GEORGETOWN’S CATHOLICITY
April 25, 2012
Nearly 90 faculty members and priests at Georgetown University
have signed a letter criticizing Rep. Paul Ryan’s visit to the campus tomorrow.
They say his budget plan represents a “continuing misuse of Catholic teaching”
because it allegedly hurts the poor.
Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on this issue:
In 1999, hard-core pornographer Larry Flynt spoke at Georgetown. There was no letter of protest
from the faculty. But the Archdiocese of Washington was not pleased, saying the
decision provided “a platform which furthers the degradation of women, immoral
behavior and the anti-religious opinions Mr. Flynt represents.” In 2003, 70
faculty members signed a letter protesting a speech by Cardinal Francis Arinze
when he defended the traditional family at his commencement address; they were
angry that he cited abortion, euthanasia, infanticide, fornication, adultery,
divorce, pornography, and homosexuality as negative elements.
In 1997, the Washington Archdiocese publicly criticized Georgetown for refusing to put crucifixes in
the classrooms. In 2010, years after the crucifixes were restored, the
university hid them, as well as other religious symbols, at the request of the
Obama administration; Obama’s advance team did not want the president to speak
with Catholic symbols in the background.
Georgetown
welcomes pro-abortion clubs on campus. There is “Hoyas for Choice,” and
“Georgetown University Law Students for Reproductive Justice” (formerly run by Sandra
Fluke). There have been no letters of protest from the faculty about the
“misuse of Catholic teaching.”
Georgetown
obviously has a curious understanding of what constitutes a “misuse of Catholic
teaching.” It’s time they held a campus forum on their identity, inviting
representatives from the Washington Archdiocese, alumni, and non-Catholics to
participate. They can begin by stating what makes Georgetown
University different from George Washington
University.