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Cancelled GLBT Dance Challenges BC's Focus
The Heights (Boston College ) ^ | 12/5/05 | Editorial Staff

Posted on 12/06/2005 7:54:26 AM PST by marshmallow

The Issue: BC denies GLBT dance due to conflict with the church

What we think: BC should follow Jesuit values, not Catholic doctrine

The battle for equality on campus has been a long and arduous one. Last semester, the Rally for Equality showcased not only how far the campaign for equal rights has come, but also how important this cause is to a large portion of the Boston College community.

The cancellation of a GLBT "safe zone" dance by the administration last week has only done damage to this crucial campaign. While some may see the University's decision as insignificant, for many it is an issue of great importance, and one that may have grave consequences in the quest for equal rights on BC's campus.

Though there are many potential motives for the cancellation, the University has made it clear that this decision was based primarily on BC's role as a Catholic university, and the seeming implications that follow that. A statement by Jack Dunn, University spokesman, said that BC "cannot sanction an event that is exclusive and that promotes a lifestyle that is in conflict with church teaching and the Jesuit, Catholic mission and heritage of Boston College."

This decision was not made by the church, but by the administration. Office of the Dean for Student Development (ODSD) and Student Affairs concluded that this dance was against the Catholic and Jesuit ideals of BC. The decision by the University was not, however, a breach of the somewhat misleading non-discrimination policy conceived just last year, which actually provides little protection in regard to discrimination based on sexual orientation.

As much as people might want to place the blame solely on the University, there is a central issue beyond simply the actions of the administration that must be addressed: the church and BC's relationship to it.

Church doctrine is certainly important to many Catholics, and it is especially so for University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., and BC as a Catholic university. BC's Catholic tradition is not something to be taken lightly, as it defines the college as a premier university and an institution that educates men and women not simply through book knowledge, but through service and hands-on experience in the community.

The Vatican recently released a statement saying that it "cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called 'gay culture.'" Though some support the report, that announcement has caused quite a stir and much anger among supporters of homosexual rights.

Because it has long been a goal of BC's to be not only one of the country's top universities, but also the premier Catholic university in America, it would seem not only logical, but required that the University should abide by these doctrines.

But the problem isn't that simple.

The question at this point is whether BC is willing to sacrifice its Jesuit ideals of compassion and understanding in order to stay in the good graces of the Vatican. In a message titled "Answering society's call" on the BC Web site, Leahy said that "Boston College endeavors to educate a new generation of leaders for the new millennium - men and women who will be capable of shaping a new century with vision, justice, and charity - with a sense of calling, with concern for all of the human family."

Certainly justice, charity, and a "concern for all of the human family" are not consistent with banning GLBT students from holding a dance as an AIDS Awareness Week fundraiser simply because of their sexual orientation.

Whatever the ultimate goal is, BC sits at a crossroads. On the one hand, it can remain devout to each and every doctrine of the church, even if that means treating members of the aforementioned "human family" as if they are something less than that. On the other hand it can educate students in the values of tolerance and understanding that seem to get lost far too often.

BC is an incredible institution because it remains faithful to the Jesuit ideals of "men and women for others" and social justice for the greater glory of God - not because it follows church doctrine to the letter.

BC's rise in national prominence has been fast and significant, but the University can go much farther. As BC aspires to become one of the top universities in the country - and steps have certainly been made to do so - it has a choice to make. Regardless of varying views on homosexuality, every BC student wants their BC diploma to mean more 20 years down the line as BC becomes an even more respected university.

But will that be possible if a school that claims to espouse the values of a man who accepted prostitutes as his equals cannot give the same respect to gays, lesbians, and bisexuals?

The answer will become clear as BC decides what path to take.


TOPICS: Activism; Apologetics; Catholic; Current Events; General Discusssion; Ministry/Outreach; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: bostoncollege; catholicschools; highereducation; homosexualagenda
What we think: BC should follow Jesuit values, not Catholic doctrine

As the author blithely acknowledges, there is a difference between the two. As many of us have known for some time.

Unfortunately.

Too funny.

1 posted on 12/06/2005 7:54:26 AM PST by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

AIDS awareness as the reason to hold a dance? I think we are all aware of AIDS at the moment. Sorry, let 'em find some secular place for their dance, this has no place on a Catholic campus.


2 posted on 12/06/2005 8:09:17 AM PST by NRA1995 (Jesus is the reason for the season)
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To: marshmallow

Dennis Prager said it well. Liberals want equality. They dont care how we get there. They dont care who it is. If many have to suffer for a few, we must have equality at all costs. Let us be miserable together.


3 posted on 12/06/2005 8:11:31 AM PST by stocksthatgoup (Polls = Proof that when the MSM want your opinion it will give it to you.)
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To: marshmallow

Dennis Prager said it well. Liberals want equality. They dont care how we get there. They dont care who it is. If many have to suffer for a few, we must have equality at all costs. Let us be miserable together.


4 posted on 12/06/2005 8:11:37 AM PST by stocksthatgoup (Polls = Proof that when the MSM want your opinion it will give it to you.)
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To: marshmallow

That sounds like a declaration that the Jesuits are not part of the Catholic church...

If that is so, why don't they finalize the schism and just leave?


5 posted on 12/06/2005 8:12:26 AM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: marshmallow
The cancellation of a GLBT "safe zone" dance by the administration last week has only done damage to this crucial campaign.

Why it's almost as damaging as the time the canceled the "cheaters ball" dance for adultery awareness week and the "veritas?" conference during "truth is oppressive" month. What a load.

6 posted on 12/06/2005 8:25:21 AM PST by conservonator (Pray for those suffering)
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To: marshmallow
...even if that means treating members of the aforementioned "human family" as if they are something less than that.

They're treating themselves as something less than human. They behave as animals whose sexual desire is out of control, and as if they are in heat.

7 posted on 12/06/2005 8:53:02 AM PST by Clock King ("How will it end?" - Emperor; "In Fire." - Kosh)
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To: Clock King

exactly, they are behaving like lusting animals in heat. The -human family- is dependent on reproduction to exist , a thing the LGBT community is unable to do.


8 posted on 12/06/2005 9:03:19 AM PST by OrangeBlossomSpecial (The RATS followed the lazy tune of the pied-piper's flute and were never seen again.)
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To: Antoninus

Alumnus SPONG!


9 posted on 12/06/2005 9:16:56 AM PST by Claud
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To: marshmallow

I think cancelling this dance will help decrease AIDS.


10 posted on 12/06/2005 9:19:11 AM PST by Diago (http://www.margaretsanger.blogspot.com)
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To: StPatricksBreastplate

ping


11 posted on 12/06/2005 9:19:31 AM PST by Diago (http://www.margaretsanger.blogspot.com)
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To: marshmallow
But will that be possible if a school that claims to espouse the values of a man who accepted prostitutes as his equals cannot give the same respect to gays, lesbians, and bisexuals?

Would that be equal in His humanity or equal in His divinity?

Idiot.

12 posted on 12/06/2005 9:19:49 AM PST by Claud
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To: marshmallow
>Cancelled GLBT Dance ...
>>"But will that be possible if a school that claims to espouse the values of a man who accepted prostitutes as his equals cannot give the same respect to gays, lesbians, and bisexuals?"

Hey, they are dissing
the transgendered! Then mentioned
"G," "L," "B," not "T"!

13 posted on 12/06/2005 9:25:05 AM PST by theFIRMbss
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To: marshmallow

"Regardless of varying views on homosexuality, every BC student wants their BC diploma to mean more 20 years down the line as BC becomes an even more respected university."

Stuff morality and the teaching of the Church...we just want to make more money!!!

Proof, if any were needed, that no man can serve two masters. For these people, if money, status, and reputation in the eyes of the world are at stake, then they lose all sense of principle and morality - if they ever had any in the first place.

If this person were really concerned about the future of humanity, he would be advocating the cure of these poor sick creatures, not celebrating their depravity and perversions.


14 posted on 12/06/2005 9:40:18 AM PST by Tantumergo
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To: marshmallow
The question at this point is whether BC is willing to sacrifice its Jesuit ideals of compassion and understanding in order to stay in the good graces of the Vatican.

What sort of mental midgets is BC producing? Oh, that's right, this is the same school that was allowing the lezbos on campus to use a chapel for their meetings when I was there 15 years ago. And lest they be offended by the image of Christ crucified on the wall, they hung a lesbo t-shirt over Him.

BC needs to either dissociate itself from the Church, or start expelling idiots like the writer of this article for extreme moral turpitude (not to mention, horrible reasoning, and lousy writing skills).
15 posted on 12/06/2005 12:05:05 PM PST by Antoninus (Hillary smiles every time a Freeper trashes Rick Santorum)
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To: marshmallow; Claud
As a BC alum, here's my reaction, as posted to my blog.

Regarding the recent decision of the Boston College administration to cancel a homosexual dance on campus, it's fairly clear that this is not an indication of any rediscovered love or respect of authentic Catholic teaching at that benighted "Catholic" university. Rather, it is more likely an attempt at putting on a good face at a time when the Vatican-sponsored apostolic visitation of American seminaries is underway. The BC administration is no doubt afraid of drawing any undue attention to itself during this time when the Vatican is attempting to rip out the homosexual influence from Catholic institutions root and branch. Where love and respect are lacking, fear is an acceptable substitute.

But back to the subject at hand, the above-linked editorial from the BC campus newspaper deserves a heavy dose of refutation. They wrote:

"The question at this point is whether BC is willing to sacrifice its Jesuit ideals of compassion and understanding in order to stay in the good graces of the Vatican."

From this statement, it is clear to me that no one is bothering to teach the Catechism of the Catholic Church at BC these days. Nor, obviously, is anyone teaching the life of St. Ignatius or a history of the Jesuit order in general.

If the editors had taken any of these courses, they would know that there are supposed to be no points of contradiction between the teachings of the Catholic Church and the "ideals" of the Jesuit order. Where such points of conflict exist, the latter is supposed to give way to the former, as lies give way to Truth. If certain Jesuits insist on holding fast to "ideals" which contradict those teachings of the Church deemed to be infallible, then those individuals have separated themselves from the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

And where, exactly, do the editors get their definition of the "ideals" of the Jesuits? Here's a quote from the original Jesuit, St. Ignatius Loyola. I would encourage BC students to read it and then tell me where, exactly, Ignatius is making "compassion and understanding" of heresy an "ideal" of the Jesuits:

"The heretics have made their false theology popular and presented it in a way that is within the capacity of the common people. They preach it to the people and teach it in the schools, and scatter pamphlets that can be bought and understood by many; they influence people by their writings when they cannot reach them by preaching. Their success is largely due to the negligence of those who should have shown some interest, and the bad example and the ignorance of Catholics, especially the clergy, have made such ravages in the vineyard of the Lord. Hence it would seem that our Society should use the following means to end and cure the evils which the Church has suffered through these heretics."

Ignatius then gives suggestions for his Jesuits to fight the heresies then raging in 16th century Spain. Students at BC might be surprised (given the dreadful amount of anti-Catholic propaganda that masquerades as history filtering into classrooms at ostensibly Catholic universities) that Ignatius didn't suggest violence, censorship, or any form of legal coersion. Instead, Ignatius argued that heresy was best fought by learned men and clergy teaching solid catechesis in universities which were unwaveringly loyal to Catholic doctrine.

The letter, in its entirety, may be read here: http://www.georgetown.edu/centers/woodstock/ignatius/letter34.htm

That is the TRUE Jesuit ideal from the primary Jesuit. "Compassion and understanding" are to be used to help the erring heretic see the light of Truth, not to confirm him in his error or enable her to imagine herself as righteous in the eyes of Almighty God while continuing to wallow in grotesquely sinful behavior. There is absolutely no compassion in enabling sin, nor is there understanding in condoning the propagation of vile behaviors.

Therefore, I applaud the BC administration for their cancellation of this supremely unCatholic event. I pray that the administration will continue to be similarly courageous in the future, and I ask St. Isaac Jogues to pray for them as they attempt to withstand the furious outcry which will no doubt be soon forthcoming from the usual suspects.
16 posted on 12/06/2005 1:50:46 PM PST by Antoninus (Hillary smiles every time a Freeper trashes Rick Santorum)
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To: Antoninus

EXCELLENT post!!!


17 posted on 12/06/2005 2:18:05 PM PST by Claud
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To: marshmallow
Because it has long been a goal of BC's to be not only one of the country's top universities, but also the premier Catholic university in America, it would seem not only logical, but required that the University should abide by these doctrines.

But the problem isn't that simple.

Speaking as a Protestant evangelical who's older son graduated from the Catholic University of Portland, home of the NCAA Women's soccer Champions:

Yes, it is that simple.

18 posted on 12/06/2005 2:19:36 PM PST by connectthedots
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To: theFIRMbss

Absurdly, of course, one who identifies oneself as Bisexual is insisting on having multiple sex partners. What's so "safe" about that? What Jesuit value does "planned promiscuity" support?


19 posted on 12/06/2005 8:19:17 PM PST by dangus
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To: Antoninus
And of course, BC conducted what amounted to a canonization of the BC alumna who was shot at her job as a receptionist at an abortion clinic. I believe her funeral Mass was on campus. Or was it just a memorial service that they held on campus? Anyway, it was huge, and everyone who was anyone on campus was there.
20 posted on 02/28/2007 7:42:05 PM PST by Arthur McGowan
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