<p>But have you checked out the universities your son has applied to to ensure they have not supported China, fur, etc. through their investments? THAT would be putting values into action. And see, the "alternatives would cost YOU money", so Liberty U. is actually saving YOU money. Would you still give your son the money you would have spent at another institution? Then the extra scholarships would truly be HIS money....</p>
<p>And just like we aren't speaking specifically Catholic, we aren't really speaking specifically Liberty U. Everyone can insert their own...
And most people would do all the things you are speaking about above.....the fur, the USA, etc. at least most people I know...I don't know what the "eyebrow" thing meant....</p>
<p>mizzou-mom, my only child is 14 and in public high school. </p>
<p>You seem to be taking this incredibly personally. I'm sure there are things you wouldn't spend money on. No one here is faulting you for that! Yet you are faulting others for saying, "I could not support this institution with my money."</p>
<p>The OP asked whether anyone avoids a college based on religion. The answer is yes, some do. That offends you, and you apparently wouldn't do it (yet I'd bet you wouldn't spend your money on Taliban U if such an institution were accredited, would you?), but others do.</p>
<p>Does the anti-Catholic bias so many have expressed extend to other Catholic institutions? Would you avoid a Catholic hospital? Would you not adopt a child through a Catholic adoption organization? Would you not avail yourselves of any services offered through Catholic Charities? </p>
<p>And please, no more Taliban and Nazi comparisons. It's stupid and offensive.</p>
<p>Please, no more questions about Catholic hospitals and other non-educational institutions. It's stupid and offensive.</p>
<p>See? Two can play the "I'm allowed to make the comparisons but you are not" game. Doesn't work, however, and thank you very much, but I'll make whatever comparisons I think are apt to get my point across.</p>
<p>I don't know anyone who would go that far in avoiding a Catholic school. I live in an area that is heavily Jewish, and many of the families have no issues in enjoying what the Catholic schools have to offer around here, just as I would have no problems enjoying the JCC facilities or anything else offered by the Jewish organizations. It does not offend me, that someone would want to avoid a college based on religion, but does puzzle and interest me. (that's the eyebrow ). </p>
<p>Funny, some years ago, I did speak to a Jewish neighbor who said he would never buy a VW or Mercedes or any other German made car or visit Germany because of what happened during the Nazi regime. A bit later, they had a German au paar. I guess it is difficult to find good help in caring for the kids these days.</p>
<p>Or maybe they can make a distinction between a young German au pair who spends her American-earned stipend here, and spending money in Germany or on products made by German companies.</p>
<p>What's your point? That people can make a decision to go to school based on any number of criteria? Location, cost, religious affiliation, size, etc.? I think we can agree on that.</p>
<p>Do you really not see how offensive your comparisons are?</p>
<p>Arthur Schlessinger, Sr. (Harvard) said something about anti-Catholicism being the "deepest bias in the history of the American people." He just may have been onto something.</p>
<p>owlice - that you have only one child who is 14 years old explains it all.</p>
<p>I was trying to make you and Bay think. Think about how when you attach strings to a gift you may actually damage the relationship.
I present you with a hypothetical situation and you blow it off because it will never happen to you.</p>
<p>Having a 14 year old who hasn't grown up yet, hasn't come home with his own thoughts yet - explains it all. You live in your perfect world and think it will stay perfect. Perhaps it will - but maybe not.</p>
<p>For the record, I (not owlice) raised the Nazi analogy, and I believe it was cpt who mentioned the Taliban. Pro-choice advocates, labelled "murderers" and homosexuals labelled "immoral" by some religions might feel just as offended by those religions as you are by these other groups.</p>
<p>Apparently, some parents feel that their values and money are held hostage by the demands of their 17-year-olds, or they desire to please their children no matter what the cost. Other families recognize that any monetary support of their 18-year children is purely optional, and those children respect and are grateful that their parents choose to support their education. To each his own.</p>
<p>librarian377, are you trying to accuse me of being anti-Catholic? I went to Catholic U, for pity's sake. I am certainly not "anti-Catholic" (nor am I Catholic), but I can understand Bay's position of not wanting his/her money to support an institution he/she disagrees with. It's a principled position; I not only understand his/her position, I admire it. </p>
<p>JustAMom, yes, yes, I do indeed live in a perfect world. My son, an atheist ultra-liberal vegetarian, certainly couldn't possibly have had any ideas of his own! lol!!</p>
<p>librarian377, the Catholic church has done such things with its money as hire a prominent PR firm to push an antichoice agenda. (This was of course before they had to start paying out huge settlements to victims of sexual abuse.)</p>
<p>As a prochoice activist, I regarded ANY money directed to the Catholic church as funding that PR bill. Therefore I would not give money to <em>anything</em> if it eventually found its way into the pockets of the Catholic church, enabling them to free up funds to spend on Hill & Knowlton (if memory serves).</p>
<p>I do not buy Domino's pizza because its owner funded Operation Rescue using the profits from that company.</p>
<p>I am, by the way, an ex-Catholic, and my mother still is a Catholic who attends every week. I am not "anti-Catholic." Although I disagree with the official church position in several very significant ways, I also see the positives.</p>
<p>Interesting responses. Some of you are going out of your way to take credit for your offensive comparisons.</p>
<p>Obviously religious affiliation is a valid selection criterion. I just thought it made more sense to compare a Catholic college to maybe BYU or Pepperdine or another accredited American institution of higher learning than to Nazis or the Taliban.</p>
<p>
[quote]
some parents feel that their values and money are held hostage by the demands of their 17-year-olds, or they desire to please their children no matter what the cost.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>that is an interesting way to look at it - I never thought of it that way. I do disagree however. 3 of my kids were 18 and adults when they made their choice. I have no desire to please my children no matter what the cost. Surely you jest. My kids would think you are funny, for sure. Perhaps you aren't reading all of my posts or I am communicating poorly. Cost is a factor and a huge one. I am not able to write them a check for $30,000 check every year for school. They must contribute with loans and their income. Money IS a factor. </p>
<p>
[quote]
I do not buy Domino's pizza because its owner funded Operation Rescue using the profits from that company.
[/quote]
He also founded Ave Maria College. Domino's is lousy pizza anyway, Papa Johns's is much better. </p>
<p>Bay I don't know how old you kid(s) are but there may come a time when you and owlice - and others - will have to pick your battles with your kids. I hope you are ready.
There are many parents out there who are estranged from their children because they would not <em>compromise</em> their values.</p>
<p>"I can understand Bay's position of not wanting his/her money to support an institution he/she disagrees with. It's a principled position; I not only understand his/her position, I admire it." </p>
<p>Owlice, but MY point was Bay said he would ACCEPT money from this institution for his family....principled? Yes, if he still gave his son the money he was going to spend on his education....all theoretical of course!</p>
<p>And no, I would NOT give money to the Taliban. But I certainly wouldn't accept money for my family from them, either. I am principled.</p>
<p>mizzou-mom,
You are mistaken; please go back and read all of my posts. I have no desire to accept any money from a college whose ideology I do not support. If you want to take the position that any merit scholarship money my child might recieve is in fact, mine, then I stated twice that I would decline it.</p>
<p>It is interesting that I am chastised for refusing to fund certain colleges, and yet, when I propose ways that my child might still be able to attend if s/he wants it that badly without comprising my principles (such as gifting him/her a check, or having him/her earn it through merit scholarship or take out a FA loan), I am labelled a "hypocrite."</p>
<p>Bay quote: "Apparently, some parents feel that their values and money are held hostage by the demands of their 17-year-olds, or they desire to please their children no matter what the cost. Other families recognize that any monetary support of their 18-year children is purely optional, and those children respect and are grateful that their parents choose to support their education. To each his own."</p>
<p>What kind of logic is that???? You effectively limit your kid's school choice and they are grateful for going to a school acceptable to you???? I bend and send my kid to a school that might not adhere to my own values and my kid is ...what??? ungrateful??? a spoiled brat??? </p>
<p>Oh...I think my kid is probably just as grateful as yours, because I placed trust in his decision, let him spread his wings, and let him become his own person. </p>
<p>The reward is watching him thrive in his chosen environment. As I told him, "The world already has one of me, and it sure doesn't want another one." [Yeah, yeah...you and owlice will agree with that, at least. ;]</p>
<p>librarian377, it's not the college that one needs to compare, as has been pointed out several times now; it's the underlying institution. In the case of Catholic colleges, that's the Catholic church. A university set up by the Taliban has the Taliban as the underlying institution, BYU has the LDS as its underlying institution. </p>
<p>For some, the positions of the Catholic church are offensive. Heck, many many Catholics don't agree with the many of the positions and actions of the Catholic church, and, as has been pointed out, some are holding out at the collection plate because of it. And they belong to the church!! Isn't that even worse in your eyes than a non-member not wanting to pay tuition to a Catholic school?</p>
<p>JustAMom, keep trying to play that card if you'd like; it doesn't work, but you do seem to like it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
But I certainly wouldn't accept money for my family from them, either. I am principled.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>But the money isn't going to you; it's going to your adult daughter, who wants to accept it. Surely you are not going to prevent her from doing so!</p>