Thought police? Detecting thought crime, thoughts and unspoken beliefs which threaten the ruling party? Depends whether you think that stopping people from having a forum in which they tell or encourage others to murder citizens is preventing them from threatening the ruling party. I think it's in the public interest of everybody, but maybe that's just me. And that is what this university is worried about.
It's not the prayers that are the issue, it's the contents of the sermons. I have no doubt any christian vicar would be happy to publish his sermon, in fact they often do as a matter of course anyway.
Universities should exist primarily as places for learning and research. Why should they not have a say about what goes on on their own campus, nothing to do with thought police. if people want to promote their religious beliefs it should be done elsewhere.
As for the outcry if Ed chose to vet posts before they went on here that happens anyway - anything unacceptable is removed by Ed/Mods, the slight timeframe difference is irrelevant.