Catholic Colleges Honor Those who Condone: Abortion, Homosexuality and Cloning

FALLS CHURCH, VA - A national Catholic organization has called on American Catholics to protest 17 inappropriate commencement speakers and awardees at 14 Catholic colleges and universities.

"Despite the U.S. bishops' clear call for reform of Catholic higher education, it seems that a significant minority of Catholic college leaders simply aren't listening," complained Patrick Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society, a national organization seeking the renewal of Catholic identity at Catholic colleges and universities. "Several of this year's speakers and awardees are inappropriate and their presence at Catholic institutions is scandalous."

BOSTON COLLEGE (MA): Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, Chairwoman of the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, will receive an honorary degree on May 20. The MacArthur Foundation's Population and Reproductive Health grant program is a leading contributor to radical and anti-Catholic organizations advocating abortion, contraception and population control. (Protest: Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., President, William P. Leahy,(617-552-3250.)

BOSTON COLLEGE LAW SCHOOL (MA): Ambassador to Canada and former Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci will speak on May 24. While governor, Cellucci was a determined advocate of abortion rights. (Protest: Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., President, Willaim P.Leahy, S.J., (617-552-3250.)

COLLEGE OF NEW ROCHELLE (NY): Mary O'Connor Donohue, pro-abortion Lieutenant Governor of New York, will speak on May 23. (Protest: Dr. Stephen J. Sweeny, President, College of New Rochelle, 914-654-5000.)

COLLEGE OF ST. CATHERINE (MN): Pro-abortion U.S. Rep. Betty McCullom (D-MN), who has opposed legislation to ban cloning of human embryos, will speak on May 19. (Sr. Andrea H. Lee, IHM, President, Andrea H. Lee, IHM, (651-690-6525.)

COLLEGE OF ST. ROSE (NY): Frank Rhodes, president emeritus of Cornell University, spoke on May 11. In 1987, Rhodes publicly welcomed dissident theologian Charles Curran to teach at Cornell in the midst of Curran's high-profile battle with the Catholic University of America (DC), which eventually fired him for dissent from Church teaching on contraception, divorce and homosexual activity. His honorary degree from St. Rose is hardly appropriate when Catholic educators are striving to implement Ex corde Ecclesiae, the 1990 apostolic constitution on Catholic higher education. (Protest: Dr. R. Mark Sullivan, President, 518-454-5120.)

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF FOREIGN SERVICE (DC): U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will speak on May 18. Pelosi is a dissident Catholic politician with a pro-abortion voting record, including her vote against a ban on partial-birth abortion. (Protest: Dr. John DiGioia, President, Dr. John DiGioia, President, (202-687-4134.)

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW (DC): Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and District of Columbia Mayor Anthony Williams will speak on May 18. Both are public advocates of abortion rights and homosexual rights, and therefore inappropriate despite their commendable leadership on September 11. (Protest: Dr. John DiGioia, President, Dr. John DiGioia,President, (202-687-4134.)

LE MOYNE COLLEGE (NY): Chief Judge Judith Kaye of the New York State Court of Appeals will speak on May 19. In 1998, Kaye wrote the court's ruling that individuals and not the state have the right to determine the fate of frozen embryos, which are not "persons". The ruling prevented a woman from impregnating herself against her divorced husband's wishes and thereby saving her offspring from being destroyed. In 1995, Kaye superseded New York law and wrote the court's ruling that homosexual and unmarried partners may adopt children. (Protest: Rev. Charles J. Beirne, S.J., President, Rev. Charles J. Beirne, S.J. President, (315-445-4100.)

LOURDES COLLEGE (OH): U.S. Rep. Nancy Kaptur (D-OH) will speak and receive and honorary degree on May 18. Kaptur's voting record on abortion is mixed, often earning about a 50 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee and including many votes in support of abortion rights. (Protest: Dr. George C. Matthews, President, Dr. George C. Matthews, President, (419-824-3809.)

LOYOLA COLLEGE (MD): Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell will speak on May 18. Mitchell authored the Freedom of Choice Act and consistently voted the pro-abortion position. (Protest: Rev. Harold Ridley, S.J., President, Rev. Harold Ridley, S.J. President, (410-617-2201.)

MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY (PA): Yolanda King, daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke on May 12. King is an activist for special rights for homosexuals, including efforts to change the United Methodist Church's prohibition on same-sex marriages and ordination of sexually active homosexuals (positions similar to Catholic teachings). (Protest: Sr. Mary Reap, I.H.M., President, Sr. Mary Reap, I.H.M., President, (570-348-6231.)

MOUNT ST. MARY'S COLLEGE (CA): Leon Panetta, former chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, spoke on May 11. Panetta publicly supported Clinton's position on abortion, including partial-birth abortion. During his previous tenure as a U.S. Congressman from California, Panetta had a pro-abortion voting record and co-sponsored the Freedom of Choice Act in 1990. (Protest: Dr. Jacqueline Powers Doud, President, 310-954-4011.) Panetta also serves on the board of trustees of Santa Clara University (CA), a Jesuit university. The SCU Law Alumni Association will confer its Achievement Award on Panetta on May 17. (Protest: Rev. Paul L. Locatelli, S.J., President, Rev. Paul L. Locatelli, S.J., President, (408-554-4023.)

NOTRE DAME COLLEGE (OH): Pro-abortion U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH) spoke on May 11. (Protest: Dr. Anne L. Deming, President, 216-373-5200.)

SAINT MICHAEL'S COLLEGE (VT): Barbara Snelling received an honorary degree on May 12. The pro-abortion politician is a former Lieutenant Governor of Vermont and state senator. (Protest: Dr. Marc A. vander Heyden, President, 802-654-2000.)

STONEHILL COLLEGE (MA): Paul G. Kirk, Jr., former Democratic National Chairman and abortion-rights advocate, will speak on May 19. (Protest: Rev. Mark T. Cregan, C.S.C., President, Rev. Mark T. Cregan, C.S.C., President, (508-565-1000.)

WHEELING JESUIT UNIVERSITY (WV): Robert Wise, pro-abortion Governor of West Virginia, will speak on May 18. While a U.S. Congressman from West Virginia, Wise helped defeat a ban on partial-birth abortion. (Protest: Rev. George F. Lundy, S.J., President, 800-624-6992.)

Dear Pro-Life Friends,

Too often, we who are struggling to defend pre-born children have yielded
to a sense of inevitability, as if we were destined to lose this battle.
This sense of inevitability leads to inaction and thus a self-fulfilling
prophecy and babies continue to die. In my opinion, Christians have not
fought and lost the pro-life battle. Progress has been slow because not
enough of us have fought. Some of those who profess to be Catholics or
Catholic institutions have even acted as counter-witnesses to the Gospel of
Life.

Perhaps, at times, we ourselves have been observers rather than
participants. Maybe we thought others were fighting the battle for life
and we could simply cheer from the sidelines. But this can't be said for
most of you. You've raised your voice in defense of the unborn. Some of you
have been at this for years at the cost of great personal sacrifice. You're
in this struggle for the long term and you're not just a summer time
soldier, who quits when he doesn't see instant progress. You 're not in
this just to put up a good fight. You expect to win this battle eventually
or at least, by your efforts, to set the stage for the next generation to
win the battle to protect pre-born children.

Many of you are like the members of the Underground Railroad who brought
slaves to freedom, even though the government did not respect their rights
and even leaders of churches owned slaves and defended slavery. You are
witnessing to the truth and saving lives, even though abortion remains
legal. The work of the Underground Railroad eventually brought a change in
the law. One day your work will too.

You prayed or maybe you called, wrote a letter or forwarded an email to a
friend. Your prayers and efforts have not been in vain. Bureaucrats, who
make their living by working for the Church, may think of you as a
nuisance. You probably won't be receiving any honorary degrees from
Catholic colleges, (maybe you'll get them posthumously), but you have made
a difference and your reward will be great in heaven. (cf.Mat. 25,34)

Here are just a few of positive things that have happened recently, many of
which would not have happened without you:

#1. On April 1, 2002, I sent an email about the Director of Counseling at
Catholic Charities in Dorchester, MA who was also an escort at Planned
Parenthood. Mass News first reported on this on February 20, 2002:
http://www.massnews.com/22002pp.htm Charities and the
Archdiocese of Boston claim and Mass News is reporting (May17,2002) that
Howard Brown has now been terminated. See the story "Howard Brown Abortion
Worker No Longer Employed by [Boston]Catholic Charities" on the following
link: http://www.massnews.com/2002_editions/05_May/051702_mn_brown.shtml

A special debt of gratitude is owed to the pro-lifers in Massachusetts who
picketed [Boston]Catholic Charities:
http://www.massnews.com/2002_editions/05_May/050702_mn_brown.shtml

Thank you also to Judie Brown, the President of the American Life League
http://www.all.org, for alerting pro-life activists all around the country
about this outrage.

#2. Congratulations to all the pro-lifers who for years prayed and picketed
at the abortion mill misnamed the "Women's Medical Pavilion" in Dobbs
Ferry, NY. It is now closed. See:
http://www.news12.com/CDA/Articles/Transcript/0,2871,11-11-40169-34,00.html

#3. On January 16, 2002 I sent my pro-life friends in New Jersey an email
about a Town Hall meeting with Governor James McGreevey, an "abortion
rights" advocate, on January 22, 2002, the 29th anniversary of the Roe vs.
Wade decision. On Friday, January 19, 2002 McGreevey called Msgr. Robert
Sheeran, the President of Seton Hall to back out because of your protests.

See 'ABORTION UPROAR SCUTTLES MCGREEVEY'S 'TOWN HALL':
http://www.cpanj.com/capitalreportpages/mcgreeveywatch/january2002/ABORTION%20UPROAR%20SCUTTLES%20MCGREEVEY'S.htm

Also see this report form Associated Press: New Jersey governor moves
abortion speech from Seton Hall:
http://www.nando.net/politics/story/223849p-2157209c.html

# 4. On May 11 we a partial victory, of sorts, when St. Francis Hospital in
Trenton, NJ did not give the "Spirit of St. Francis Award" to the
pro-abortion extremist - Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, as they
originally intended. Instead they gave the award to Shiloh Baptist Church.
The Assemblywoman's late father was the Pastor of this church. Shiloh
Baptist Church is a regular campaign stop for pro-abortion politicians.

#5. On Monday May 8 and May 13, I sent out emails to my New Jersey list
about S-185. This bill would have required insurers to provide prescription
coverage for contraceptives. Pro-abortion Senator, and candidate for
governor, Diane Allen is the Co-Sponsor of this bill. Because of the calls
of pro-life people from New Jersey. This bill failed to get enough votes
and is currently stalled. Keep praying. A number of amendments are being
considered to this bill. I will keep my New Jersey list informed of any
developments.

#6. Don't forget that, in the year 2000, you helped to defeat the Evil
Algore, Lover of Trees and Enemy of Pre-Born Children. Thank you Our Lady
of Guadalupe for your intercession! Glory be to God!

(The tale of the largely unheralded "Knights Who Say Algore" can now be
told. The Knights are a semi-secret organization who helped to defeat the
former Vice President of the United States through humor. I was their Grand
Knight. Grand Lady Norma McCorvey-Roe No More http://www.roenomore.org ,
my Second in Command, and chosen successor in the case of my untimely
demise, has asked me to consider putting the Knights back on full alert
status as the Evil Algore may try to run for President again. Please
contact me if you would like to become a Knight. To be a Knight you must
simply be pro-life, pledge to oppose Algore, and spell his name "Algore"
instead of "Al Gore" whenever possible.)

#7. Congratulations to my friends Chris and Sue Brennan on the birth of
their son Joseph Michael Brennan! (Unless you are Chris or Sue, you
didn't have much to do with this one :-), but it's something to be joyful
about!) As Carl Sandburg once said "A baby is God's opinion that life
should go on."

I have one action item for you today. Don't forget to contact your United
States Senators and ask them to ban all human cloning. A vote on this is
expected in the Senate any day. This link to the National Right to Life
Committee has information about the human cloning bills currently before
the Senate and how to contact your Senators: http://www.nrlc.orgDon't be
fooled! Only the Brownback-Landrieu bill (S.1899) completely bans human
cloning.

Keep praying! Remember that some devils can only be cast out by prayer and
fasting. (Mat. 17,21) Keep up the struggle ! (Ora et Labora.) Don't
accept defeat as inevitable. You are making a difference! There will be
much greater victories in the future.

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Peter West

P.S. Scott Johnston from Priests For Life www.priestsforlife.org http://www.priestsforlife.org just sent
me this cool link. Check it out! It's artwork based on images of babies in
the womb. What a great way to foster a culture of life!

Some of these Colleges and Universities are run by Jesuits; need I say more? Please FREEP (They are not all e-mails, kindly make the phone calls too if you can) these College Presidents, they need to know what they are doing is wrong and that people are out there watching them regarding their actions and inactions. We lose a lot of kids once they go to college, can we blame them with leaders like these people?

What are you saying...that the people who oppose the people on this list are wrong? OR that allowing the people on the list to speak is wrong.

Also, what do you mean by this:
...are run by Jesuits; need I say more?

Jesuit institutions are notoriously liberal. My son is at a Jesuit highschool, and they do provide an excellent education. However politically they are very liberal and my son has gotten into many heated discussions with his teachers, as he is a conservative--he takes after his Mom :)

Why wasn't THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME (my alma mater) mentioned? This year's commencement speaker was TIM RUSSERT, a pro-abortion democrate. The following is the University's news release:

Tim Russert, moderator of "Meet the Press" and the Washington bureau chief of NBC News, will deliver the principal address at the University of Notre Dame's 157th Commencement exercises May 19 (Sunday) . . . "Tim Russert has been on our list of potential Commencement speakers for some time and, though we didn't anticipate having him join us in this way, we're delighted and grateful that he will serve as our speaker and receive an honorary doctor of laws degree," said Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C., Notre Dame's president.

There are 2 good e-mail addresses:

• The President, Fr. Monk Malloy: Malloy.5@nd.edu

• The widely-read University magazine: ndmag.1@nd.edu

For those interested in the best book on the secularization of religious colleges, including Catholic and Fundamentalist, see: "The Dying of the Light: The Disengagement of Colleges and Universities from Their Christian Churches" by James T. Burtchaell, C.S.C.

This is an entertaining read. Father Burtchaell is the most articulate of English-speaking Catholic theologians, and he was a former provost of Notre Dame.

I went to a Jesuit college....but never ran into anything liberal.....

If you'd like to read a very detailed (and humorous) account of how very far BOSTON COLLEGE and other Jesuit Universities have traveled down the secular road, read the Boston College Chapter in the afformentioned "Dying of the Light" by James Burtchaell.

Unfortunately for this NOTRE DAME alum, Notre Dame has gone even farther down that dreary road.

Regretfully, being a 'Catholic' college means absolutely nothing in many cases. Being acceptable to society is much more important to the 'leaders' of these colleges than being acceptable to God (if indeed they even believe in God). Parents should not make the mistake of believing the the imprimatur "Catholic" means that any particular institution has anything to do with true Catholic religious beliefs. Just the same way the parents should not believe that their teenage sons are in safe hands when in close quarters with a Catholic priest. It would be far more honest (if such a quality exists in the Catholic Church today) to recognize reality and secularize officially these universities.

My brother-in-law is the dean of a law school at a Catholic University. He was visiting this weekend and I asked him about reigning in heterodox Catholic Universities.

He laughed. "That would be like closing the barn door after the horses have escaped. Something should have been done twenty years ago. I'm the only dean at the college who even checks to see whether professorial candidates are practicing Catholics."

I said, "Well, why don't they at least take the name 'Catholic' off of the university."

"You know what? No one would even care."

If we are alumni of any of these Catholic Colleges, it is time to notify them that:
as of today 7-08-02, we, as alumni, will withold all funds and donations as long as said college continues to sponsor pro-death and anti-Catholic values and venues.

The people you refer to may not necessarily be hypocrites, but perhaps they have matured over the years. Forgiveness is the hallmark of Christianity...every one sins in some fashion, but can repent and be forgiven and start anew. This is why I believe that Christianity is the ultimate freedom.

I am a Notre Dame graduate. N.D. died long ago. It is sad but once the school turned over control to a lay board it lost its' character and it's moral bearings.

Most Catholic institutions of higher educrtion are in worse condition. Many of the the all girls schools, for example, are just havens for lesbians....look at what they extoll in their English classes as excellent literature for example.."Bastard out of Carolina"... Wonderful!

Parents just have to exercise command and send their children to good private schools.

Don't have the money...? Get rid of your cars payments and walk...And no more fine vacations.JUST DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO SAVE YOUR CHILD.

but can repent and be forgiven and start anew.

You mean become a virgin again?

This is why I believe that Christianity is the ultimat freedom.

I guess you're right.

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