a pro-life society was denied recognition by the societies committee because… well, it’s not really clear. It’s acknowledged by all parties that the society met all the necessary requirements for approval, but they were nonetheless rejected in a vote by the committee. The whole story is here (LINK) 

Whatever about the recent attempts to have pro-chastity group, Pure in Heart, banned from secondary schools (yes, even Christian ones), I thought universities at least were there to facilitate debate and the free exchange of ideas. But perhaps I’m just being very naïve.