Catholic Higher Education Alert -- 3/17/2005

It's not the typical issue for Cardinal Newman Society, but there is no doubt that ending the legal assault on religious values and practice -- whether by the ACLU, by activist judges, or by attorneys who advise Catholic institutions to moderate their image for the sake of government funds -- is essential to the project of revitalizing our religious institutions. We are proud to be a part of an historic event on April 7-8, which will launch an ecumenical crusade to end the secular bias in America's judiciary. We invite you to get involved! See
www.stopactivistjudges.org.

CNS PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS 'JUDICIAL WAR ON FAITH'

Cardinal Newman Society president Patrick Reilly will speak at the important conference "Confronting the Judicial War on Faith" on April 7-8 in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the Judeo-Christian Coalition for Constitutional Restoration, the conference's speakers include prominent religious activists like former Vatican Ambassador Ray Flynn, formerpresidential candidate Alan Keyes, Dr. Rick Scarborough and Don Feder of
Vision America, Mike Farris of the Home School Legal Defense Association, Phyllis Schlafly of the Eagle Forum, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council and Alveda King. Public officials will also speak, including House Majority Leader Tom De Lay, Sen. Sam Brownback and former Congressman Bill Dannemeyer. Please register for this historic gathering to defend America's Judeo-Christian heritage! For more information about the conference, see www.stopactivistjudges.org.
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CNS PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS CHICAGO CONFERENCE

Cardinal Newman Society president Patrick Reilly will address the Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation conference in Chicago on April 9. He will speak on "Fighting the Catholic Campus Wars: A Success Story." Other speakers include Rev. Don Woznicki on Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," Richard Thompson of the Thomas More Law Center on battling the ACLU, and Rev. Dr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk of the National Catholic Bioethics Center on human cloning. For more information about the conference, see www.mindszenty.org. Please join us!

BOSTON COLLEGE STUDENTS BACK PRO-GAY PETITION

In early March, nearly 84 percent of 4,053 Boston College students supported a statement urging the college to adopt a policy banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. The petition also earned the support of nearly 200 faculty and staff members. Boston College administrators are not required to act on the petition, and a spokesman has said that officials are opposed to adding sexual orientation to the school's policy, noting that it "could force us to take actions that are in conflict with our Catholic beliefs and values." The college deserves our support on this one!

CONTACT: Rev. William Leahy, S.J., President, Boston College, 18 Old
Colony Rd., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467; Phone: (617) 552-8000; Fax: (617)
552-4812; E-Mail: William.leahy.1@bc.edu

LT. GOV. HEALEY SPEAKS AT BOSTON COLLEGE

On February 22, Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kerry Healey spoke to students at Boston College about the role of women in politics in an event sponsored by the College Republicans. Healey has publicly stated that "the choice to have an abortion is a deeply personal one and that women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not the government." Boston College needs a speaker policy that respects human life and bans
speakers who publicly threaten it.

CONTACT: Rev. William Leahy, S.J., President, Boston College, 18 Old Colony Rd., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467; Phone: (617) 552-8000; Fax: (617) 552-4812; E-Mail: William.leahy.1@bc.edu

CABRINI HONORS PRO-ABORTION STATE SENATOR

Yesterday Cabrini College presented its annual Ivy Young Willis Award to Pennsylvania Senator Connie Williams, who also delivered a lecture on "Women's Rights: Human Rights," discussing how "women's issues" impact everyone. Williams has received favorable ratings from the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and NARAL Pro-Choice America for her support of abortion rights. In 2003, Williams reintroduced legislation that would prevent any health insurance policy that offers prescription coverage from excluding coverage for FDA-approved contraceptives and devices. While speaking at a rally for "contraceptive equality" Williams stated, "Contraception reduces rates of unintended pregnancy, improves women's health and well-being, reduces infant morbidity and mortality, and reduces the need for abortion." The award violates the U.S. bishops' ban on Catholic institutions honoring public opponents of fundamental Catholic beliefs.

CONTACT: Dr. Antoinette Iadarola, President, Cabrini College, 610 King of
Prussia Rd., Radnor, PA 19087; Phone: (610) 902-8200; E-mail: antoinette.iadarola@cabrini.edu

MCBRIEN SPEAKS AT CANISIUS COLLEGE

On March 1, dissident theologian Rev. Richard McBrien presented a lecture titled "The Catholic Church in the 21st Century" to students and faculty at Canisius College. The college news release touts McBrien as being "highly sought after by the national media for his opinions on Catholic issues." He is also mentioned as the author of the "classic" Catholicism. Hardly a "classic," Catholicism has been derided by the U.S. bishops conference as an unreliable guide to Catholic teaching that should not be used in theological instruction. The bishops have said that Catholicism reduces the Pope's and bishops' teaching to "just another voice alongside those of private theologians" and that it minimizes Catholic teachings and practice. Canisius needs to review the meaning of Catholic theology and find lecturers who practice it without complaint from the bishops.

CONTACT: Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., President, Canisius College, 2001 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14208; Phone: (716) 888-2100; E-mail: cookevm@canisius.edu

FORDHAM LAW ALUMNI HONOR FERRARO

On March 5, the Fordham Law Alumni Association awarded its "Medal of Achievement" to Geraldine Ferraro. Ferraro was a pro-abortion candidate for Vice President in 1984 and held a consistent pro-abortion voting record as a Congresswoman from New York from 1978-1984. The award violates the U.S. bishops' ban on Catholic institutions honoring public opponents of fundamental Catholic beliefs. Fordham University should
publicly rebuke the alumni association and remind them of Catholic teaching on abortion.

CONTACT: Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., President, Fordham University, 441 E. Fordham Rd., Bronx, NY 10458; Phone: (718) 817-3000; Fax: (718) 817-3005

GEORGETOWN PROVOST DENIES HISTORY OF PAPACY

In "A Tale of Two Administrators," an article posted today by University of Colorado at Boulder scholar E. Christian Kopff on The American Spectator website (http://www.americanprowler.com/dsp_article.asp?art_id=7905#), Kopff reveals that Georgetown University's new provost has publicly questioned the Church's accepted history of the papacy, thereby undermining the authority of the Bishop of Rome. James O'Donnell, in his final speech as president of the American Philological Association in January 2004, sought to debunk the traditional study of classics and history with statements including the following:

"The 'papacy' was created as a kind of avatar of Roman religious authority chiefly in the fifth and sixth centuries and spawned its own authorized narrative, the Liber pontificalis. to legitimate the line back to Peter. The pseudo-Clementine Recognitiones purport to tell the story of the first pope Clement, who met and knew Peter while still in the east and eventually succeeded him in Rome. The account hasn't a prayer of being true, but it was as influential as only a historical novel can be in shaping consciousness and reassuring the uncertain."

Kopff, however, cites the facts: Peter, made head of the Church by Christ, was martyred in Rome. His successor Clement's letter to the Corinthians shows that the authority of the Bishop of Rome was recognized in the first century A.D.-- later reaffirmed during the theological debates of the fourth century.

O'Donnell, now provost of a university chartered by the Vatican, has essentially accused the Church of lying about the Pope's authority.

Kopff also claims that Tom Lindsay, now provost at Seton Hall University and former provost at the University of Dallas, ran into trouble when seeking the same post at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia because of his affiliation with the conservative National Association of Scholars and his criticisms of affirmative action. Could it be that someday these schools will proclaim a politically correct mission instead of a Catholic one?

CONTACT: Dr. John DeGioia, President, Georgetown University, 37th & O Sts. NW, Washington, DC 20057; Phone: (202) 687-4134; E-mail: president@georgetown.edu

CONTACT: Rev. Timothy Lannon, S.J., President, Saint Joseph's University, 5600 City Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19131; Phone: (610) 660-1200; E-Mail: tlannon@sju.edu

LE MOYNE BARS POLITICALLY INCORRECT STUDENT

Le Moyne College student Scott McConnell has not been allowed to continue his studies in the Master of Science for Teachers program after administrators disagreed with his views on classroom management.

McConnell was conditionally accepted to the program for the summer and spring semesters, but was prevented from registering this spring because of the program director's "grave concerns regarding the mismatch between
your personal beliefs regarding teaching and learning and the Le Moyne College program goals." McConnell's offense? In his "Classroom Management Plan," he opposed multiculturalism, advocated teaching respect instead of self-esteem, and proposed firm discipline for his students, including corporal punishment when legal and with parental involvement. The paper earned a grade of A-minus but got McConnell dismissed from the college. In a statement to The American Spectator, Le Moyne argued that it must consider whether "students subscribe to the values of the College's mission" and to the values of the teaching profession, including "treating all students with respect and dignity, and creating learning environments that nurture self-confidence in the context of diversity." Could Le Moyne be more serious about "the College's mission" than about students' freedom to explore ideas in the classroom? Maybe next they will expel every "pro-choice" student for opposing Catholic teaching, or sexually active students for not treating their peers "with respect and dignity"? Not a chance. We'd love more attention to renewing Le Moyne's Catholic mission, but in this case, they have it entirely wrong.

CONTACT: Rev. Charles Beirne, S.J., President, Le Moyne College, Mitchell Hall 105, 1419 Salt Springs Rd., Syracuse, NY 13214; Phone: (315) 445-4120; E-mail: beirnecj@lemoyne.edu

U. DAYTON EXHIBIT MOCKS MARY'S VIRGINITY

From February 22 through March 11, the University of Dayton Art Department hosted Derek Cracco's controversial art display depicting the Blessed Mother amid images of prostitutes, pornography and firearms. In interpreting his exhibit, Cracco told the Dayton Daily News that "by working too hard to create a 'sexless' Mary, the Church achieved just the opposite; it 'hypersexualized' itself." Cracco hopes to make the point that Mary "was a normal person with normal desires, not good or bad." University provost Fred Pestello tried to defend the exhibit as "an opportunity for UD, as a major Catholic university, to take the lead and provide interpretation of the exhibit and ask tough questions in a public forum." One wonders if the "tough questions" got nearly the attention and promotion that Cracco's anti-Catholic message received.

CONTACT: Daniel J. Curran, President, University of Dayton, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469-1624; Phone (937) 229-4122; Email: president@notes.udayton.edu

U. NOTRE DAME HOSTS GAY AWARENESS WEEK

During the first week of March, the University of Notre Dame hosted its first Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Questioning (GLBQ) Awareness Week. The week was sponsored by the Senate Diversity Committee, and according to organizer Chris Vierig, was initiated as a "first step toward greater tolerance and respect for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in the university and the community." Another organizer noted that "the administration, by allowing this week and the gay film festival, seems to be open to encouraging discourse about this issue." As part of the week's events, local performer Bradley Bogaert spoke his struggles as a gay man. According to the university's newspaper, the Observer, several audience members seemed offended by parts of his talk, including discussions about drug and alcohol use, gay bashing, prostitution and pornography. Others questioned his choice to call on audience members to ask about their sexual orientation. Other events included students wearing orange shirts to support gay students on campus, a viewing of the film "In and Out", a
play about the murder of gay college student Matthew Sheppard, and (yes!) a discussion of homosexuality within a Catholic context. Once again, Notre Dame needs to appeal to students' maturity and put a stop to this
nonsense.

CONTACT: Rev. Edward Malloy, C.S.C., President, University of Notre Dame, 400C Main Building, Notre Dame, IN 46556; Phone: (574) 631-3903; Fax: (574) 631-7428; malloy.5@nd.edu

Hillary Clinton honored at a Catholic college? A pro-abortion ex-governor? A dissident nun? It's commencement time, and we need you to act right away! (WARNING: There are more to come.)

============================
THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2005
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Marymount Manhattan, St. Xavier, Seattle U. Officials Defy Bishops' Ban on Honors for Public Dissidents

-- Sen. Hillary Clinton Tops Protest List --

Three Catholic colleges have invited public dissidents on fundamental Catholic teaching to deliver commencement addresses this spring, publicly defying the U.S. bishops who forbade such honors in a statement last June.

* Marymount Manhattan College has invited pro-abortion Sen. Hillary Clinton to deliver its commencement address and receive an honorary doctoral degree on May 20.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, to Give Commencement Address at "Catholic" Marymount Manhattan College in NYC

Sen. Clinton has consistently supported legalized abortion, speaking at gatherings of abortion-rights advocates and voting against a ban on partial-birth abortion. She also has advocated expanding embryonic stem
cell research and has declared contraception "basic health care for women." During a January 2005 speech to New York State "family planning providers," in which Clinton was widely reported as softening her stance
on abortion, Clinton in fact began by repeating her firm commitment to keeping abortion legal: "I am so pleased to be here two days after the 32nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision that struck a blow
for freedom and equality for women. Today Roe is in more jeopardy than ever, and I look forward to working with all of you as we fight to defend it in the coming years."

CONTACT: Dr. Judson R. Shaver, President, Marymount Manhattan College, 221 E. 71st St., New York, NY 10021; Phone: (212) 517-0430; E-mail: jshaver@mmm.edu, contactus@archny.org

* Saint Xavier University in Chicago has invited dissident theologian Sr. Margaret Farley to deliver its commencement address on May 21.

Farley, who teaches Christian ethics at Yale University Divinity School, is one of the United States' most outspoken dissenters from Catholic teaching on sexual morality and human life. Farley has argued for the
morality of cloning and destruction of human embryos in stem cell research, even claiming such actions are consistent with Catholic teaching despite the clear opposition of the Vatican and the U.S. bishops. Farley
has signed a public statement urging President Bush to support embryonic stem cell research. Her argument -- that the embryo prior to implantation in the uterus may not be a "person" -- allows for early abortion. Farley
signed a 1984 "Catholics for a Free Choice" statement published in the New York Times, defending Catholics who support abortion rights. She has also attacked Catholic teaching on sexual ethics, asserting that homosexuality is not disordered, homosexual and heterosexual relations that are not open to procreation can be ethical, and homosexual "marriage" should be allowed. Farley has misled Catholics and caused scandal by claiming support for her arguments within Catholic teaching despite her clear dissent from the Vatican and the bishops.

CONTACT: Dr. Judith Dwyer, President, Saint Xavier University, 3700 W.103rd St., Chicago, IL 60655; Phone: (773) 298-3309; E-mail: jadwyer@sxu.edu

* The Jesuits' Seattle University has invited pro-abortion Gov. Gary Locke of Washington State to deliver its commencement address and receive an honorary doctoral degree on June 13.

Pro-Abortion Washington Gov. Gary Locke to speak at Jesuits’ Seattle University

"The integrity and compassion that underlie [Locke's] accomplishments exemplify the values of Seattle University," announced University president Rev. Stephen Sundborg, S.J., in a University press release.

Integrity and compassion? "We must be vigilant in protecting against the political erosion of the right to choose [abortion]," Locke said in a January 2004 press conference celebrating the 31st anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, also declaring that "reproductive choice is critical to women's rights." As governor from 1997 through January 2005, Locke opposed legislation to ban partial-birth abortion and notify parents when girls seek abortions. He directed the Public Employee Benefits Board to provide benefits to same-sex partners of state employees, giving homosexuals effective parity with married couples. He fought to the U.S. Supreme Court to defend a state law that denies scholarships to college students majoring in theological studies -- a law deemed "discriminatory" by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

CONTACT: Rev. Stephen Sundborg, S.J., President, Seattle University, P.O. Box 222000, Seattle, WA 98122-1090; Phone: (206) 296-1891; E-Mail: sundborg@seattleu.edu, christinet@seattlearch.org

"We are blowing the whistle on these and any other Catholic colleges that blatantly disrespect the bishops by defying their clear command and teaching," Patrick Reilly, President of the Cardinal Newman Society (CNS),
a national organization dedicated to the renewal of Catholic identity at America's 220 Catholic colleges and universities, told media reporters. "After decades of scandal at secularizing colleges, last June the bishops
drew a line in the sand. No college that deliberately crosses that line deserves the label 'Catholic' or the support of the faithful -- most especially monetary support."

In June 2004 by a near-unanimous vote, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the statement "Catholics in Political Life" including the following mandate:

"The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their
actions."

CNS has written the college presidents, urging them to immediately cancel the honorary degrees and commencement addresses "in order to restore fidelity to your college's Catholic mission, obedience to your bishop and public trust in your commitment to not lead astray your college's students, its employees and the general public."

CNS has also written the colleges' local bishops suggesting "immediate action to prevent scandal" in their dioceses. CNS asked the bishops to consider advising the colleges privately to withdraw the commencement
invitations, but also cautioned against waiting until it is too late to inform the public that the invitations are in direct conflict with the U.S. bishops' June statement and the Church's expectations for Catholic colleges, as presented in the 1990 apostolic constitution for Catholic higher education, Ex Corde Ecclesiae.

The bishops' June statement was heavily influenced by Cardinal Newman Society's annual protest against inappropriate commencement speakers and honorees at Catholic colleges and universities -- now in its seventh year. Last year, CNS protested 25 speakers and honorees at one in nine U.S. institutions. Just weeks prior to the bishops' June meeting, CNS also released a special report, "The Culture of Death on Catholic Campuses: A
Five-Year Review," documenting nearly 200 incidents of speakers and honorees who vocally opposed Catholic teaching on abortion, euthanasia and
contraception.

In December 2003, CNS wrote a letter to all the U.S. bishops urging them to consider diocesan policies banning inappropriate speakers and honorees at Catholic institutions.

"While sanctions against pro-abortion politicians are welcome, we urge you to implement diocesan policies that forbid all public advocates of legal abortion -- regardless of whether they are Catholics or politicians --
from speaking at Catholic facilities or receiving Catholic honors," CNS wrote to the bishops on December 9, 2003. "This can be more easily enforced on Church-owned property, but it can also set an expectation for
legally independent colleges and other Catholic services and organizations useful when determining their right to use the label 'Catholic' -- in the case of colleges and universities, according to the guidelines established
by Ex Corde Ecclesiae."

"We are monitoring the commencement speakers and honorees at all 220 Catholic colleges and universities in the U.S.," Reilly warned, "and we will fight with bulldog tenacity to oppose any college president who
chooses to embarrass his or her bishop. Our purpose is to restore Catholic identity where it has diminished, but if it has finally come to the point when a bishop must declare a college non-Catholic, he can rely on the support of our 16,000-plus members and many more grateful parents nationwide."

CNS points to precedent for such action. Three historically Catholic colleges have been declared no longer Catholic by their local bishops since Ex Corde Ecclesiae was issued in 1990. They include Nazareth
College and St. John Fisher College, both in Rochester, New York, and Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. The latter college was singled out by CNS in 2003 for inviting pro-abortion New York Attorney General
Eliot Spitzer to deliver a commencement address. Cardinal Edward Egan of New York, already well aware of Marist's long path of secularization, resolved the issue definitively by declaring Marist "no longer Catholic."

Last year, Marymount Manhattan College also hosted Spitzer as a commencement speaker with no apparent consequence, despite a CNS protest. Spitzer, a fervent advocate for abortion rights since becoming New York
State Attorney General in 1988, has received campaign donations and get-out-the-vote support from NARAL Pro-Choice America and other pro-abortion organizations. One of Spitzer's first actions as Attorney General was to seek an injunction against a coalition of pro-life groups. He later filed papers in federal court labeling abortion clinic protesters "nuisances" and demanding 60-foot buffer zones around clinics, a restriction on free speech for which he was rebuked by an appellate court. In 2002, Spitzer investigated 10 crisis pregnancy centers claiming their pro-life services were deceptive to women seeking abortions. He created his office's first Reproductive Rights Unit to intimidate pro-life activists.

"Last year Spitzer, this year Hillary Clinton," Reilly told reporters. "Can anyone trust this college's claim to a Catholic mission? They seem to have tried their hardest to honor the Church's opponents in the fight against abortion, and now they publicly brush aside the bishops' clear expectations. We trust there will be consequences from the bishops, but lay Catholics also need to stand up and confront this scandal."

"Pope John Paul II has been laid to rest, but his legacy continues to be desecrated by heretics and public dissenters in 'religious studies' departments, campus entertainment like the offensive 'Vagina Monologues'
and college officials who fail to uphold their colleges' Catholic mission," Reilly said. "The time to implement the Holy Father's Ex Corde Ecclesiae is now, not later. Which class of students will finally be liberated from false teaching and fraudulent institutions? For how many more years do we abandon our young adults?"

"Catholic Higher Education Alert" is a free service of the Cardinal Newman Society to supplement the Society's quarterly newsletter, "MISSION". To receive "MISSION" and other mailings from the Cardinal Newman Society, send a donation of $25 or more to the address below.

Cardinal Newman Society
10562 Associates Court
Manassas, VA 20109
Phone (703) 367-0333
info@cardinalnewmansociety.org
http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org

The Cardinal Newman Society is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization listed in the Official Catholic Directory.

Two updates on Sen. Hillary Clinton's planned commencement speech and honorary degree at Marymount Manhattan College on May 20. Briefly, 1) the FOX News interview tonight has been bumped, and 2) Marymount Manhattan College is most definitely Catholic, at least officially! Don't let them fool you!

1. We previously alerted you that Cardinal Newman Society President Patrick Reilly would be interviewed by FOX News about the Clinton event and other inappropriate honors by Catholic colleges on Saturday and again today. The interview Saturday on "Heartland with John Kasich" did occur and gave our effort great exposure. The interview tonight on "The O'Reilly Factor" has been bumped because of a sudden new development in the Lundsford case in Florida. We will notify you when the interview is rescheduled, as we are told is very likely.

2. Marymount Manhattan College is confusing protesters about its official status as a Catholic institution. The fact that its website presents a highly secularized college -- an accurate portrayal -- seems to confirm the College's claims that it is not Catholic. At least officially, THIS IS NOT TRUE!!

In fact, the College IS OFFICIALLY CATHOLIC and this has been confirmed by the Archdiocese of New York -- but thanks to your continued protests, we are confident that Cardinal Egan will be taking steps to correct the confusion VERY SOON.

PLEASE DO NOT STOP YOUR PROTESTS. INDEED, NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL SEND A CLEAR SIGNAL TO ALL WAYWARD CATHOLIC COLLEGES!

In a similar situation in 2003, Cardinal Newman Society protested the very pro-abortion commencement speaker, NY Attorney General Elliott Spitzer, at Marist College. Because of Marist's long history of secularization, Cardinal Egan officially declared Marist NO LONGER CATHOLIC. This can happen again, and in the case of Marymount Manhattan College, it should.

In communications with Cardinal Newman Society today, the Archdiocese of New York formally confirmed that Marymount Manhattan College is currently recognized as a Catholic institution by Cardinal Edward Egan. Not only has the College's listing in the Official Catholic Directory been approved EACH YEAR by the Cardinal of New York, but someone at Marymount Manhattan College -- probably in the President's office -- must confirm EACH YEAR that the College desired to be included in the Directory. The Directory is the public notification that certain institutions are officially considered to be Catholic, requiring the approval of their local bishop or the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

So why are College employees telling protesters that the College is not Catholic and has not been since the 1960s? Possibly because the employees are confused, but probably also because they want our protest to stop. TELL THEM YOU WON'T STOP PROTESTING UNTIL THE COLLEGE DROPS ITS OFFICIAL STATUS AS CATHOLIC OR CANCELS HILLARY CLINTON'S ADDRESS AND HONORARY DEGREE -- AND THE LATTER WOULD BE MORE RESPECTFUL TO THE NUNS WHO FOUNDED THE COLLEGE, THE CATHOLICS WHO FUNDED THE COLLEGE FOR DECADES, AND THE CATHOLICS WHO ATTENDED AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE COLLEGE!

Here is the history of Marymount Manhattan College in a nutshell: It was originally a downtown branch of Marymount College of Tarrytown, New York, which was founded in 1907 by a women's order, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary. In 1961, Marymount Manhattan College became legally "independent" from its Tarrytown parent and from its founding religious order. Indeed, in the 1960s and 1970s, every Catholic college in the State of New York took similar action to become legally independent of the Church -- but this in no way signaled the colleges' secularization, even if the colleges did slowly secularize in the decades that followed. The legal changes were primarily a response to discriminatory New York State laws that significantly restrict state funding for institutions deemed to have a primarily religious function. This led schools like Fordham University to remove crucifixes from classroom walls and separately incorporate their founding religious communities, all the while holding on to some sort of Catholic identity.

When Marymount Manhattan College's trustees and officials decided to abandon the College's Catholic mission is unclear, but the College has thoroughly secularized. It is likely soon to be declared officially non-Catholic by the Archdiocese of New York -- the right decision if the College has no intention of being Catholic, but NOT a happy development if one respects the College's founders and those Catholics who built the institution over many decades. Marymount Manhattan College's current trustees and officials are traitors to the Church and to their own institution's founding mission.

We hope this clarifies an understandably confusing situation. Please remember that this confusion -- and the hypocrisy of colleges that want to appear both Catholic and non-Catholic, depending on the audience -- are exactly the reason Cardinal Newman Society exists. When our protest results in the resolution of one more college's Catholic identity, as we feel confident it will, please remember Cardinal Newman Society with a special prayer and, if possible, a very special donation (see www.cardinalnewmansociety.org for contact information). Most importantly, thank God for yet another sign of the new springtime of the Church, proclaimed by Pope John Paul II and sure to happen under Pope Benedict XVI!

Sen. Hillary Clinton, to Give Commencement Address at "Catholic" Marymount Manhattan College in NYC

Office of the President
Marymount Manhattan College
221 East 71st Street
New York, NY 10021
(212) 517-0560

Judson R. Shaver, Ph.D.
President jshaver@mmm.edu

Archdiocese of New York
1011 First Avenue
New York NY 10022-4134
212-371-1000 e-mail: contactus@archny.org

	Marymount Manhattan College (click for press release) Commencement speaker & honorary degree: Sen. Hillary Clinton CONTACT: Dr. Judson R. Shaver, President Marymount Manhattan College, 221 E. 71st St., New York, NY 10021 Phone: (212) 517-0430 E-mail: jshaver@mmm.edu
	Saint Xavier University (click for press release) Commencement speaker: Sr. Margaret Farley CONTACT: Dr. Judith Dwyer, President Saint Xavier University, 3700 W. 103rd St., Chicago, IL 60655 Phone: (773) 298-3309 E-mail: jadwyer@sxu.edu
	Seattle University (click for press release) Commencement speaker & honorary degree: former Gov. Gary Locke CONTACT: Rev. Stephen Sundborg, S.J., President Seattle University, P.O. Box 222000, Seattle, WA 98122-1090 Phone: (206) 296-1891 E-Mail: sundborg@seattleu.edu

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