44 profs at Catholic university demand school apologize for screening pro-life film Unplanned

LifeSite News ^ | January 17, 2020 | Anthony Murdoch

[ebb tide]

44 profs at Catholic university demand school apologize for screening pro-life film Unplanned

The school's principal responded by saying the college 'does not have an official position on abortion.'

LONDON, Ontario, January 17, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Forty-four faculty members from a Catholic university in Canada have demanded the school apologize for allowing campus ministry to show the wildly successful pro-life film “Unplanned.”

“Unplanned” is a movie about the life of former Texas Planned Parenthood center manager Abby Johnson and recounts how she quit her job in 2009 after having a conversion and renouncing abortion. Its debut across Canada, as well as the United States and worldwide, was met with protests, including two Canadian cinema owners receiving death threats, as reported by LifeSiteNews here.  

The film was screened at King’s University College on January 9. 

The demand for an apology came in a letter from faculty members this past Wednesday and was addressed to college Principal David Malloy. It described what the faculty called the “furor and fear” expressed by the school community over the fact that the pro-life film was screened on campus. 

"The public endorsement of an anti-abortion stance at King's University College by the Director of Campus Ministry is of great concern to the viability of our institution as we work to recruit and maintain excellent students, staff and faculty," the letter stated. 

In response, Malloy said the school “does not have any official position on abortion,” despite the fact that it claims to be a Catholic institution. 

In his statement, Malloy makes clear that King’s official position (but not that of its campus ministry) is indifferent and, ultimately, not full supportive of the pro-life cause. 

“The presentation of the film and the belief of life beginning at conception is the stance of Campus Ministry and not of King’s as a whole. King’s employees, faculty and students do not need to prescribe to the tenets of the Catholic Church. King’s does not have a position on abortion,” said Malloy in his statement. Read in full here. 

LifeSiteNews reached out to Diocese of London Bishop Ronald P. Fabbro but had not received a response. LifeSiteNews inquired why a Catholic post-secondary institution associated with the diocese is not pro-life and does not follow Church teaching about the grave evil of abortion.  

Despite not receiving a response from the Diocese of London, LifeSiteNews did receive an email comment from Fr. Michael Bechard, pastor and chaplain for King’s University Campus Ministry. 

“Campus Ministry, supports without reservation, the sanctity of life from conception until natural death," he said. "The movie screening last week was part of the Veritas Series for Faith and Culture and was attended by students, staff and members of the broader community.  Following the film, we had a challenging but necessary conversation where individuals with varying points of view were allowed the opportunity to express their thoughts on the movie and on the complex realities surrounding abortion. I am grateful to work in an institution that supports the Catholic intellectual tradition and the need to have critical conversations about uncomfortable truths.”

The faculty members in their letter also demanded an apology from Fr. Bechard, stating he used his influence to promote the screening of "Unplanned" at the school. 

King’s has a history dating to 1954 and bills itself as “a Catholic, liberal arts university college.” It is listed on the Diocese of London’s website under the Catholic Colleges & Universities tab. Recently, its Veritas Series for Faith and Culture hosted pro-LGBT Jesuit Fr. James Martin, who presented “Showing Respect and Welcome to LGBT People in the Church.”

Contact information: 

Most Rev. Ronald P. Fabbro, C.S.B.
Diocese of London 
1070 Waterloo Street 
London, Ontario, N6A 3Y2 
Phone: 519-433-0658 
Online contact here 

Dr. David C. Malloy
Principal - King's University College
at Western University Canada
266 Epworth Avenue
London Ontario, Canada N6A 2M3
519-433-3491
Email: David.Malloy@kings.uwo.ca

[Hieronymus]

The full name of the school is “Christ the King’s University College,” but the full name is at least as obscure as the full name of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and LA,, which really ought to be abbreviate NSLAP

[Dawgncal]

The Abomination of Desolation Jesus warns us about in Matthew ..... very sad

[Sir Bangaz Cracka]

Liberal ideas can not proliferate without truth being hidden.

[neverevergiveup]

From what I looked up, the college/university has 97 faculty, so these 44 faculty represent just over 45% of the faculty. Also, this school used to be a seminary, and eventually partnered with Western University of Ontario, so it’s likely to be a mixed faculty.

[neverevergiveup]

The names been changed, and they partnered with a Canadian state school/university.

[neverevergiveup]

“names been changed” = name has been changed..

[antidemoncrat]

The Liberal cancer has spread well into the Catholic Religion.

[Salvation]

The film was screened at King’s University College — England.

Was it ever Catholic?

[Rurudyne]

If survival of an institution in the culture means those staffing it must stop being the salt of the earth then survival of that institution isn’t a worthwhile goal.

#BeTheRemnant

[Verginius Rufus]

This college is in London, Ontario, Canada.

How many of the 44 faculty involved claim to be Catholics? Colleges in the US with a Catholic heritage don't usually require their faculty to be Catholics, as far as I know. I had a job interview in the 1980s with a Catholic university and I don't remember being asked about my religion.

[Salvation]

Than you for the correction.

[poconopundit]

"Liberal arts college" and "Catholic" have been a deadly mixture for quite some time.

The wiki entry for this college tells you all you need to know about the program:

The University College offers programs in Arts, Social Science, Childhood and Social Institutions, Management and Organizational Studies, Social Justice and Peace Studies, Social Work, (and Theology through its affiliation with St. Peter's Seminary).

This is the kind of curriculum Bernie Sanders would love.

And notice the sculpture on the campus, called Homeless Jesus:

I'm a Notre Dame graduate, but I'll never send them a penny. Liberty University and Hillsdale are college education for the KAGA era.

Waiting to hear from our Canada Free Press colleagues about this disaster.

[Coleus]

They should all be fired! Why do parents pay top dollar to send their children to these schools who hire such professors?    

Ex Corde Ecclesiae

 

[Pontiac]

Bishops that are afraid of public opinion, and who follow political correctness so as not to offend anyone have no business leading others-

Even worse that the bishops are the Cardinals.

Their red robes are supposed to symbolize their willingness to shed their blood for Christ, yet most of them betray him three times a day every day.

[Jane Long]

Sickening.