Catholic
Colleges Scandalize
at Commencement
When the bishops voted on Ex Corde Ecclesiae at their Fall meeting, they sent a clear message that Catholic universities have an obligation to uphold the faith. Sadly, some have turned a deaf ear to the shepherds, shown by their selection of commencement speakers. In a review of fifty-seven Catholic colleges the Newman Society, a Catholic higher education advocacy group, identified fourteen "inappropriate" speakers. A list follows.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan (proabortion, pro-population control) —Notre Dame.
Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera (pro-abortion and gay rights voting record as CA assemblyman —St. Mary's U., San Antonio, TX.
Chairman of U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Ida Castro (former pro-abortion lobbyist) —St. Joseph College, West Hartford, CT.
President Children's Defense Fund, Marie W. Edelman (promotes school health clinics providing contraception and abortion) —Duquesne U., Pittsburgh, PA.
U.S. Ambassador to Italy Thomas Foglietta (pro-abortion voting record as PA Congressman) —Cabrini College, Radnor, PA.
Retired NJ Supreme Court judge Marie Garibaldi (expanded "right to die") —St. Peter's College, Jersey City.
Medical Editor for ABC News, Timothy Johnson (public support for abortion including "morning after pill") —Holy Cross College, Worcester. MA.
U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, (pro-abortion record) —St. Michael's College, Colchester, VT.
Author and Editor of Newsday, Anthony Morro (anti-Catholic, pro-abortion bias of paper) —College of St. Joseph, Rutland, VT.
Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, D-Maine (proabortion) —Merrimack College, North Andover, MA.
Former U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, D-Wisconsin (propopulation control) —Marquette U., Milwaukee, WI.
U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno (supports and enforces laws targeting pro-life demonstrators) —Wheeling Jesuit U., Wheeling, WV.
Columnist and history professor Gary Wills (attacks Church teaching on abortion, contraception, and priestly celibacy) —Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL.
Actor & producer Henry Winkler (publicly pro-abortion) —Loyola Marymount U., Los Angeles, CA.
The Executive Director of the Newman Society, Patrick Reilly called the situation "tragic," saying, "These colleges have stabbed the backs of the Catholic bishops. Last November, the bishops issued very reasonable guidelines for Catholic higher education after working closely with college leaders, who assured the bishops of their fidelity. But now a few colleges go and invite commencement speakers who undermine our Catholic beliefs."
We encourage readers, particularly alumni, to express your concern to these Catholic colleges and universities.