Georgetown University has taken sides against the Catholic Church, there is no other way to interpret it.
While the US Catholic Bishops are pulling out all the stops trying to repeal the anti-Catholic and anti-Constitutional HHS Mandate requiring Catholic institutions provide free access to contraception, abortofacients, and sterilization, Georgetown University has chosen the author of the horrible mandate as this year’s commencement speaker for Georgetown University Public Policy Institute.
There is no other way to interpret this other than as a direct challenge to the authority of th Catholic Bishops and as clear statement as to which side the University is on in this crucial standoff.
This afternoon, Georgetown announced the speakers for each school’s commencement address. Here is the list:
David Simon, creator of the critically acclaimed television dramas “The Wire” and “Treme” will be speaking to the College.Dr. Mark Green, senior director of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and former ambassador to Tanzania is the speaker for the School of Nursing & Health.
Ela R. Bhatt, founder of the Self-Employed Women’s Association, the largest union in India, and a consultant for UNICEF, will address the School of Foreign Service.
Tim O’Shaughnessy (B ’04), CEO and co-founder of LivingSocial will be speaking to the McDonough School of Business.
The speaker for the senior convocation is Helen O’Really (F ’03), current judicial clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
List of speakers for other Georgetown schools:
…
Former governor of Kansas and current secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, will be addressing the Georgetown Public Policy Institute.
This is an outrage and a direct challenge to the Bishops. Cardinal Wuerl, Cardinal Dolan,and the whole USCCB needs to immediately revoke Georgetown’s status as a Catholic University.
In this crucial debate, you are either with us or against us. Georgetown has taken the other side. If there was any question left about whether Georgetown was still Catholic, that question has now been answered.
Update: You can sign a petition sponsored by The Cardinal Newman Society at the website GeorgetownScandal.com.
May 5, 2012 at 6:59 pm
Cardinal Wuerl ought to step into this immediately and stop this nonsense.
Unfortunately, I don't believe he has the courage to do it, based on his previous feckless positions and wishy-washy statements.
We need much stronger, principled leaders in the Church than we have, especially in Washington, Albany, etc., etc.
May 5, 2012 at 7:36 pm
ND is undoubtedly delighted to see this. Another pillar of American Catholic education that can exempt itself from Ex Corde Exclessiae. Another opportunity to laugh in the face of the USCCB. Another outrage for a local bishop to confront in terms of sadness and disappoinment. It looks like there will be no courageous response from Cardinal Wuerl. Evil wins again! Saint Michael's sword remains sheathed. When will we wake up to the fact that the secularists are our enemies? They seek the destruction of religious liberty today and of religion tomorrow. Georgetown: What do you plan to cover up, hide away or destroy so as not to offend your HHS guest?
May 5, 2012 at 8:01 pm
Poor Father Schall. How does he do it, remaining at Georgetown year after year? I suppose he is like Abraham, begging the Lord that if ten good men can be found Sodom might be saved. Surely there are others like him at Georgetown; let us pray for them. May their influence on the rest of the faculty grow.
May 5, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Bishop Jenky: It's time to save the Jesuits from themselves. Please speak out on this with "full heart and voice".
May 5, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Given that the folks at Georgetown have demonstrated coolness to reason and toward the Faith, they might grow a set of ears and be moved to reform if we hit them in the pocketbook. The only thing administrators understand is money or the lack thereof. Change will come with a little motivation.
Appeal to Catholic alumni. Speak the simple truth: Georgetown has abandoned its Catholic identity. Redirect your hard earned dollars to faithful colleges where your money will be put toward ethical research and the formation of young people who love Jesus and His Church.
May 5, 2012 at 9:19 pm
I'd say it's just a Fluke…but if they were willing to cover the cross and pictures of the Eucharist for the One years ago, why does this surprize anyone?
May 5, 2012 at 10:24 pm
"Georgetown needs to be stripped of their Catholic status ASAP."
So, how exactly is that done? Threaten them with excommunication? Sue them? Call in a Rosary brigade? Start a 40 Days for Truth?
May 6, 2012 at 12:43 am
"On this academy on the Potomac, I place all my hopes for the future of the church in the republic."—Bishop John Carroll
The betrayal of the best is the worst. How pathetic for a once Catholic bastion!
May 6, 2012 at 1:29 am
Sebelius and Georgetown – Catholic in Name Only
May 6, 2012 at 3:09 am
This makes me wonder if the desecration of the chapel with condoms the other day was an 'inside job.'
Joe K
May 6, 2012 at 4:37 am
I do not support the HHS mandate. But I do support Universities that do not limit their speakers to those with whom they agree, and do not exclude speakers with whom the Church disagrees, even on the most fundamental issues.
One can search for the truth by hearing those with whom one disagrees.
Georgetown is Catholic in name onlly for many other, better reasons.
May 6, 2012 at 5:03 am
Simple question:
WHERE'S WUERL?
May 6, 2012 at 5:37 am
Wow….another bold, totally unpredictable, gesture from a Jesuit University. What brave, unconventional folks they are over there at G town. Yawnnnn…That is SO Notre Dame, dudes. Wake me when they make some news.
May 6, 2012 at 6:19 am
A rat's nest of Heretics. Time for the Bishops to get tough otherwise they advocate their responsibilites as Shepherds.
May 6, 2012 at 6:49 am
In reply to "I do not support the HHS mandate. But I do support Universities that do not limit their speakers to those with whom they agree, and do not exclude speakers with whom the Church disagrees, even on the most fundamental issues."
Catholic schools cannot honor those who are pro-choice because it would lead people to believe that the Catholic Church as a whole condones the killing of children.
Scandal is a word or action evil in itself, which occasions another's spiritual ruin.
I believe Georgetown's actions will lead many away from God (scandal) & since our top priority should be life (both the innocent in the womb & the life of our soul) we must not take this lightly.
In fact, Georgetown should br reminded… "If need be, a Catholic University must have the courage to speak uncomfortable truths which do not please public opinion, but which are necessary to safeguard the authentic good of society." – Ex Corde Ecclesiae – John Paul II
May 6, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Cardinal Dolan: When does the Church begin winning the war we didn't start and never wanted?
May 6, 2012 at 5:59 pm
I have no expectations of actions by these Cardinals. There is talk here and there but the 'walk' is absent.
The Cardinals wear red to signify that they are willing to shed their blood for the sake of Christ and His Holy Truth. Have not seen evidence of that.
May 6, 2012 at 6:04 pm
Ex communicate all who back, promote or support the position on abortion NOW!
May 6, 2012 at 6:19 pm
Tristan @ 11:37: It isn't a question of academic freedom, but of a
purportedly Catholic university honoring Secretary Sebelius. She
has not been invited to a debate over the HHS mandate, but rather
she has been given the honor of addressing, unchallenged, the
graduates of one of the schools. In effect, the university is holding
her up as an example it would like its students to follow.
This is not an issue of free speech or of academic freedom. No one
is suggesting that Secretary Sebelius couldn't come to Georgetown
and participate in a debate over the HHS mandate. Sadly, that's not
what's happening here.
May 6, 2012 at 7:11 pm
Clinton: Secretary Sebelius is an outcast in the eyes of the Church. Anyone who has been disciplined by his/her bishop(as she has been) is not living a life that is in full communion with the Church. Her support of abortion is her problem. She merits no honorable recognition by the Church or any of its legitimately affiliated institutions. If Georgetown wishes to honor her with this invitation then they should surrender their Catholic identity and become a private secular institution. Their local archbishop can assist in that process. From where I stand, he should do it ASAP. An added benefit for the school of medicine could include the opportunity for a complete training program in OB/GYN that includes every pharmacologic and surgical manipulation of the female reproductive system imaginable. Secretary Sebelius might even wish to endow the department chair in the name of her old friend George Tiller. Now that's solid secularism.