Coalition urges Catholic colleges to avoid hosting pro-abortion politicians

Manassas, Va., Feb 27, 2008 / 03:20 am (CNA).- After some Catholic college campuses hosted campaign events and appearances by pro-abortion political candidates recently, a coalition of Catholic organizations has released a statement urging all Catholic institutions to refuse to host politicians who oppose Church teaching on serious moral issues.

On February 13, St. Mary's University in San Antonio hosted a rally for Senator Hillary Clinton over the objections of Archbishop Jose Gomez. St. Norbert College in Wisconsin hosted a similar rally. St. Peter's College in New Jersey hosted a large rally for Barack Obama on January 9, as did Loras College in Iowa in March. Both candidates favor legalized abortion.

The statement calling for a boycott of politicians in conflict with the Church was organized by the Cardinal Newman Society, a group dedicated to the renewal and strengthening of Catholic identity in higher education. Signatories included the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, Catholics United for the Faith, the Catholic Medical Association and the Society of Catholic Social Scientists.

Cardinal Newman Society President Patrick J. Reilly summarized the need for the statement, saying, "Like any Catholic institution, a Catholic college or university has a distinct and unique responsibility to provide an environment that supports and upholds Catholic values."

While praising Catholic institutions' promotion of peace, charity, justice, individual rights and the common good, the statement criticizes some schools for excessively compromising with moral relativism and secularism.

"Too often, however, some Catholic institutions pursue a misguided engagement with public policy and politics that compromises and even undermines their Catholic mission," the statement said. "Catholic institutions should engage the culture from a faithfully Catholic perspective, not a position of neutrality. Political engagement does not require partisanship or endorsement of particular candidates. But it also does not require secularization, by which Catholic institutions accept moral relativism and simply mirror secular culture."

The statement exhorted Catholic colleges and universities to fidelity to Catholic teaching and respect for human life.

"We call on Catholic institutions to join us in finding opportunities-appropriate to the nature and mission of each institution-to engage in political and public policy dialogue by publicly proclaiming Catholic teaching, especially on issues related to human life and marriage," the statement said.

Georgetown U's Wahhabi Front

Note: We wrote about the activities of the Islamic Center at Georgetown previously. This article again shows the ties to islamic terror at the Center. Georgetown is off the rails anti-Catholic and needs to be reformed before it leads an apostasy against the Church. There seems to be no stopping it...

Georgetown U's Wahhabi Front

By Patrick Poole
FrontPageMagazine.com 2/22/2008

In December 2005, Georgetown University announced receipt of a $20 million gift to endow the school's Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding by Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, after whom the Center was renamed. The Center's director, John Esposito, has been known for his vigorous apologetics for Islamic extremism, authoring several books prior to the endowment's announcement dismissing the global influence of extremist Islamic ideology. Under Esposito's oversight, the Center has also developed questionable ties to individuals and organizations directly involved in Islamic terrorism. One example of these ties is the joint conference held by the Center with the United Association for Studies and Research (UASR) in July 2000. By that time, UASR had long been identified as the political command for HAMAS in the United States, and Esposito's co-chair for the conference was then-UASR executive director Ahmed Yousef, who fled the country in 2005 to avoid prosecution and currently serves as the spokesman for the HAMAS terrorist organization in Gaza.

As a result of the Saudi funding and terror ties, Rep. Frank Wolf last week directed a letter to Georgetown president John DeGioia expressing his concerns as an alumnus of the university over the activities of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and the seeming absence of criticism or discussion by the Center of human rights abuses and denial of religious freedom by the Saudi regime. An article by Steven Emerson of the Investigative Project reporting the contents of Rep. Wolf's letter also noted Esposito's long history of defending radical Islam and his vocal support and praise of his self-described "good friend", convicted Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Sami Al-Arian.

In fact, there is much more for Rep. Wolf and other Georgetown alumni to be concerned about. Since Prince Alwaleed's gift, the Center at Georgetown under Esposito's direction has since become a haven for Muslim Brotherhood-connected scholars and longtime paid representatives of the Saudi Wahhabi regime. Two individuals that have recently been appointed to top positions within the Center, Susan Douglass and Hadia Mubarak, have been active in leadership positions with known front organizations for the international Muslim Brotherhood - identified as such in court documents by the Department of Justice. Douglas, who has additionally been a longtime paid employee of the Saudi regime (discussed below) is listed as the Center's educational consultant and Mubarak is identified as the senior researcher for the Center. A third staff member is Abdullah Al-Arian, the oldest son and family spokesman for Sami Al-Arian, who is listed as a researcher for the organization.

Read the rest here.

US Catholic University Approves Gay Straight Partnership Club

Note: Here we go again. They just can't seem to help themselves, these apostate Catholic college presidents. In a sick "keep-up-with-the-Joneses" way, they have to make sure they're up with the times and bend over (backwards) to please homosexual groups. They ought to ask themselves, why did homosexuals choose their school in the first place?

US Catholic University Approves Gay Straight Partnership Club
By Thaddeus M. Baklinski

PORTLAND, Oregon, February 20, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The University of Portland, a Catholic university run by the Holy Cross Fathers, has officially recognized the university's first-ever sexuality club, the Gay Straight Partnership (GSP).

The GSP's mission, according to the club's constitution, is "to build a community that is open and welcoming to all students" and "to help all students grow in friendship, knowledge, faith and service."

Although the university administration had turned down previous requests to form a homosexual student's club (in 1994 and 1999), the school was listed in 2004 as a 'gay friendly' institution by homosexual activist website Catholiclesbians.org (see LifeSiteNews.com report: U.S. Homosexual Activist Website Provides List of 'Gay Friendly' Catholic Parishes, http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/mar/040330a.html ).

A group of 10 UP students applied for club recognition with Student Activities last November. Their request were approved by University vice president for enrollment management and student life, John Goldrick, after they were asked to amend their proposal to remove a section on networking with other schools and similar clubs in the area, and choosing different advisors.

The club's initial advisers, social work professor Anissa Rogers and Kristina Houck, the Health Center's substance abuse prevention coordinator, were replaced by Holy Cross Fr. John Donato and Stacey Noem, a campus minister.Donato said that he was chosen to be the club's new adviser not only because he can act as a liaison between the administration and the students, but also for his ability to "vocalize and facilitate the mission of the university."

"The fact that I am a Holy Cross priest and the associate vice president for student life is a good way to make sure that this group stays focused for what we hope all student groups are involved in, but also this particular one which deals with the sacred area of human sexuality," Donato said.

Although the Gay Straight Partnership has made pains to state that it will be adhering to Catholic teaching on sexuality, experience has shown pro-family advocates that such alliances typically result in the push to normalize and to affirm as morally acceptable an active homosexual lifestyle amongst university students.

A memo released by the GSP said, "the group will provide balanced programming and education and will offer a clear, faithful presentation of the Catholic Church's teaching about human sexuality and sexual orientation."

However, evidence that the club would promote homosexual behavior as normal and acceptable was offered by Valerie Silliman, Portland's GSP president and co-founder, who said that her "big dream is that [the club] will last for 25 years until we don't even need gay straight alliances because our community would already be welcoming.

"I hope it will encourage gay students to come to our university. I hope that gay students who are here will stay involved on campus rather than being marginalized and feeling alone. I hope that lots of straight people will be involved, and I hope people find answers and find questions."

"I think [the club] opens up new doors that were once closed on this campus due to a lack of diversity," sophomore Brandon Pratt, told The Beacon

To express your concern please contact:

Congregation of Holy Cross in Oregon
5408 N Strong St.
Portland, OR 97203
Phone: (503) 943-8024
E-mail: info@up.edu

John Goldrick
5000 N. Willamette Boulevard
Portland, OR 97203-5743
Phone: (503)943-7207
email: goldrick@up.edu

Archbishop John G. Vlazny
Archbishop of Portland in Oregon
2838 E. Burnside Street
Portland, OR 97214
Phone 503-234-5334
Fax 503-234-2545
vlazny@archdpdx.org

A look at a Catholic university hosting a pro-abortion candidate

A look at a Catholic university hosting a pro-abortion candidate
Elaine Kolodziej
20.FEB.08

The dynamic personality and unquestioned influence of more than two decades of leadership by Archbishop Patrick Flores were all traits we had come to know so well. Flores was admired and respected by Catholics and non-Catholics alike, and he got along very well with the media.

His successor is the more unassuming Jose Gomez, whose style has been quite low-profile compared to that of Flores. In fact, even as a Catholic, I must admit that I know very little about him.

Last week, however, Gomez showed his chutzpa and, as could be expected, he's received flack from all corners. He was chastised in the secular press for going public with his "personal" opinions, and taken to task by those strict Catholics who thought this should never have happened under his watch.

But his actions proved that he is not afraid to speak out for what he believes is right and accepts as his responsibility.
The controversy arose over the scheduled appearance as Sen. Hillary Clinton campaigns for the Democrats' presidential nomination. Unbeknownst to Gomez, her much-heralded appearance was at none other than St. Mary's University, a leading Catholic institution.

There was much speculation in the media about the reason for his comments: Was the archbishop merely miffed that he was not consulted about the appearance of a leading pro-abortion candidate at a Catholic university? Or was he defending Catholic tradition as is his responsibility?

As usual, many of the comments in the media have been off-subject trying to determine why the archbishop was so upset. They would rather not confront the real issue: Should a Catholic institution be promoting a political candidate whose philosophy encompasses something completely against Catholic teaching?

Clinton was, of course, here to try to woo Hispanic voters, and what better place to do it than St. Mary's University in the heart of San Antonio's west side. Gomez took issue, however, and spoke up. He strongly believes that Catholic institutions are obligated to "teach and promote Catholic values in all instances," as stated on the chancery's Web site.

Some took the approach that voters should be more open-minded and not make their decision on a political candidate based on only a single issue, be it abortion or illegal immigration. "Single-issue voters are dangerous," Larry Stewart wrote in a letter to the San Antonio Express-News.

Robert Rivard, editor of the Express-News, even suggested that the archbishop should be concerned about other important issues such as teen pregnancy, child abuse, and high school dropouts - as if any of these approach the moral gravity of abortion. In the Catholic Church, abortion is considered the taking of human life and, as such, it is murder.Since when is murder equal to school dropouts?

Because some (or "many" as Rivard says) Catholics disagree with the church's teaching, apparently he thinks the archbishop should look the other way. Perhaps this is what has happened in the past in the San Antonio archdiocese, but that is not what will happen under Gomez's leadership.

One comment in the San Antonio Express-News was very similar to an opinion I heard expressed on several radio talk shows: "I am not a Clinton supporter, but want to remind everyone that editing education and exchange of ideas is as bad as editing the media."

The idea is that universities - even Catholic universities - are institutions of learning and, as such, should expose students to diverse learning experiences.

Precisely.

Perhaps I missed the announcement of Sen. John McCain's scheduled visit to St. Mary's University?

Senator Clinton Continues Catholic Campus Tour at St. Norbert College

Note: The small Catholic colleges are willing to sell their souls for a little publicity apparently. When it's time to explain it to Jesus, I'm sure they'll have a good explanation. They don't seem to be able to offer one now.

Senator Clinton Continues Catholic Campus Tour at St. Norbert College

Staunchly pro-abortion presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton is scheduled to appear at St. Norbert College, De Pere, Wis., on Feb. 17, as part of her campaign schedule for the Wisconsin primary two days later. She also has accepted an invitation to appear at Marquette University Law School.

Clinton’s appearance at St. Norbert College is scheduled to be a lengthy town hall meeting entitled "Solutions for America."

Clinton appeared earlier in the week at St. Mary's University, a Catholic institution in San Antonio, Tex., and her appearance was severely criticized by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of San Antonio. Archbishop Gomez said, "It is clear that the records of Senator Clinton and some of the other candidates for president on important life issues are not consistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church."

Patrick J. Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society, said, "It is outrageous that another Catholic college would host a strongly pro-abortion candidate's bid for political support. We call on St. Norbert College to immediately rescind this invitation and remain faithful to its Catholic and Norbertine heritage."

St. Norbert College was founded by the Norbertine order in 1898. Among the college's core values is to "respect the sacred dignity of all creation."

Clinton Rally at Catholic University Sparks Controversy

Note: The media still uses the phony marketing term "pro-choice" to describe the political position on abortion by those who support the taking of innocent life. It is typical doublespeak in that for a "choice" to exist, there has to be an abortion industry. And that industry pumps millions of dollars into campaign coffers of politicians like Mrs. Clinton. It is a corrupting influence of the lowest moral order. It is blood money and intrinsically evil. For the college president to allow a Catholic institution to host such a person is in conflict with basic Catholc morality, the statements by the Conference of Catholc Bishops, and canon law. He is an ivory tower heretic.

Archbishop blasts 'unspeakable crime' of abortion

By Jim Forsyth
Tuesday, February 12, 2008

As Senator Hillary Clinton brings her struggling Presidential campaign to Texas, her visit is sparking controversy ahead of four rallies in the largely Hispanic southern portion of the state today, 1200 WOAI news reports.

Clinton is set to hold a campaign rally at Greehey Auditorium of St. Mary's University, a Catholic institution, prompting San Antonio Archbishop Jose H. Gomez to respond to Catholics who have expressed concerns about Clinton's pro choice political stance.

"It is clear that the records of Senator Clinton and some of the other candidates for President on important life issues are not consistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church," Gomez said.

"Our Catholic institutions must promote the clear understanding of our deep moral convictions on an issue like abortion, an act that the Church calls 'an unspeakable crime' and a non negotiable issue."

St. Mary's said it granted a permit to a student group to use the auditorium for the Clinton rally.

"As a Catholic tax-exempt university, St. Mary's does not endorse political candidates or their positions on issues and acknowledges the fundamental differences between those of the presidential candidates at the Catholic Church," President Charles Cotrell said in a statement.

Archbishop Gomez said he was 'neither advised nor consulted' before the university opened its doors to the Clinton campaign. A spokeswoman for the Clinton campaign in Texas was not immediately available for comment.

Clinton is making five stops in Texas Wednesday and Thursday, all in south Texas, where the Latino vote is looming large in the state's March 4 primary. Several key Latino political leaders incluidng U.S. Rep. Charles Gonzalez (D-San Antonio) have endorsed Clinton's primary opponent, Barack Obama. Gonzalez father, the late Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez, was the first Mexican American elected to the U.S. House and is a legendary figure among Texas Hispanics.

Fairfield U Hosting Ludacris Concert

Note: They just can't help it I guess. Each Jesuit college has to find a way to outdo the others in promoting anti-Catholic activities and pure cultural garbage. One Priest told me that the Jesuits are the "Catholic Church's idea of affirmative action." Seems they've become a joke even among clergy.

Jesuit Fairfield University Pays $85,500 for Concert by Offensive Rapper Ludacris

The Cardinal Newman Society has called on Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn., to cancel Friday's Ludacris concert, because the rap artist's profane, violent and sexually explicit lyrics are inconsistent with a Jesuit Catholic education.

"What makes a Catholic university unique is the moral formation and Christian education it provides to its students," wrote Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS), in a letter today to the president of Fairfield University, Jesuit Father Jeffrey von Arx. "There is no excuse for 'entertainment' on a Catholic campus that demeans women, celebrates promiscuity and promotes violence."

In its mission statement, Fairfield University claims to foster "ethical and religious values and a sense of social responsibility." Nevertheless, the university has promised a whopping $85,500 for to bring Ludacris to campus; despite a concert budget of only $33,000, the university hopes the remainder will be covered by ticket sales.

In 2002, following criticism by Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly, Pepsi dropped Ludacris from its advertisements with an apology noting that "not all [artists] are compatible with our brands and what consumers have come to expect from us." In 2006, talk show host Oprah Winfrey joined in the criticism of Ludacris for rap lyrics that "marginalize women."

"If Ludacris is not compatible with Pepsi's values and corporate image, why is he performing at a Catholic university?" Reilly asked. CNS has called upon Father von Arx to immediately cancel the production.

The concert will occur even as CNS urges Catholic colleges to cancel the lewd and offensive play The Vagina Monologues, scheduled to be performed on 19 Catholic campuses in February and March. This is the seventh year CNS has protested The Vagina Monologues on Catholic campuses, reducing the number of performances from a peak of 32 in 2003.

The Fairfield concert also comes just weeks before Pope Benedict XVI visits the United States, including an April 17 address to the presidents of all American Catholic colleges that many anticipate will repeat the Vatican's calls for the renewal of Catholic education.

Seminar moved because of Anti-Catholic Play at Notre Dame

Note: It is absolutely pathetic that this weak college president can't admit the obvious error and apostasy of his decision not to ban this gross and disgusting anti-Catholic activity. He should be removed by the decent and pius alumni and trustees and replaced with a Catholic who cares enough about young women and the entire student body to present decent activities that edify rtather than poison their faith. If you go to Notre Dame and are expecting a Catholic education you should know that Jenkins is trying to prevent that. He's an imposter.

Catholic bishops seminar won't meet at Notre Dame

Seminar moved because of 'Vagina Monologues.'

By MARGARET FOSMOE and CLAUDIA BAYLISS
Tribune Staff Writers

SOUTH BEND - A theological seminar for Roman Catholic bishops that had been scheduled for the University of Notre Dame will be moved off campus because of a planned performance of the play "The Vagina Monologues."

The Catholic bishops made the decision because they disagree with the university administration's decision to allow a student performance of the controversial play.

"Because of the likelihood of the presentation of the play 'The Vagina Monologues' at Notre Dame this year, the bishops made a collective decision to move the seminar off campus," the Most Rev. John M. D'Arcy, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, said today in a written statement. The bishop declined a request for an interview.

The seminar, which includes Notre Dame faculty speakers and is co-sponsored by the university's Institute for Church Life, had been scheduled for Monday through Wednesday on campus. Instead, it will be at the convent of the Sisters of St. Francis in Mishawaka.

Notre Dame spokesman Dennis Brown confirmed that the bishops moved the gathering off campus and that the decision was related to "The Vagina Monologues."

The university issued the following written statement:

"We understand that not all are in full agreement about the propriety of allowing performances of this play on a Catholic campus. Because of concerns about the play and its potential performance, we have worked collaboratively with the bishops to move the conference out of respect for everyone involved."

Notre Dame and the U.S. bishops have worked together constructively in the past, they are working together on this current meeting, and we are sure that our partnerships will continue in the future."

Brown said the Rev. John I. Jenkins, Notre Dame's president, is not available for an interview on this issue.

Notre Dame students are planning a March 26-28 production of "The Vagina Monologues" in a campus classroom. All such student events require an academic sponsor.

The departments of sociology and anthropology have tentatively agreed to co-sponsor the production.

The departments are awaiting a formal proposal from the student planners about academic panel discussions to coincide with the performances, said Mark Schurr, chair of the anthropology department. Once the proposal is presented and approved by the sponsoring departments, it also must be approved by the College of Arts & Letters.

The student planners could not be reached for comment."The Vagina Monologues," by playwright Eve Ensler, is a theater production that deals frankly with women's views on their bodies and sexuality. It is performed annually on hundreds of college campuses with the goal of raising awareness about sexual assault and domestic violence.

Notre Dame student productions of the play were performed annually on campus from 2002 to 2006, and an off-campus version was presented last year.

Jenkins two years ago considered banning "The Vagina Monologues" because he was troubled that the play's portrayal of sexuality opposes Catholic teachings. That prompted an extensive debate about Notre Dame's Catholic identity.

After listening to widespread campus discussion, Jenkins announced that a Catholic university has nothing to fear from engaging in topics of the wider culture.

He did not ban the play. However, performances must be in a classroom setting (not a theater), the production cannot be used to raise money for community groups and each show much include an academic panel discussion.

The Notre Dame board of trustees passed a resolution in 2006 expressing confidence in Jenkins and agreeing in principle with the policies he developed for evaluating campus events that touch on the university's Catholic identity.

D'Arcy has publicly criticized Notre Dame and Jenkins for allowing the play. In 2006, the bishop issued a nine-page pastoral response critiquing Jenkins' decision and his reasons for not banning the play.

The Committee on Doctrine has seven members: the Most Rev. William E. Lori, bishop of Bridgeport, chairman; the Most Rev. Leonard P. Blair, bishop of Toledo; the Most Rev. Jose H. Gomez, archbishop of San Antonio; the Most Rev. Robert J. McManus, bishop of Worcester; the Most Rev. Arthur J. Serratelli, bishop of Paterson, N.J.; the Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron, bishop of Oakland, Calif.; and the Most Rev. David A. Zubik, bishop of Pittsburgh.

The committee has several consultants, including John C. Cavadini, professor and chair of Notre Dame's theology department; and Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago. Cavadini could not be reached today for comment.Staff writer Margaret Fosmoe:mfosmoe@sbtinfo.com(574) 235-6329

193 Catholic Campuses Reject Vagina Monologues, But Georgetown and Others Go Ahead

Catholics urged to contact universities, asking them to cancel play

MANASSAS, VA, February 7, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In the seventh year of the Cardinal Newman Society's campaign to rid Catholic colleges of the obscene and offensive play The Vagina Monologues, 20 Catholic campuses will host the play in the weeks surrounding Saint Valentine's Day. The number of performances has declined annually from a peak of 32 in 2003.

"In the holy season of Lent and just weeks before the Holy Father visits the United States, these nominally Catholic colleges will shame themselves publicly in defiance of Catholic morals and basic civility," said Patrick J. Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society (CNS). Pope Benedict XVI will address the presidents of all American Catholic colleges on April 17, and he is likely to repeat the Vatican's calls for the reform of Catholic education.

"Most disturbing of all is the return of The Vagina Monologues to the University of Notre Dame," Reilly said. "In the absence of moral leadership, Notre Dame will again thumb its nose at Bishop D'Arcy, who has publicly condemned the play and chastised the university."

Fort Wayne Bishop John D'Arcy has complained that The Vagina Monologues is "offensive to women" and "antithetical to Catholic teaching." Last year the play was moved off Notre Dame's campus, but this year campus performances will be sponsored by the Anthropology and Sociology Departments. CNS has written to Bishop D'Arcy urging him to intervene.

In The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College, CNS refused to recommend Notre Dame, noting one professor's chilling comment that "a kid who is struggling with his faith will sink like a stone." But Newman Guide editor Joseph Esposito expressed hope that Notre Dame would strengthen its Catholic identity.

By contrast, 193 Catholic colleges in the United States will not participate in the annual "V-Day" college campaign, which occurs each year around Saint Valentine's Day.

"The nominally Catholic colleges that host this vile play are increasingly marginalized," Reilly said. "The progress is slow, but we're winning the fight against the Monologues."

More than half of the colleges hosting the play in 2008 are Jesuit, a fact with particular significance following recent statements by Pope Benedict XVI urging the Jesuits to fidelity and loyalty to the Church.

The Vagina Monologues is a sexually explicit and offensive play that favorably describes lesbian activity, group masturbation, and the reduction of sexuality to selfish pleasure. In one scene, the lesbian seduction of a teenage girl is described as the girl's "salvatio"" that "raised her into a kind of heaven."

CNS has contacted the president of each host college by mail, urging them to halt the play. CNS is also calling on its more than 20,000 members and other Catholics to convey their concerns about the Monologues to college presidents. The full list is below.

The following Catholic colleges and universities are hosting the lewd play The Vagina Monologues.

Bellarmine University
Dr. Joseph McGowan, President
president@bellarmine.edu

College of the Holy Cross
Fr. Michael McFarland, S.J., President
mmcfarla@holycross.edu

College of Mount Saint Vincent
Dr. Charles Flynn, Jr., President
charles.flynn@mountsaintvincent.edu

College of Saint Rose
Dr. R. Mark Sullivan, President
sullivam@strose.edu

DePaul University
Fr. Dennis Holtschneider, C.M., President
president@depaul.edu

Dominican University of California
Dr. Joseph Fink, President
jrf@dominican.edu

Fordham University
Fr. Joseph McShane, S.J., President
president@fordham.edu

Georgetown University
Dr. John DeGioia, President
president@georgetown.edu

John Carroll University
Fr. Edward Glynn, S.J., President
president@jcu.edu

Le Moyne College
Dr. John Smarrelli, Interim President
smarrelj@lemoyne.edu

Loyola Marymount University
Fr. Robert Lawton, S.J., President
rlawtonsj@lmu.edu

Loyola University Chicago
Fr. Michael Garanzini, S.J., President
mgaranz@luc.edu

Loyola University New Orleans
Fr. Kevin Wildes, S.J., President
wildesk@loyno.edu

Marygrove College
Dr. David Fike, President
dfike@marygrove.edu

Regis College
Dr. Mary Jane England, President
england@regiscollege.edu

Saint Louis University
Fr. Lawrence Biondi, S.J., President
biondi@slu.edu

Saint Mary's College of California
Br. Ronald Gallagher, President
brg@stmarys-ca.edu

University of Detroit Mercy
Fr. Gerard Stockhausen, S.J., President
gstock@udmercy.edu

University of Notre Dame
Fr. John Jenkins, C.S.C., President
jenkins.1@nd.edu

University of San Francisco
Fr. Stephen Privett, S.J., President
privett@usfca.edu

Archbishop Burke "Profoundly Saddened" at Catholic University Basketball Coach's Abortion Support

Note: The Archbishop is to be commended for using this incident as a teaching moment. Coach Majerus should be ashamed of himself but his is a will hardened against all natural reason. He is an apostate and a heretic. Indeed, Majerus attempts to marginalize Catholic teaching by confining them to the "opinion" of the bishop and then elevating his own opinion to that of the bishop. This is about the same as a slug claiming equivalence with a human. The president of SLU is the typically immasculine, let's all just get along type, who will only act when his job or college endowment is threatened. He has long ago forgotten his vows to Christ and looks more forward to retirement than to Heaven. He probably sees his inaction and indifference to the incident as elevating his stature in the eyes of his equally lukewarm peers.

Archbishop Burke "Profoundly Saddened" at Catholic University Basketball Coach's Abortion Support

By Hilary White

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, February 7, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Archbishop Raymond Burke of the St. Louis Archdiocese has expressed his "profound sadness" that a prominent sports coach at St. Louis University publicly expressed his support for abortion and destructive embryo research.

In an interview with the diocesan newspaper, the St. Louis Review, Archbishop Burke said, "At a time when in the Church we need to give such a strong witness to the dignity of human life and the Respect Life Apostolate, this counter witness is being given. I was very sad. Did it upset me? Yes, it did."

In January, Rick Majerus, the basketball coach at St. Louis University, a Jesuit institution, while voicing his support for Hillary Clinton's bid for the Democrat presidential nomination, also announced his support for legal abortion and embryo research. In response Archbishop Burke said he expected the school to discipline Majerus.

Burke told the St. Louis Review that the problem is one of "scandal", which in Catholic theological terminology means to "lead other people astray". He explained that his main concern is to "correct any perception" that it is possible to be at the same time a Catholic and in support of abortion or embryo research.

Speaking from the March for Life in Washington DC, Archbishop Burke said at the time that as a Catholic employee of a Catholic institution, Majerus was not free to "make statements which call into question the identity and mission of the Catholic Church."

Majerus, however, showed no remorse, telling media his "First Amendment right to free speech supersedes anything that the archbishop would order me to do".

"I'm respectful of the archbishop's position, but it's not going to change my mind. We're given free will and the right to vote for changes. I think religion should be inclusive," Majerus said.

But Archbishop Burke says Majerus was charged with a "sacred trust" as an employee of a Catholic university. Above all, the Archbishop said, "no Catholic institution could have its representatives espousing such positions. When people take a position at a Catholic institution, there's a certain sacred trust involved there."

The issue is not a political matter of freedom of speech, said Burke. "It's not a question of freedom of speech. Academic freedom is something quite different. It gives you a freedom to make declarations within your particular area of competence, and according to the canons (laws) for investigation of the truth. It doesn't give you a kind of heightened freedom to make declarations that are contrary to the truth."

Burke said that as a representative of a Catholic institution, someone who has views opposed to those of the Catholic Church has a duty to remain silent on the issues. "If there is a Catholic who for some reason is struggling with his or her adherence to this, then the correct thing to do is to be silent - certainly not to expound error or to air doubts that you're trying to resolve in your own mind. But to seek the help of a spiritual director to clarify these things."

Burke said that a person claiming to be a Catholic and making statements such as those made by Majerus in a public forum, "lead(s) other people astray with regard to what the Church teaches".

"You can lead astray Catholics, and you also can lead non-Catholics into error about what the Church teaches. And you even can influence them to do things that are gravely wrong. And this is what we call scandal: when you do something which leads other people into error or even into committing a sin."

"This is a very serious matter when a Catholic publicly espouses a position contrary to the faith."

St. Louis University has yet to make an official response to Archbishop Burke's concerns. A spokesman for the university, Jeff Fowler, at the time said only that Majerus' comments were not related to his role at the university. "Rick's comments were his own personal view. They were made at an event he did not attend as a university representative."

(Lack of) Moral Leadership of Presidents and Their Colleges

Moral Leadership of Presidents and Their Colleges

Roman Catholic colleges have an institutional responsibility to speak out and engage the wider world on social issues important in Catholic teachings, the Most Rev. Donald W. Wuerl, the Archbishop of Washington, said Monday in an address at the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities' annual meeting in the nation's capital. Not only should Catholic teachings be manifested in the classrooms and in expectations for student behavior, Archbishop Wuerl said, but, in addition, "A Catholic university should be an institutional voice for the very values, the very moral and ethical values, that the faith holds up." He cited, for instance, the church's positions on abortion, marriage and social justice.

But the leadership responsibilities of the institution - and the responsibilities of the institution's leaders - can take many different forms, as an earlier session Monday on the "Moral Voice of a President" made clear. In his remarks, Wuerl stressed recent pro-life rallies and events held at D.C. colleges as one example of an area where Catholic colleges can use their common "intellectual heritage" to engage the broader community.

Yet, beyond issues like opposition to abortion that are classically associated with the Catholic church, college presidents spoke of providing leadership on a wide variety of subjects - from expressing opposition to the war in Iraq, to providing shelter off-campus to an ex-priest accused of sexual molestation, to extending domestic partnership benefits to a Catholic college's faculty and staff. "For those of us who have the privilege of being presidents," said Anthony J. Cernera, president of Sacred Heart University, in Connecticut, "our moral voice is very, very important."

[Note: Someone should ask Mr. Cernera what moral guide he uses to determine that homosexual relationships deserve special recognition.]

Reflecting an increasingly important goal of solidarity among Catholic colleges internationally, presidents - including Cernera, now also head of the International Federation of Catholic Universities - discussed getting more involved in global issues. The Rev. Stephen A. Privett, president of the University of San Francisco, focused on poverty in particular, which he described as the most "glaring moral issue" in the world.

[Note: this will come as a surprise to Rev. Privett but abortion is also a global issue with the UN and EU declaring it a "human right". Has he spoken out about that? I doubt it.]

Father Privett also described engaging global issues locally, such as when he wrote an opinion piece for the San Francisco Chronicle in 2002 opposing the Iraq war. (In response to a question about getting the board to accept presidential openness on such issues, Father Privett responded that he'd involved his board chair, who he described as a pro-war Republican, in the process. Also in response to that question, Mary Jane England, a child psychiatrist long involved with health care issues and now president of Regis College, in Massachusetts, described discussing her ability to openly speak out about issues relative to her expertise as part of initial contract negotiations).

In his remarks, San Francisco's Father Privett also described extending
partnership benefits to "legally domiciled adults," in line with the church's
teachings against discrimination (which of course stand in tension with its
disapproval of homosexual activity). Such a move could obviously be
controversial within the church itself and certainly in the public domain - as
was Cernera's decision to let a then-homeless ex-priest accused of sexual
misconduct stay at his second, privately owned home for a period of time.

The Sacred Heart president said he was able to predict the local newspaper headline before it appeared back in 2006 - "Defrocked Priest Housed by SHU President" - but that to him it was a no-brainer to extend a place to stay to a homeless friend. What was a private decision became a very public one, but of the 900 or so letters he said he received, nearly all praised the action as courageous (a description he dismisses as overblown given what he describes as the simplicity of the act of letting someone use an unused second home). "If there's a lesson to be learned from it, it is important that a person in a public role never lose their fundamental convictions," Cernera said in an interview. "Public people, they need to live how other people do, to live authentically."

In Archbishop Wuerl's talk, the archbishop faced a few tough questions from college leaders seeking better guidance from the church on other matters important to Catholics aside from abortion and marriage - again reflecting the wide variety of issues in which college leaders, and Catholic college leaders in particular, are engaged. Jacqueline Powers Doud, the president of Mount St. Mary's College, a women's college in Los Angeles, asked the archbishop about "vibrant" examples of potential leadership roles for women in the church. (The archbishop answered by describing the influence women can yield outside of ordination, citing the Catholic health care infrastructure primarily built by women as one example).

Another administrator pointed out that while colleges feel they have support from bishops when speaking out on views regarding the right to life, they don't feel the same support when it comes to confronting other social justice issues - like the death penalty, living wage issues, or the war in Iraq. To which the archbishop acknowledged that other issues are less clear-cut, but said that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop's recent document on "Faithful Citizenship" is one guide.

[Note: Perhaps if the college presidents did a better job bringing clarity to the Church's teaching on human sexuality, here reduced to anti-abortion, they'd be getting more support on other issues. Polls consistently show that students graduating from these so-called Catholic colleges attend Mass, less and hold fewer beliefs than their couterparts graduating from secular colleges. Statements in this article give many clues why.]

— Elizabeth Redden