….there was an uproar when it recently became public that Georgetown University, a Jesuit institution, had invited Ms. [Kathleen] Sebelius to speak at an awards ceremony this Friday, its commencement day.
The Archdiocese of Washington released a strong letter of rebuke to Georgetown’s president on Tuesday afternoon, calling Ms. Sebelius the architect of the birth control mandate ”” “the most direct challenge to religious liberty in recent history.”
The conflict is only the latest example of friction between Catholic universities and their local bishops, who are charged with ensuring that the universities uphold Catholic doctrine and exhibit an explicitly Catholic identity.
This is utterly crazy. Its time for the RCC to start pulling the designation of “Roman Catholic” from universities and colleges. The level of compromise on this issue is starting to hit Episcopalian levels. (And that my friends, is not good)
Maybe they should write something into the contracts of administration and tenured faculty about the right to discipline or remove them if they’re not endeavouring to uphold Ex Corde Ecclesiae.
I’m thinking interdict.
Seriously, when Sec. Sibelius has been publicly excommunicated, I’ll listen to what the bishop of Washington has to say.
the most direct challenge to religious liberty in recent history
We support liberty!~ Now BAN THAT SPEAKER!! 😉
From the Georgetown University website (bold mine):
Established in 1789, Georgetown is the nation’s oldest Catholic and Jesuit university. Drawing upon this legacy, we provide students with a world-class learning experience focused on educating the whole person through exposure to different faiths, cultures and beliefs.
There is no question that Georgetown students have exposure to different faith, cultures and beliefs. They can read, discuss and participate in Ms. Sibelius views as students in and out if the classroom. The question is whether an institution that claims its Catholic (which I don’t think it is) should grant an award and a speaking platform to someone who has fought so hard against what the Catholic church and university’s are called to proclaim in society. If Georgetown students find that Ms. Sebelius’s views are hard to know (despite easy access to them on C-SPAN, YouTube, Congressional Hearing Transcripts, HHS speeches, etc) then they can take a bus here in DC for $1.20 and go to HHS HQ in 20 minutes and hear her there. There is no lack of access to her views. This is purely an affront by the student body and the university to what the church holds. As such, the church should pull its certification and let everyone be honest. Georgetown is not a Catholic University, it’s a just a school that has some Catholic practices.
#6–That is the point of why they are doing this. The lefties at G’town want the church to pull out.
[blockquote] “We support liberty!~ Now BAN THAT SPEAKER!!” [/blockquote]
What is the problem with that? If a speaker is attacking religious liberty, why should they be given a platform by an institution with religious associations?
Politicians particularly on the left regularly demand that this or that person should not be given a platform because their views are inconistent with fundamental liberties. Aren’t you therefore being just a wee bit precious?
[blockquote] “The Archdiocese of Washington released a strong letter of rebuke to Georgetown’s president on Tuesday afternoon, calling Ms. Sebelius the architect of the birth control mandate — “the most direct challenge to religious liberty in recent history.— [/blockquote]
Good to see bishops having the courage to speak out.
It will be better when they do something more substantial than a “strong letter of rebuke”.