Duc in Altum

The following was sent to me from the Cardinal Newman Society. On the one hand, it might be easy to respond that some of the schools listed in the report are only Catholic in name alone and there is no reason to be shocked or even to do anything about what is happening at these schools. However, these schools once were very Catholic and that is important foundation upon which to build. These colleges should be restored to truly be Catholic schools of higher education.

I would especially urge those of you who are alumni of a Catholic college to look at the full report (PDF), and contact your almamater, if it is listed in the report. In the past, the efforts of alumni, and indeed of folks who simply lived in the diocese where the school resided, who have contacted college officials to address these problems have had an impact on pushing back the Culture of Death and promoting the Culture of Life.

MANASSAS, VA (April 28, 2004) – Cardinal Newman Society has issued a shocking new report on scandals at U.S. Catholic colleges and universities that is certain to reignite concerns about the colleges’ religious character.

The 56-page report, “The Culture of Death on Catholic Campuses: A Five-Year
Review,” documents inroads made by advocates of abortion, contraception,
premarital sexual activity, and physician-assisted suicide onto Catholic
college campuses since 1999. It is the most extensive evidence of problems
in Catholic higher education ever compiled in a single source—and yet it
only scratches the surface, relying primarily on media reports and college
websites.

“‘Pro-choice’ is no choice for a Catholic institution, which by its Catholic
mission must be courageously pro-life,” said Erin Butcher, lead researcher
and co-author of the report. “Cardinal Newman Society has responded to
scandal after scandal on Catholic campuses, but many Catholics still fail to
appreciate the scope of the problem.”

The report, which can be downloaded free of charge at www.cardinalnewmansociety.org beginning April 28, identifies the
problems and suggests solutions to ensure that Catholic colleges uphold their
Catholic, pro-life mission. Highlights include:

* Pro-abortion presidential candidates at Catholic colleges. In
January, St. Anselm College (N.H.) hosted seven pro-abortion candidates for
their final debate before New Hampshire’s Democratic primary. Other campaign appearances have included John Kerry at Georgetown in January 2003, Dennis Kucinich at Sacred Heart University last June, Howard Dean at St. Anselm last September and at Georgetown last October, Dick Gephardt’s daughter at Boston College last November, Gephardt and Kerry at Clarke College (Iowa) in January, Wesley Clark at Rivier College (N.H.) in January, and Kerry at Georgetown again in April.

* Nearly 200 instances of campus speakers and honorees who have been
public advocates of abortion or otherwise contributors to the “Culture of
Death”. These include at least 17 visits and lectures by President Bill Clinton
at Georgetown University, researchers engaged in human cloning and
embryonic cell research at Assumption College and the College of the Holy Cross, NARAL Pro-Choice America president Kate Michelman at Boston College law school, radical feminist Gloria Steinem at Fairfield University, pornographer
Larry Flynt at Georgetown University, and National Organization for Women
(NOW) president Kim Gandy at Loyola University of New Orleans.

* “Emergency contraception,” an abortifacient, provided to students by
the College of Santa Fe and Rockhurst University.

* College officials and faculty with ties to pro-abortion and pro-euthanasia organizations, including a Boston College law professor on the board of directors of the Death With Dignity National Center; a Georgetown University philosophy professor on the board of directors of the Compassion in Dying Federation, and two Georgetown University women’s studies professors who are also employees of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

* Pro-abortion politicians serving as college officials and faculty, including Carol Moseley Braun teaching management at DePaul University, Geraldine Ferraro on the Fordham University law school Board of Visitors and teaching public policy at Georgetown University, and Leon Panetta teaching political science and on the Board of Trustees and law school Board of Visitors at Santa Clara University.

* Pro-abortion student clubs including the Reproductive Choice Coalition at
Boston College law school, Hoyas for Choice at Georgetown University, Georgetown Students for Choice at Georgetown law school, and a NOW
chapter at St. Ambrose University.

* Internships and service opportunities offered by Catholic colleges, including service as a Planned Parenthood “clinic escort” promoted by Nazareth College’s campus ministry and internships with Planned Parenthood
offered by Villanova University.

* Website referrals to pro-abortion organizations as medical or academic
resources including Georgetown University links to local abortion clinics,
LaSalle University links to NOW and the Feminist Majority Foundation, Loyola
University of Chicago links to Planned Parenthood and the Feminist Majority
Foundation, Loyola University of New Orleans links to NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood, and Seton Hall University links to the Feminist Majority Foundation and NOW.

* Student newspapers promoting sex and contraception, including sex
advice columns titled “Sex and the University” in The Heights at Boston
College and “Sex on the Hilltop” in The Hoya at Georgetown University.

The report is available at www.cardinalnewmansociety.org.