Posted on 05/23/2003 7:00:23 AM PDT by marshmallow
A Roman Catholic cardinal seen as a top contender to succeed Pope John Paul II has sparked student and faculty protests at Georgetown University with a remark he made about homosexuals in a commencement speech.
A letter protesting against the speech by Cardinal Francis Arinze was signed by about 70 faculty members at the Jesuit university and delivered on Wednesday to Dr Jane McAuliffe, dean of the university's school of arts and sciences.
Dr McAuliffe, a specialist in Islamic studies, invited Cardinal Arinze - president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue - to speak on Christian-Muslim relations at the school's graduation ceremonies last Saturday.
Instead, the Nigerian prelate told the graduates that happiness was found not in the pursuit of material wealth or pleasures of the flesh, but by fervently adhering to religious beliefs.
Cardinal Arinze then spoke of the importance of family to the Roman Catholic Church.
"In many parts of the world, the family is under siege," Cardinal Arinze said. "It is opposed by an anti-life mentality as is seen in contraception, abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. It is scorned and banalised by pornography, desecrated by fornication and adultery, mocked by homosexuality, sabotaged by irregular unions and cut in two by divorce."
Theresa Sanders, a professor of theology at the university, protested by leaving the stage where Cardinal Arinze was speaking. Other students upset with the comments also left, according to emails on a subscription list used by many of the university's gay and lesbian students.
Ed Ingebretsen, a professor of English at Georgetown and a priest in the American Catholic Church, said on Wednesday that Cardinal Arinze's remarks were in line with Catholic doctrine, but nonetheless seemed out of place at the commencement ceremony.
"These things are exactly what he's paid to say," Professor Ingebretsen said. "[But] it's a graduation; why he decided to do the pro-family thing no one seems to know."
Professor Ingebretsen said he was compelled, as a writer, to post a short apology on the email subscription list "on behalf of Catholics" for Cardinal Arinze's "insensitive remarks", which he termed "un-Christian".
Dr McAuliffe issued a two-sentence statement acknowledging that she had been contacted by several students and faculty "to express their reaction, both negative and positive" to the address. "As an academic community, vigorous and open discussion lies at the heart of what we do, and there are many different voices in the conversation."
Cardinal Arinze, 70, is widely mentioned as a candidate to succeed John Paul II, which would make him the first African Catholic pope.
He ascended through the ranks of the church's hierarchy in Africa, where Catholicism is flourishing. He was called by John Paul II in 1984 to work in the Vatican.
When I hear of these walk-outs and revolts I'm always reminded of the Gospel passage which describes the reaction of some of Jesus' so-called disciples after hearing some of his "hard sayings." They ceased to follow him any more.
Obviously the digestive system of many at Georgetown is unused to red meat. It's become somewhat weak and dysfunctional due to the meagre, watered-down diet of heresy and modernism which is constantly served up to them. Real food gives them indigestion.
Well said. Bttt.
These people need to get a life - and quit looking for something to be offended about.
The Jebbies are up to their old tricks.
Ed Ingebretsen, a professor of English at Georgetown and a priest in the American Catholic Church, said on Wednesday that Cardinal Arinze's remarks were in line with Catholic doctrine, but nonetheless seemed out of place at the commencement ceremony. Professor Ingebretsen said he was compelled, as a writer, to post a short apology on the email subscription list "on behalf of Catholics" for Cardinal Arinze's "insensitive remarks", which he termed "un-Christian".
Even though I'm not Catholic, I support the Cardinal in the comments he made in whatever venue he made them.
Whats ironic is these people never complain against the fundimenataist Muslem movement.
So who is this "Professor of Theology" broad who was so offended and walked off the stage? I'll bet taking a paycheck from the Catholic university doesn't offend her.
"Paging Cardinal Ratzinger...smack down needed in aisle 5."
Of course! He's an alumnus! That fact alone speaks volumes about Georgetown's moral compass, eh?
Good point!
I hope her knickers twisted so tightly they cut off the circulation to her near empty head.
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