Georgetown University invites Kathleen Sebelius to speak at commencement

[Dale_M]

Why not invite Michael Voris or Father Mitch Pacwa instead?

I can see the relevance of Fr. Pacwa, since he is a Jesuit. However, I don’t think he has much experience working in public policy. Remember, Sebelius is invited to speak to the Public Policy Institute of Georgetown University.

What orthodox Catholic, with a national profile and is experienced in public policy, might make a better choice than Sebelius?

 

[JimG]

I can see the relevance of Fr. Pacwa, since he is a Jesuit. However, I don’t think he has much experience working in public policy. Remember, Sebelius is invited to speak to the Public Policy Institute of Georgetown University.

What orthodox Catholic, with a national profile and is experienced in public policy, might make a better choice than Sebelius?

Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

 

[Joe_5859]

Just as a point of clarification, Sebelius is not technically speaking at a Commencement ceremony, but at an awards ceremony.

I know it’s not really much of a consolation, but at least she’s not getting an honorary degree.

I try really hard to give people the benefit of the doubt, but it’s difficult for me not to see this as a direct commentary on what the Georgetown board thinks of the U.S. bishops with regard to the HHS mandate. Very sad indeed.

If they had invited Sebelius last year – or even next year – this wouldn’t have stung as much (though, of course, it still would have been problematic). The fact that they chose to do it now while in the throes of this national debate on the HHS mandate and religious liberty is truly shameful. Talk about undercutting our shepherds!

 

[YoungIreland]

I am very dissapointed that a Catholic university would honor someone who has no respect for the Church’s teachings. On the other hand though, rejoice in the fact that over on your side of the Atlantic that you have authentic Catholic universities like Steubenville and, um… (sorry about this, American Catholic education is not my strong point). Here in Ireland, the one Catholic college isn’t even Catholic! Ye don’t know how lucky ye are.

 

[_Abyssinia]

Catholics Plead with DC Cardinal Wuerl: Condemn Sebelius Invitation, Insist that it be Revoked

The Archbishop of Washington DC, Cardinal Wuerl, has the duty to publicly rebuke Georgetown University for its brazen cooperation with those who are committed to the destruction of innocent babies and the suppression of religious freedom.

Therefore, we have respectfully asked the Archbishop to issue a statement to the effect that:

 In 2004 the USCCB publicly directed "Catholic Institutions" to not give honors or pl

• atforms to “those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles.”

•  His Eminence upholds the Excommunication placed on Sebelius;

• His Eminence condemns the invitation for Sebelius to address the Georgetown graduates;

• His Eminence requests that Georgetown revoke her invitation to speak at the Commencement Exercises;

If Georgetown refuses, let it be known that they are in formal cooperation with those who murder babies and attack the Church.

Randall Terry states:

“Millions of Catholic faithful will rejoice in such valor; but, conversely, millions will grieve if he fails to speak boldly against this outrage.”

christiannewswire.com/index.php?module=releases&task=view&releaseID=19644

 

[LisaA]

I can see the relevance of Fr. Pacwa, since he is a Jesuit. However, I don’t think he has much experience working in public policy. Remember, Sebelius is invited to speak to the Public Policy Institute of Georgetown University.

What orthodox Catholic, with a national profile and is experienced in public policy, might make a better choice than Sebelius?

Archbishop Chaput! He has spoken and written extensively on public policy.

Lisa

 

[Dirt]

What did Gov. Scott Walker do? Is he a Catholic?

I most humbly apologize to Gov. Scott Walker. I meant Gov. Martin O’Malley of Virginia.
articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/01/news/la-pn-maryland-gay-marriage-law-signed-20120301

I beg forgiveness for casting any aspersions towards Gov. Walker.

Gov. O’Malley on the other hand…not so much.
Just like Chris Gregoire of Washington state;
“In January, she announced — after years of ambivalence — that she would support same-sex marriage. She recalled her personal journey in reaching that decision, which required her to go against the teachings of her Roman Catholic faith.”
seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017497028_gaymarriage14m.html

Gov. Walker was on my mind from a Fox News story about his upcomming recal election and I mis-typed. Again, my sincere apologies to gov. Walker.

 

[oneofmany]

I most humbly apologize to Gov. Scott Walker. I meant Gov. Martin O’Malley of Virginia.
articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/01/news/la-pn-maryland-gay-marriage-law-signed-20120301

I beg forgiveness for casting any aspersions towards Gov. Walker.

Gov. O’Malley on the other hand…not so much.
Just like Chris Gregoire of Washington state;
“In January, she announced — after years of ambivalence — that she would support same-sex marriage. She recalled her personal journey in reaching that decision, which required her to go against the teachings of her Roman Catholic faith.”
seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017497028_gaymarriage14m.html

Gov. Walker was on my mind from a Fox News story about his upcomming recal election and I mis-typed. Again, my sincere apologies to gov. Walker.

Oh thanks. I thought you learned something I didn’t know about him.

I think a lot of people find out they have a loved one who comes out as gay and they seem to change their minds about the issue. They want to look the other way when it hits too close to them. Not saying that is the case here though.

 

[oneofmany]

How long will these so-called Catholic universities keep the name Catholic? Didn’t Bishop Olmstead say the hospital who allowed an abortion needed to stop using the word Catholic if they are for abortions? I believe this was in AZ.

Why can’t the church break ties with these people and take back the university? My hubby taught at a Catholic university for one semester but he knew the contract said the teachers were not to teach anything that was against the church. I thought all those institutions had that in their contracts. If so, then these people are breaking that law.

 

[GraceSofia]

Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

Yes, an excellent choice; he is speaking at Catholic University of America and Manhattan College.

Press release from CUA:
publicaffairs.cua.edu/releases/2012/dolan.cfm

Compare that to the pitiful announcement on Georgetown’s website.

 

[GraceSofia]

Why can’t the church break ties with these people and take back the university?

I believe the answer in a word is money. It takes a lot of money to run an institution like Georgetown, which has an endowment of over one billion dollars.
They received 20 million from a Saudi prince a few years ago. Money often comes with strings attached.

 

[Dale_M]

Why can’t the church break ties with these people and take back the university? My hubby taught at a Catholic university for one semester but he knew the contract said the teachers were not to teach anything that was against the church. I thought all those institutions had that in their contracts. If so, then these people are breaking that law.

Neither the Catholic Church, nor the Archdiocese of Washington DC, nor the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) own or control Georgetown University. It is an independent corporation run by a largely secular board. The university is Catholic by tradition and in its orientation, but it runs itself.

As for morality or doctrinal clauses in one’s employment contract, I am not sure how common they are in historically Catholic colleges and universities. But they are not universal.

How long will these so-called Catholic universities keep the name Catholic? Didn’t Bishop Olmstead say the hospital who allowed an abortion needed to stop using the word Catholic if they are for abortions? I believe this was in AZ.

Yes, Cardinal Wuerl (as archbishop of Washington DC) could do something similar. However, I suspect Georgetown University is larger, better known, and more influential than that one hospital. While disciplining Georgetown University in such a manner might please some Catholics, it stands the risk of alienating other Catholics and casting the Catholic Church in a bad light; an impression which would last for years in the national discussion.

 

[gcharles]

Kathleen and her Catholic PROGRESSIVE supporters don’t undrstand abortions. They will on judgment day. Live by the sword and die by the sword.

 

[Joe_5859]

Yes, Cardinal Wuerl (as archbishop of Washington DC) could do something similar. However, I suspect Georgetown University is larger, better known, and more influential than that one hospital. While disciplining Georgetown University in such a manner might please some Catholics, it stands the risk of alienating other Catholics and casting the Catholic Church in a bad light; an impression which would last for years in the national discussion.

Not only that, but once the Church completely disavows from Georgetown (or any other Catholic college), there is no going back. I think some of us hold out hope that the direction of these universities can be changed from within (which, of course, will take time just as it took time to get to where we are today from where we were). If we strip the word “Catholic” from their idnetity, we will never have any (name removed by moderator)ut or influence over the direction of the university ever again. That’s not a decision that should be made lightly nor as a knee-jerk PR response to the scandal-of-the-week.

It may make some of us conservatively-minded Catholics feel momentarily vindicated, but I’m not sure it’s the best long-term solution.

 

[Dirt]

Not only that, but once the Church completely disavows from Georgetown (or any other Catholic college), there is no going back. I think some of us hold out hope that the direction of these universities can be changed from within (which, of course, will take time just as it took time to get to where we are today from where we were). If we strip the word “Catholic” from their idnetity, we will never have any (name removed by moderator)ut or influence over the direction of the university ever again. That’s not a decision that should be made lightly nor as a knee-jerk PR response to the scandal-of-the-week.

It may make some of us conservatively-minded Catholics feel momentarily vindicated, but I’m not sure it’s the best long-term solution.

It would be hard Joe, and in the current secular-minded world it would seem incredulous, but i believe it is time for exactly that. The Church must reject the world and all of its secular agendas. We need to return to the strong Foundation of Faith which has preserved the Church throughout the Centuries. We have clearly seen and continue to see the effects of trying to be 'friends" with the world. the “world’s” disease will permeate every aspect of The Church.
His Holiness Pope St. Pius X summed it up perfectly:

vatican.va/holy_father/pius_x/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-x_enc_19070908_pascendi-dominici-gregis_en.html

 

[MotoCatholic]

I’ve recently had lengthy investigations of similar problems at Notre Dame, motivated by our parish Priest, after my daughter showed great interst in attending ND after high school. I was dimly aware of some of the controversies at ND, but really didn’t know the details. I did a lot of study, reading, and talking to other more knowledgable people. And while I agree there are some real problems, there are also some shining glimmers of hope for change from the inside. So in that point I agree with Joe and Dale-disavowing Catholic universities may not be the best solution. Calling them to task, demanding answers/reform, yes. Faithful Catholics standing up for truth, both outside adults, faculty, and students, can have a hugely positive impact, and turn controversy into faithful reform.

I have both friends and family members that call themselves devout Catholics, but see no problem at all with things like the problems at Notre Dame or Georgetown. In reality, they are simply uniformed, and know virtually nothing about it. Maybe not coincidentally, these are some of the same people that see no problem with women Priests, advocating homosexual marriage in the Church, etc. They were more worried about my daughter “getting a good education” than sending her to a quasi-Catholic university; completely unsympathetic to my stance that it’s decades of families ingoring the realities of ND and others, and sending their kids and money anyway, that have led to ignorance and complacancy.

I think, I pray, that all these things (HHS mandate included) are succeeding in uniting Catholics behind truth and reform. Naive? Maybe a little. But I think I’m opening the eyes of some family members and friends. My parents are now 100% behind my daughters decision to attend a much more orthodax Catholic college (praise God! there was a long list of “coincidences” leading up to my daughter accepting a scholarship). All I can say is that this place seems like the antidote to ND and Georgetown. Quite impressive. We don’t want our first-born baby to go so far away, but we are so excited for her and the opportunity. God Bless

Moto

 

[Joe_5859]

It would be hard Joe, and in the current secular-minded world it would seem incredulous, but i believe it is time for exactly that. The Church must reject the world and all of its secular agendas. We need to return to the strong Foundation of Faith which has preserved the Church throughout the Centuries. We have clearly seen and continue to see the effects of trying to be 'friends" with the world. the “world’s” disease will permeate every aspect of The Church.
His Holiness Pope St. Pius X summed it up perfectly:

vatican.va/holy_father/pius_x/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-x_enc_19070908_pascendi-dominici-gregis_en.html

If the bishops chose to go that route and start stripping the “Catholic” from every questionable entity that bears the name, I would give them my support. But I really think that should be a last resort. Why should we let the secular culture steal away from us our universities, hospitals, and social service agencies? It’s probably a weak analogy, but God did not abandon Israel when they repeatedly turned to other gods. Where would we be if He had? I think the Church has certain obligations towards those ministries She founds. The day may come when we have no choice but to cut our losses, but I don’t think we’ve reached that point just yet. Perhaps I’m being overly idealistic.

I’m just glad I’m not a bishop, so I don’t have to make these sorts of difficult decisions between two undesirable choices.

 

[Crescentinus]

Archbishop Chaput! He has spoken and written extensively on public policy.

Lisa

How about Father John Holowell or Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers?

 

[LisaA]

How about Father John Holowell or Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers?

YES! Deacon Burke Sivers is from Portland I believe. I saw him on EWTN and was so impressed!

I think the point is that there are SO MANY wonderful faithful Catholics who could inspire the graduates, why did they pick this horrible woman, particularly at this time of such contention and frankly when she was exposed as a completely ignoramus about the Constitution she swore to uphold. The woman is an embarrassment. She is hardly a good example for the graduates to follow
LIsa

 

[Dirt]

If the bishops chose to go that route and start stripping the “Catholic” from every questionable entity that bears the name, I would give them my support. But I really think that should be a last resort. Why should we let the secular culture steal away from us our universities, hospitals, and social service agencies? It’s probably a weak analogy, but God did not abandon Israel when they repeatedly turned to other gods. Where would we be if He had? I think the Church has certain obligations towards those ministries She founds. The day may come when we have no choice but to cut our losses, but I don’t think we’ve reached that point just yet. Perhaps I’m being overly idealistic.

I’m just glad I’m not a bishop, so I don’t have to make these sorts of difficult decisions between two undesirable choices.

Agreed!