Endorsing or Accepting? 

Ann Althouse brings attention to a possible change in the service requirement at UW Eau Claire:

The proposal would make it so that any volunteer work on behalf of a religious institution, such as missionary work or teaching at a religious school, would not be counted toward a student's service learning requirement. Secular work in a religious setting, such as work for religious charities like Habitat for Humanity, would still be allowed.

On its surface, this proposal makes sense. A public university cannot give the appearance that it prefers one religion over another. "We are a state institution," said Associate Vice Chancellor Steven Tallant. "If we award credit for engaging in [a religion's] activities, we are endorsing that religion."

The proposed policy change is, however, inconsistent. While religious advocacy does not count toward the requirement, other types of advocacy, including political solicitation, will continue to be worth service learning credit.

On it's surface this proposal makes sense? There is a difference between endorsing a religion and simply accepting that people believe it, and have a right to. That's the other part of the 1^st amendment, lest we forget.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

It's a fine line that we drew there. UW Eau Claire by previously allowing religion based service related work wasn't saying that's your only choice. You could have done any number of secular activities as well. However, now they are saying that religious activities are somehow verboten. If you believe and practice a religion, we should respect and allow it. UW Eau Claire is trying to make it seem like the only way to not promote a religion is to pretend like they don't exist.

It's the same reason why I'm against gay marriage restrictions. By allowing gay marriage, nobody is forcing you to be gay. However, if you are gay, you should have the same right to marry as a heterosexual couple. Preventing gay couples from marrying isn't going to make homosexuality disappear.

You don't have to like it, but you do have to accept it.