In a keynote commencement speech, Victoria Reggie Kennedy also urged graduates to make progress by finding common ground with people as she said her late husband did. The Catholic attorney previously had been scheduled to deliver this year's commencement speech at Anna Maria College in Paxton. That Catholic college rescinded the invitation under pressure from Worcester Bishop Robert McManus, however. McManus objected to Kennedy's public support for abortion rights and gay marriage, which are against church teachings. Kennedy told the Boston College law graduates it would be impossible for her to unravel her faith from the rest of her life. She said lawyers must keep fighting for equal rights, civil rights, and human rights "for all of God's children." Seven protesters picketed outside, with a sign picturing an aborted fetus and others that said:
"BC Honors Abortion Defender.""What rational person could reasonably be expected to take seriously Catholic opposition to abortion when a Catholic institution honors someone who is defender of abortion?" said C.J. Doyle, executive director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts.
"It conveys the message that either abortion is not that wrong or we're not that Catholic," Operation Rescue Boston president Bill Cotter said. School officials said it isn't their practice to give honorary degrees to speakers, and they didn't award one to Kennedy. In a prepared statement, they said Kennedy shares graduates' interests in public policy and is committed to social justice.
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35 comments:
FAITH IN THE LIFE OF A PRIEST
John Hardon SJ
"How is it possible, even conceivable, that anyone will listen to these solemn demands of Christ and keep them unless he believes in them? He must believe that Christ's commandments were really enjoined by the Son of God; that they are necessary for salvation. He must believe that the same Christ who commands also gives the grace to do what is commanded. In a word, he must have faith.
Once again we return to the priest, who is the mediator-in the sense of being communicator of the divine will to a weak human family that is terrified at the divine will. The priest's strong faith in what he teaches will, in large measure, determine how persuasively and effectively his teaching will affect the Faithful. Nothing convinces like conviction. Nothing is more persuasive than certitude. Speaking for my fellow priests and myself, if we are convinced of what we teach others to believe and carry it into practice, then the people will be able to follow, not just our words but our example. BUT IF WE FAIL THEM, GOD HELP THEM. THAT IS A PRAYER.
This is what our people most need in today's confused and convulsive world: priests who are men of faith, who see the unseen, and who are therefore able to tell everyone who enters the ambit of their ministry about the passing nature of this life and the glorious city on high that awaits all who believe.
However, this is not only a matter of good example, although it includes that too; but it partakes of that mysterious law of procreation which obtains not only in the order of nature, but also in the realm of grace. Like reproduces like. And under God there are only miraculous exceptions. LIKE PRIESTS, LIKE PEOPLE. FAITH REPRODUCES FAITH. OR, AS WE SADLY KNOW, UNBELIEF REPRODUCES UNBELIEF."
We know what forty plus years of dissent at Jesuit universities has produced:UNBELIEF.
Pray, pray, pray for the Society of Jesus.
Oh, Fr. Hardon--I well remember the news story about him harboring a sex offender.
The priest, according to the magnificent definition given by St. Paul is indeed a man Ex hominibus assumptus, "taken from amongst men," yet pro hominibus constituitur in his quae sunt ad Deum, "ordained for men
in the things that appertain to God": his office is not for human
things, and things that pass away, however lofty and valuable these
may seem; but for things divine and enduring. These eternal things
may, perhaps, through ignorance, be scorned and contemned, or even
attacked with diabolical fury and malice, as sad experience has often
proved, and proves even today; but they always continue to hold the
first place in the aspirations, individual and social, of humanity,
because the human heart feels irresistibly it is made for God and is restless till it rests in Him.
On the Catholic Priesthood
AD CATHOLICI SACERDOTII
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS XI ON THE CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD DECEMBER 20, 1935
Holy men seem to be of one mind on this matter :)
I don't know. The tension at these Catholic colleges really seems to be escalating. Maybe I'm just following it more closely.
But all of my heroes have been human and therefore, imperfect by definition.
If we waited for a perfect person to have a commencement speaker, there would be a lot fewer commencement speeches... which, actually, might not be such a bad thing!
I've learned an awful lot from people who were definitely not ideal in every aspect of their lives...
"If we waited for a perfect person to have a commencement speaker, there would be a lot fewer commencement speeches"
Do you really choose a stupid commencement speech over honoring a murder supporter?
Anonymous:
Katy also identifies herself as a "Fascist Dyke". See her blog "Lesbians in My Soup". Lesibian activism. Enough said.
Maria, I'm more than a little disappointed that you would choose to go so personal in a comment without provocation. I will try to clarify myself nonetheless.
Maurice Blondel died in the house of a prostitute. Pius XII negotiated a treaty with the Nazis. Saint Cyrus of Alexandria inspired a riot that destroyed the Library of Alexandria and led to murders. Origen probably castrated himself and had some funny ideas about the nature of Christ.
But if you had a chance to have Maurice Blondel or Saint Cyrus of Alexandria speak at an event you were hosting, you'd be stupid to say no just because of their misdeeds or crazy positions - and you can safely assume Blondel wouldn't be talking about the prostitutes.
A Church of perfect people is a Church with no members.
It was a passing comment. It saddens me that you felt compelled to insult me to a third party instead of entering a discussion.
Save your words Katy--Maria's rhetoric has long since crossed the "international enough" line. Many blogs delete her menacing posts.
Katy: Unless I am mistaken, you identify yourself as a "fascist dyke". This is a personal identification that you publicly display on your blog. We insult ourselves when we perceive ourselves in such a way.
Anonymous: Truth is always menancing to non-believers mon frere ;
Maria: I don't use that phrase on my blog, although it IS a humor blog, so I could, I suppose.
I think you and I might be on two very different paths vis a vis our faith. I'll leave you to yours.
I think you need to re-check your profile.
ANONYMOUS AT 11:02
"The spirit of error always seeks to hide. What I'm sharing with you is things to look for in people, people who are the agents of the evil spirit. They always seek to hide; they are never fully open. The spirit of error fears to be identified. So they will have commissions or committees or organizations or this group or that group. Who's behind it? Nobody knows. It tries to conceal, it avoids openness and frankness."
John Hardon SJ
I did not--and will not--take spiritual advice from Fr. Hardon. I don't find his vision of the Faith compelling and I think he immoral activity when he recommended putting a child sexual abuser back into active ministry without reporting him to the authorities.
Your assertions are grounded in the claims of the San Francisco Weekly, a free alternative weekly rag, which has published articles w/ the following titles:
Police Looking for Castro Gay Bashers
Gay But That's Not the Point
The Problem with Gay Bullying
Obama Comes Out for Gay Marriage -- Finally
The Problem with "Post-Gay"
Steve Jobs Documentary Brings Gays and Nerds Together
Catholics Protest Gay Jesus Documentary at Castro Theatre
It's a Bad Week To Be a Gay Animal
Ex-Gay Leader Claims Gay Activist Said He Should Be Injected With AIDS
I would take anything that this rag has to see w/ a grain of salt. Your problem with Fr. Hardon is that he rejected the Society's militaristic mission to establish sodomy at the 8th sacrament.
Actually, it's a respectable newspaper. It is not a "rag." No one has stepped forward with any evidence to refute the story.
Why are you so hostile to gay men and women? It's is really scary especially since I remember you identifying yourself some time ago as a social worker.
Why are you so hostile to peopel who subscribe to the teachings of the Catholic Church?
@Maria: Oh, you were talking about the "Nicknames" section of my Google+ profile? I looked all over my blog for what you were talking about.
You could have just asked me if you wondered. It's an inside joke nickname my friends would understand and it's certainly not something I choose (or would ever like) to be called i the way that you indicated.
I try to have a sense of humor about things, and that trips people up sometimes.
But I find that if you (or I, or anyone) LOOK for the bad in people and assume the worst, we will find something bad. I have tons of flaws.
But if I look for the good in people, I often learn quite a bit and avoid unnecessary arguments and misunderstandings.
And it also makes me more likely to be welcome back on third parties' blogs!
Anyway, I encourage you not to immediately jump to the negative with me, and I hope - particularly if you come here a lot - that I can learn something from you, here or if you had something to say on my blog.
I don't have the answers. I am always open to hearing from others when they can convey their thoughts in a constructive or positive way!
You're understanding of what constitutes "teaching" is incorrect. But I worry that you bring so much anger to gays and people with whom you disagree. Lots of name calling and threats.
Katy: You said: "Maurice Blondel died in the house of a prostitute. Pius XII negotiated a treaty with the Nazis. Saint Cyrus of Alexandria inspired a riot that destroyed the Library of Alexandria and led to murders. Origen probably castrated himself and had some funny ideas about the nature of Christ."
None of these individuals were recruited to speak at the oldest Catholic university in the United States, to deliver a commencement speech, which is a distinct honor. As Roman Catholics, we don't honor murder.
"But all of my heroes have been human and therefore, imperfect by definition.
If we waited for a perfect person to have a commencement speaker, there would be a lot fewer commencement speeches... which, actually, might not be such a bad thing!
I've learned an awful lot from people who were definitely not ideal in every aspect of their lives..."
We don't honor politicians who accept blood money in the tens of thousands of dollars from late term abortionists (George Tiller). We don't honor those who indefatigably advocate murder, contraceptives and sterilization, over a period of decades. We do not feel that we have "something to learn" from those who subscribe to this violation of natural law. We don't deem such action as a moral good. We are not neutral. We are not tolerant of evil. We reject it. We vociferously proclaim our objecttion and we take the consequences for same said objection. As Roman Catholics, we do not cower silently in a corner and allow the faith to be mauled by wolves because our Cardinals will not speak up. It is our duty to proclaim the truth to anyone who will listen.
Our hero is Our Lord Jesus Christ, who told us: "if you love me keep my commandments". The Jesuits don't believe this anymore. We are heartbroken by, not only their refusal to defend the faith, but also by their defense of what is, to any elementary school child who is lucky enough to still know the rudiments of his Catechism, objectively and morally evil. The devil was a liar and murderer from the beginning. Christ was awfully clear.
You're understanding of what constitutes "teaching" is incorrect. But I worry that you bring so much anger to gays and people with whom you disagree. Lots of name calling and threats
ANONYMOUS---I have called no one a name. I have issued no threats. You are confused. My defense of my faith is just that: the defense of my faith. You are free to characterize the defense of my faith in any manner whatsoever.
Haha... Tragically, no... Or, if Saint Cyrus of Alexandria WAS asked, he wasn't available to speak.
To use a more contemporary example, I don't know whether Thomas Merton - a brilliant priest and monk who fathered a child and had to basically flee to America over it - ever spoke at graduations.
I'd sure as heck have wanted to hear him if he did!
I think you identified our differences on this issue fairly well this time, and I thank you.
And I think I more or less had it right the first time: You feel you hold the tools to judge the moral fitness of others to... speak at graduations.
My own test would have more to do with what they could teach.
So you and I might simply end up at different schools in the end.
Which, the more I think about it, is fine and it seems to be a legitimate line. While the Church would want to avoid the taint of scandal, BOTH of these hypothetical schools should be able to be Catholic universities, but maybe yours would be a very conservative Catholic institution and mine, well, Jesuit?
I mean that in a positive way, too. The Jesuit priests of the 20th century who contributed to Vatican II were probably the greatest theological minds since the Reformation and I've learned so much from their writings...
One thing that I learned from one of those wise 20th century Jesuits, John Courtney Murray, was that when the Church allows itself to get pulled into every old political debate of the day, it cheapens the Church. I've seen an awful lot of fuss over commencement speakers this year, and it's mostly been pretty silly.
Especially when, as I said above, most students, professors, and parents don't want ANY speeches at graduations.
"-I have called no one a name. I have issued no threats. You are confused."
You call people names ALL THE TIME! (e.g., infidels). As for threats, I remember one against Fr. Martin where your wrote that he had to "be taken out."
Well, we can leave for another day a discussion of Merton's oriental meditation and his denial of a personal and infinite God, OK?
You said: "You feel you hold the tools to judge the moral fitness of others to... speak at graduations."
I think there is still some confusion, Katy. The truths of our faith are not my personal opinions. The doctrine of the faith iS not "my truth"--it is the doctrine of the faith. I will refrain from repeating the reasons why Sebelius should not have been invited to speak at Georgetown as I think I have made myself clear on this subject.
Katy, we are Roman Catholics. We are not, contrary to what Jesuits and the rest of the world would have you believe, liberal or conservative Catholics. I believe that this false distinction that people assert, is more properly understood as those who faithful to the teachings of the Church and the Vicar of Christ, and those who are not. The Catholic Church is not a political party, though I am certain that the boys at America Magazine would argue otherwise ;)
It has been a long day and I am not up to discussing Vatican II and the Society; however, suffice it to say that it really makes no difference how brilliant one might consider oneself or his confreres to be, if the humility needed to keep God's commandments is nowhere to be found. Christ is not interested in our brains. He wants our hearts and our obedience.
Mr Anonymous: For purposes of civil communication identifying one's self really does go a long way in creating greater ease of communication. Two points: if one is unfaithful to the teachings of the Church, one is, by definition, an infidel. The root of infidel is as follows: Etym. Latin in-,not + fidelis, true, faithful: infidelis, one that cannot be relied upon, faithless. If the shoe fits, my friend, it fits. It just isn't possible to reject the most basic tenents of the faith, get on a high horse claiming the moral highground and then claim to be a faithful Catholic.
I have never suggested that Fr. Martin be "taken out". I said that "someone should reign him in". And they SHOULD! If he spent as much time trying to bring others to love Christ and His Church, as he spends penning propoganda, who knows how many conversions he might have fathered by now.It has been nice chatting. Blessings on both of you.
Well, and there it is.
We differ because you you feel you know what Catholicism is - and better than most Catholics!
Jesuits are not good Catholics because YOU hold the means to judge who is Catholic and you deem them unfit.
The fact that you can deem yourself a better Catholic than the most important order of Catholic priests of the past century - and then somehow believe you are holding an objective judgment in this narrow and obviously NOT universal judgment among Catholics - shows the error.
I understand what you're saying. And of course, you have every right to place yourself in the throne of God in your own mind.
But reading your comments here today... I am happy that I don't have such a narrow and (for all appearances) bitter faith.
I wish you the best on your journey and I hope you are able to discover the Christ of love.
OK, Maria, I'm going to leave it here out of respect for the blog host and because I conveyed a frustration I didn't necessarily mean to convey.
I'll leave with this: I think there is an objective faith and an objectivity that has taken many centuries to achieve - unheard of in an institution that is run, frankly, by imperfect human beings.
However, I think it is a mistake for any of us to confuse our subjective understanding of what that objective faith is - especially if that subjective understanding would cast off large segments of the community of believers as being outside of the faith! - with the objective faith itself.
What I'm saying is that I didn't mean to sound so impatient or unaccepting of you. But at this point in my development, I have to steer clear of folks claiming to be more Catholic than the Pope.
Those folks discouraged me from the progress I've made for far too long already...
There is no room for a divergence of opinion where murder is concerned, Katy. There is no subjective understanding to be had in the case of murder. Christ himself told us: you shall not kill. He was clear. I don't know how this could be open to interpretation.
The Church tell us that abortion is murder, that hhmosexuality is a sin that cries out to Heaven for vengance, that contraception and sterilization is forbidden. Christ came to divide. There will be people left outside the communion of Christ's love and His Church because they choose to reject all that he commanded. He said: " if you love me, keep my commandments". We pray for those without faith. We pray that their faith might be strengthened. I am not more Catholic than the Pope. I have lived a very sinful life but through the mercy of God, I found my way back to Him. He gave me a way out. I want eveyone to walk through the door of His love but, as I discovered, His love comes at a price:
John the Evangelist tells us--
"Enter by the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there are who enter that way. How narrow the gate and close the way that leads to life! And few there are who find it (Matthew 7:13-14).
I realize more and more every day how truly I have blessed with this gift of faith. I want everyone to get to Heaven, Katy. That is all I care about. The Savior told us to expect oppostion and persecution. They killed Our Lord for proclaiming the truth. Nothing much has changed in 2000 years. We pay a price. It is the way He ordered things...
who knows how many conversions he might have fathered by now.
I think he probably brought many people to faith.
I find it very difficult to believe that you don't think calling someone an "infidel" isn't calling them a name.
As for Fr. Martin, this is what you wrote:
"Fr. Martin is charming, witty, engaging and most likable, but then, so too was Lucifer. This is precisely what renders him particularly dangerous. His dissent leads others into sin. He confirms others in their sin. Someone needs to call this by its name: scandal. And someone needs to rein him in."
That is correct AND I stand COMPLETELY by this statement.
You've had a full day calling people infidels, sodomites, and Lucifer so rest up to do it all again tomorrow.
Good night Jim McCrea.
Ot is it Ed?
We will never know...
"The spirit of error always seeks to hide. What I'm sharing with you is things to look for in people, people who are the agents of the evil spirit. They always seek to hide; they are never fully open. The spirit of error fears to be identified. So they will have commissions or committees or organizations or this group or that group. Who's behind it? Nobody knows. It tries to conceal, it avoids openness and frankness."
John Hardon SJ
Have at me fellas. I am made of stern stuff ; Have another go at Father Hardon. He is in Heaven.
"Have another go at Father Hardon. He is in Heaven."
Whoa--how would you presume to know that? If he were on earth he should be in jail.
Signed,
Mr. Ed McCrea Hardon
God bless.
Maria, I have been following your posts here and I agree with all that you have said.
Many years ago I knew a lot of Jesuits in my country, and they were wonderful people. Of course, they graduated before the sixties and seventies.
Did you know that well over a thousand well-trained and dedicated Marxists were planted in the Church, including its educational institutions? With subtelty, they worked towards changing long standing Catholic views and to put a wedge between the Church leaders and the rest of us. Destroying or negating the influence of the Church was one of the tools they used to get the West into their grip. Even the liberals, including the right wing ones, are playing into their hands. Just read about this and thought I should share it with you.
Keep up thr good work.
Congrats Maria-- Mr. 2:58 a.m. is ready to share the aluminum crown w/you. Kooky.
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