This is a very important decision for minority religious freedom in this country.

I came from a country where religious fundamentalists, including governmental authorities, denied my freedom to have thoughts that are different from their own. As a punishment, they demanded my execution by hanging. I was forced to leave my own country. I had to pay heavily for the sole reason that I believe in human rights and freedom of expression.

Some in the Vatican like Zen very much for his willingness to stand up to the Chinese on religious freedom issues, others worry that he will disrupt Vatican diplomatic efforts to establish formal relations with Beijing.

They're taking away another freedom. It's easy to do; we're another minority.

It was a decision forced by the minority. But we didn't want to exclude any students, no matter how few.

When faith in our freedom gives way to fear of our freedom, silencing the minority view becomes the operative protocol.