October 18, 2007
The upcoming Newman Guide reflects encouraging developments in Catholic higher education. In it we see colleges and universities fighting against secular forces and joining with new institutions to help revitalize the postsecondary landscape for faithful Catholics.
But events of the past few weeks have reinforced the challenging work ahead for all of us concerned about Catholic campuses today. While there are many fronts in this campaign, one of the most important focuses on the pervasive tentacles of Planned Parenthood.
Last month, Georgetown University Law School amended its policies to allow stipends to be paid to students who served unpaid internships with Planned Parenthood and similar organizations. The dean appeared pleased to craft an agreement with advocates for this change.
This month, the Cardinal Newman Society and others have been dealing with the decision of the College of the Holy Cross to host a teen pregnancy workshop on Oct. 24. Among the participants at the Worcester, Mass., campus will be Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts.
We are very grateful to the strong statement that Bishop Robert J. McManus of the Diocese of Worcester issued condemning Holy Cross’ action. But Father Michael McFarland, S.J., president of Holy Cross, remains steadfast in his support for the event.
As a result, we are pleased to have Dawn Eden, director of the Love and Responsibility program at the Cardinal Newman Society, present a talk on teen pregnancy from the Catholic perspective of chastity. This well-known author will be speaking at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Worcester on Oct. 23. We are most grateful to Bishop McManus for his strong stand and his endorsement of our pro-life event.
But, alas, there’s more news on the Planned Parenthood front, and it involves an effort to infiltrate Duquesne University. WDUQ, an on-campus public radio station on the Pittsburgh campus began running Planned Parenthood advertisements. That is until university president Charles J. Dougherty shut them down on Oct. 10.
Planned Parenthood has run a counteroffensive to restore the ads, but we are hopeful this episode has run its course. While we are appreciative of Dr. Dougherty’s efforts, this development highlights, once again, the need for constant vigilance on Catholic campuses.
Meanwhile, St. Edward’s University in Austin, Tex., proudly promoted an Oct. 18 lecture by dissident priest and theologian Charles Curran. Curran, who was at the center of a huge controversy at The Catholic University of America in the 1980s—and subsequently was removed from that institution—has been teaching at Southern Methodist University.
Curran will be speaking about Pope John XXIII. We can’t imagine what useful purpose this talk will serve. We wonder what Father Edward Sorin, the 19th-century founder of both the University of Notre Dame and St. Edward’s, would think.
The Cardinal Newman Society remains steadfast in monitoring these events and those at many other institutions. We are activists for the Faith, and we consider it our duty to confront such egregious developments.
We also are excited about the prospects presented by the imminent publication of The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College: What to Look For and Where to Find It. This tool for Catholic parents and students will go a long way toward highlighting what the standards are for faithful Catholic higher education.
In support of Ex corde Ecclesiae,
Joseph Esposito
Director of Research