Dear Vice President Vellaccio,
I am most upset by an article published in today's Washington Post by one Mathew N. Schmalz who claims to be a "Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross ". The article, which may be found at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/post/what-kind-of-catholic-is-newt-gingrich/2011/12/14/gIQAvKC2tO_blog.html is the most cynical, un-Christian, bigoted piece of writing I can imagine, It beggars belief that such an article could be written by a person who, apparently, holds a position of responsibility at a Jesuit institution of higher learning.
It is, of course, Mr. Schmalz's right to publish whatever he likes. However, his use of credentials from Holy Cross cast a very bad light on the College, for which I previously had had great respect. If this is the sort of politically biased, cynical attitude being adopted by your faculty, I wonder at how you can refer to yourself as a Catholic Institution at all!
I hope you will publically disavow these comments and prevent further damage to Holy Cross by insisting, in the future, Mr. Schmalz not rely on his connection with Holy Cross as a credential in his personal writing.
His email is: fvellacc@holycross.edu
VERY nicely stated. A good email.
Great letter. Let us know if you receive any results about it.