Local diocese claims Charlie Kirk vigil was denied on MoWest’s campus, MoWest reponds
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Two weeks ago, conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated at Utah Valley University. Now, different organizations nationwide have held vigils to mourn and honor the influencer.
The Catholic Newman Center is a registered student organization (RSO) at Missouri Western State University with plans to have its own vigil for Kirk.
On Thursday, Sept. 18, staff from the MoWest Division of Student Affairs and University Police met with representatives of the Catholic Newman Center to discuss plans for the vigil, which would be held "potentially outside on campus property".
Soon after the meeting, on Saturday, Sept. 20, the MoWest Catholic Newman Center posted on its Facebook page, stating, "Join us this Wednesday, September 24th at 7-9PM at the Catholic Newman Center for a candlelight prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk. All are welcome!"
The MoWest staff claimed they then believed the discussion about the vigil event had been resolved.
Soon after the Facebook post, the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph sent a request for a response from MoWest President, Elizabeth Kennedy, on Monday, Sept. 22, as to why staff members denied a vigil on campus grounds.
"It kind of took us by surprise because we just hadn't had that conversation. In fact, even before that letter, we had reached out on Monday from Student Affairs to say we saw your post," said Kennedy.
On Tuesday, Sept. 23, an article was posted by The Lion, stating the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph wanted a response from President Kennedy about the alleged vigil denial.
MoWest released a statement following the posted article, highlighting the discussions staff had with representatives of the Catholic Newman Center.
According to the statement, during the meeting, representatives requested to hold the vigil in the MoWest Spring Sports Complex, a gated facility where the University's baseball and softball teams play home games.
Given the potential size of the event and the desire to use the Spring Sports Complex, University staff explained, University policy states that liability insurance is required of all entities reserving non-traditional public forum spaces for events.
The groups also discussed the costs associated with hiring security for the event to maintain the safety of participants.
MoWest said, during the meeting with the Catholic Newman Center, other locations both on and off campus were discussed, but a definitive location was not identified.
"We're still in conversation with the diocese. We will continue to provide them with the information that they've asked for. But again, we just want to make sure that accurate information is out there and that everyone knows that we support the First Amendment, that we support free speech," said Kennedy.
Kennedy adamantly expressed the shock felt by university staff and wanted to remain transparent.
"We were just a little taken aback that what we thought was kind of a conversation, that then, the folks in the conversation decided to go in a different direction, but somehow it ended up that we were accused of doing something that we didn't."
Now, the Charlie Kirk vigil is still scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the Catholic Newman Center, located at 4518 Mitchell Ave.
The vigil will feature local leaders speaking, praying and mourning the loss of Kirk. The vigil will also be held for the community to gather as a way to honor those who have lost their lives due to violence.
News-Press NOW reached out to the Catholic Newman Center and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph for a statement and has yet to hear back.
