Catholic Diocese questions Missouri Western’s refusal of Charlie Kirk prayer vigil

The Catholic Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph is asking for answers from a Missouri university reportedly not allowing an on-campus prayer vigil to honor Charlie Kirk, who was murdered Sept. 10.

Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated at Utah university while speaking to large crowd on campus, leading to a national outpouring of support and proclamations of the Christian faith.

The Catholic Newman center at Missouri Western State University (MWSU) in St. Joseph was planning a candlelight vigil for all in honor of Kirk on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The event was to include a prayer vigil on campus, a gathering of faith-based student organizations to peacefully assemble and worship, along with solidarity over religious freedom, according to an Instagram post promoting the event.

In a letter addressed to MWSU President Elizabeth Kennedy, the diocesan General Counsel Patrick R. Miller said it had been brought to his attention that members of the university staff were refusing to allow several faith-based student organizations to assemble for the scheduled vigil.

“I would appreciate a written response from you or members of your staff confirming this refusal is true and detailing all the justifications for this refusal,” Miller wrote.

He also requested a list of every other assembly of university-affiliated student organizations that has taken place during the past two years.

Miller said he was “deeply concerned that faith-based organizations are being treated differently than other student organizations.”

Miller noted he would ordinarily prefer to address such issues directly by phone or in person, but he was currently out of the country. He closed his letter by asking for a response from the administration.

The Instagram post announcing the vigil framed it as a wholly peaceful call to students and community members to gather in prayer on the St. Joseph campus.

The post did not mention any restrictions imposed by the university but publicized the time and location for the gathering.

The public university has student organizations representing a wide range of interests, including many faith-based groups.

It also serves as the summer training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The issue highlights ongoing debates at public universities nationwide over freedom of assembly and the recognition of religious or conservative student groups on campus.

The Missouri Public Policy Center previously accused government sponsored universities of discriminating against Christians on campus.

Kennedy, the university’s president, responded late Tuesday afternoon that the Newman center had spoken with the school about using the MoWest Spring Sports Complex, where the university’s baseball and softball teams play, but was advised it would require liability insurance and hiring security personnel. 

Other locations were discussed, both on and off campus, with the center ultimately choosing to use its building, which is adjacent to but not on the campus.

“Freedom is one of MoWest’s six core values,” Kennedy told The Lion in an email. “We promote the free exchange of ideas that makes education liberating and democracy unique. In this instance, we did our best to accommodate a request from a student organization in a short time frame, and the organization ultimately made the decision to move the event off campus.”

The entire text of the correspondence from the Diocese counsel reads:

Dear Dr. Kennedy–

It has been brought to my attention that members of your staff at Missouri Western State University are refusing to allow several faith-based organizations to assemble on campus for a prayer vigil scheduled for Wednesday, September 24th from 7 pm – 9 pm. I would appreciate a written response from you or members of your staff confirming this refusal is true and detailing all the justifications for this refusal. I would also appreciate a full listing of every other assembly of university affiliated student organizations that has taken place in the last two years. I’m deeply concerned that faith based organizations are being treated differently than other student organizations.

While I would prefer to address these issues directly by phone or in person, I’m currently out of the country. I look forward to your response.

Respectfully,

Pat Miller

Patrick R. Miller

General Counsel