Posted on 02/13/2009 12:54:43 AM PST by Zakeet
Some Boston College professors and students are raising a holy ruckus over the Catholic school’s return to its religious roots by hanging crucifixes in all its classrooms, calling the move “offensive” and a break from the Jesuit tradition of tolerance.
“There is no choice if you don’t think it’s appropriate. You can’t turn it around,” said biology professor Dan Kirschner, faculty adviser for BC’s chapter of Hillel, a Jewish student group. “I think it is being insensitive to the people of other faith traditions here.”
[Snip]
In an interview with the college newspaper, The Observer, which broke the story, [Head of BC Chemistry Department] Hoveyda described the crucifixes as “offensive” and the university’s actions as “anti-intellectual.”
“I can hardly imagine a more effective way to denigrate the faculty of an educational institution,” he is quoted as saying. “The insult is particularly scathing, since such symbols were installed without discussion . . . in a disturbingly surreptitious manner.”
BC spokesman Jack Dunn said college President Rev. William P. Leahy decided to install crucifixes in the university’s 151 classrooms as a means of reconnecting the school with its “Catholic mission.”
“As a Catholic university, we view the crucifix as a sacred symbol and its placement reflects our commitment to our religious heritage. We hope that those who do not share our faith tradition can respect our intentions,” he said.
{Snip]
Sophomore Alex LoVerde, 20, believes a crucifix “pushes the Catholic religion” and does not belong in a classroom. “I think the Jesuit tradition is more of openness and tolerance,” LoVerde said. “I think that an overt display of crucifixes is not what the Jesuits would have had in mind.”
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bostonherald.com ...
It is offensive, intolerant and denigrating for Jesuits to place small crucifixes in the classrooms of schools they own and operate.
Go somewhere else if you don’t like it.
Why are you at a Catholic University if you're going to complain about it being ... Catholic?
The sight of the crucified Theanthropos is indeed offensive to The Evil One and his Legion.
A Crucifix in a CATHOLIC Classroom is Offensive... HEY ALL YOU ANTI CHRISTIAN BIGOTS ... we’ve had enough, we not hiding from anything anymore..
So I guess this will be your LAST SEMESTER THERE??
GOOD!!
“I think that an overt display of crucifixes is not what the Jesuits would have had in mind.””
Apparently, it’s exactly what they have in mind.
Imagine that! A Catholic college displaying Catholic symbols. These marxist professors trying force the removal of God in a Catholic university. Amazing how liberals are so utterly stupid and arrogant!
> calling the move “offensive” and a break from the Jesuit tradition of tolerance.
I have met a couple of Jesuits in my time. I would have described them as many things, including intelligent and articulate and courteous. “Tolerant” would not have been something I would have accused them of being, tho’. They weren’t bigots, but they did not have very much wiggle-room available in their beliefs.
And if the Jesuits want to put up the crucifix in their own Boston College, I cannot see why anyone should object. Those that do ought to leave.
(I guess that sounds pretty intolerant of me, ay. That’s proabably why I’m not a Jesuit yet)
Vampires HATE crucifixes..... ;)
Surely you are aware that in this day and time tolerance applies to anything but Christianity and it’s symbols. With apologies to the good BC folks, some of the comments by the faculty border on idiotic. It is a Catholic school, what do they expect, the star and crescent?
Well, Marxist professors would react to the crucifixes in the manner of vampires...
you betcha...
A far more disturbing charge is being “anti-intellectual”.
That is something I find particularly insensitive and insulting. The implications is that faith and intellect are two things that are incompatible.
Some interesting excerpts:
“Dunn said many BC classrooms and lecture halls already displayed crucifixes and religious icons, such as images of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus. But over winter recess, crosses were put in some 40 rooms - including science labs - sparking the backlash.”
“The display of crucifixes - some of them hand-carved works brought back by students from volunteer missions overseas - is an outgrowth of the college’s Committee on Christian Art, formed in 2002 to promote Christian artworks on campus.”
“Many students agreed. Boston College welcomes students, faculty and staff from all religious persuasions with welcome arms,” said senior Patrick Fouhy, 21. “But at the end of the day, we are still a Jesuit, Catholic university and that is a core part of our identity. Putting crucifixes up is a nice reminder of that.”
So...
-Religious displays had been acceptable for years, without incident. This latest move just added displays to the remaining classrooms and labs(thus diffusing the argument this was a radical move out of the blue).
-The project is to promote the arts (I wonder if the Chemistry prof and student would be complaining about religious anti-intellectualism if it was a picture of Bob Maplethorpe’s “P*ss Christ” hanging up instead of a genuine crucifix).
-Like nearly all religious-affiliated schools, BC has a known and open commitment to the faith it was founded on (thus making it extra-stupid for anyone to whine about religion on the BC campus).
Bah and Feh on these protestors.
I love the fact that Jesus is cleaning house......
That tolerance door swings both ways, Catholic school, Catholic rules. Tolerate it!
What a stupid comment. Who is this punk kid to start talking about what the Jesuits would have had in mind?
The Jesuits started teaching missions as missions. They are catholics. The crucifix is a symbol of their religion, and I imagine no jesuit has a problem with it!
Boston College should just say that the crosses are to raise questions and start a dialog about something.
“anti-intellectual”
It is insulting. But, the truth of the matter is that for many on the left and in the universities the two are incompatible. I am a Christian, I also subscribe somewhat to Darwin’s theory on evolution.(Please,no flames!) However, if you, as a matter of faith differ, then that means only that we differ. To suggest you have no intellect because of your faith is pure ignorance on my part. Sadly, especially in a lot of our institutions, there is no room for debate. And without honest, vigorous debate our knowledge and faith both suffer. JMHO.
No one is forcing either the students or professors to remain. If they can’t stand the sight of a cross, then they need to remove themselves from this school.
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