Abortion, John Kerry And Jim Crow

Boston College, which has invited Secretary of State John Kerry, who was a consistent proponent of legal abortion and same-sex marriage during his years in the US Senate; Holy Cross, which invited Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, also an advocate of legal abortion and same-sex marriage; Loyola University in Chicago, which invited White House speechwriter Jon Favreau, who has compared defense of traditional marriage to enforcement of Jim Crow laws; 

Link (here)

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas And Jesuit Father John Brooks

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas

Theodore V. Wells Jr. is one of the country's most successful lawyers, defending high-profile clients and usually winning. 

Clarence Thomas, also a respected lawyer, ascended to the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court. 

Edward P. Jones is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Known World,” and has received a MacArthur “genius grant.” The three men have more in common than unusually high levels of achievement. All are African-American. All are graduates of the College of the Holy Cross. All say their success as undergrads — and in large measure later in life as well — was greatly influenced by the direction and support they received from the Rev. John E. Brooks, the Jesuit priest who was president of Holy Cross during the uneasy times of the civil rights movement and integration. The college was a the hilltop bastion of about 2,200 white males when Father Brooks, then a professor of theology at Holy Cross, brought a group of 20 newly recruited black men to the campus in the strife-riven fall of 1968. A book, “Fraternity,” by Bloomberg Businessweek writer Diane Brady traces the college careers of five of those young men and their later-life reflections on the challenges of breaking down the racial barriers.

Link (here) to read the full story telegram.com

Jesuit Chronicles

A Bronze Fo Dog

The remains of the goods found probably belonged to the San Felipe galleon, which sailed carrying a large cargo of Chinese porcelain from the Ming Dynasty and which disappeared without a trace in 1576, maritime historian Edward Von der Porten said. The Asian sculpture, located underwater by means of signals from a metal detector, 

coincides with descriptions noted in the 18th century by Jesuit missionaries such as Fr. Fernando Consag at an earlier moment and later by Fr. Miguel del Barco, Junco said. "The goods we are studying coincide with the notes of Fr. Miguel del Barco, who in his chronicles says that some Indians brought to one of the missions a bronze candlestick in the shape of a dog," the archaeologist said. "The object we found is probably similar to the one described by the priest, or it could be the lid of a censer," Junco said. 

The so-called "Dogs of Fo" - the Chinese word for Buddha is Fo - actually represent lions and were considered protectors of sacred sanctuaries, usually Buddhist temples.

Link (here) to the full article at Fox News

An Abortion Free Liberation Theology Field Trip

Holy Cross collaborated with Boston College, Boston College High School, and Boston College School of Theology and advocated three social justice issues: the closing of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, the DREAM Act (a bill that would provide illegal alien students who graduate from U.S. high schools the opportunity to earn conditional permanent residency if they complete two years in the military or two years at a four-year institution of higher learning), and support for a climate change policy.  Holy Cross students met with Senators John Kerry (pro-abortion) and Scott Brown (pro-abortion) and Representatives Mike Capuano (8th District), Barney Frank (pro-abortion) (4th District), and Jim McGovern (pro-abortion) 3rd District).  The group met with staff members from Sen. Brown, Sen. Kerry, and Rep. Capuano’s office, and met personally met with Rep. McGovern and Frank.

Link (here) to read the full public relations piece from The College of the Holy Cross

The Catholic Worker Of Worchester Launches A Broadside Against Holy Cross Jesuits

......flyers that were handed out was a list of the many alumni who had signed a petition to remove ROTC on campus.  It seems that The Catholic Worker of Worcester has a problem with ROTC on campus because they feel it violates Jesuit values and philosophy.  This begs the question, "Should a Catholic institution, such as Holy Cross, sponsor an ROTC unit, which trains military officers who, by definition, may be called upon to be warriors?"

   The answer is yes, and for a couple of reasons.  First, when the Holy Cross faculty voted in the 1980s to keep NROTC on campus, it was under the condition that there would be an ethics class that every midshipman had to take.  "At an institution like Holy Cross, all students, especially midshipmen, receive an excellent education, are exposed to a variety of viewpoints, and are educated in religious and ethical tradition," says the chaplain for NROTC, Paul Covino.  "This is something that may not be offered at other institutions, which is why it is vital that future military leaders receive this education.  Our new Commanding Officer, Captain Ron Harrell, for example, is reaching out to the Chaplains' Office, the Jesuit Community, and others on campus who can assist in the midshipmen's ethics course to make sure that they receive the best possible training for the situations that they will be facing as officers."

   By exposing our future military leaders to a variety of viewpoints, they become well-rounded military men and women, who will have a background in ethical decision-making from a Jesuit institution.  This will help them make better decisions down the road and enhance their leadership capabilities.  When midshipmen are called on in a time of war, it will help them greatly if they have been educated in religion and ethics on a Jesuit campus.

   The second reason that Holy Cross should sponsor NROTC on campus is, in the words of sophomore midshipman Lawrence Bovich, "because the Navy is making itself known as ‘a global force for good.'  We are just as much of a humanitarian force as we are a military force.  This was demonstrated by our assistance in Indonesia after the tsunami in 2004."  America prides itself upon having a navy that can not only defend the nation, but also help countries that are dealing with a humanitarian crisis.  "Men and women for others; that's the Jesuit slogan," said Bovich. "That's what the Navy is; a group of people that defends others and helps others."

Link (here) to the full article at the Crusader.

The Cardinal Newman Society, Jesuit Institutions And Pro-Life Yahoo's

The Cardinal Newman Society compiled the following list of Catholic colleges and universities whose commencement speakers have publicly opposed or acted contrary to Catholic values on fundamental teachings. Link (here) to the full press release and list.
These are Jesuit institutions on that list.

Boston College (Mass.)

Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of General Electric (GE), will be the commencement speaker and honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree recipient at Boston College’s commencement ceremony on May 24.  GE has an official company policy permitting experimenting on embryonic stem cells and last year launched a partnership with Geron Corp. to sell products derived from embryonic stem cells. 

Boston College Law School has invited U.S. Senator Scott Brown to address its May 28 commencement ceremony.  While running for office in 2002 in Massachusetts, Brown made public his position in support of legalized abortion with some restrictions.

College of the Holy Cross (Mass.)

Mark Shriver will be the commencement speaker and receive an honorary degree at the College of the Holy Cross on May 28.  Shriver is currently Vice President and managing director of Save the Children.  While a 2002 candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland, Shriver stated in a Washington Post interview, “Women's issues are critically important and I will continue to fight for a women's right to choose; family planning funds; maternal and child health funding and education for girls both here and abroad.”

Georgetown University (D.C.)

Baroness Brenda Hale will be the commencement speaker at Georgetown University Law Center on May 23.  In 2004, Hale became the first woman to serve in the British House of Lords as a “Lord of Appeal in Ordinary,” the equivalent of a U.K. supreme court justice.  Hale has “argued for gay civil partnerships and no-fault divorces” (The Guardian) and supports gay adoption as well as better rights for “cohabitees”.  The Independent reported in 2003 that Hale stated: “My present view is that there is a strong case for introducing a legal commitment between people who are unable to marry, principally gay and lesbian partners.”

Loyola Marymount University (Calif.)

The Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, was the commencement speaker at Loyola Marymount University on May 8.  Prior to serving as governor, Patrick was assistant attorney general for the civil rights division during Bill Clinton’s presidency.  Patrick’s campaign website boasts that that he "helped lead the fight to keep discrimination out of the Massachusetts constitution and preserved the right of same-sex couples to marry in Massachusetts."

Marlene Canter was the graduate commencement speaker for Loyola Marymount University on May 9.  She is a former member of the L.A. Unified School District board.  According to LifeSiteNews, Canter has called the legalization of same-sex marriage an "issue of simple fairness and basic human rights."  The same article reports that Canter has opposed a parental notification abortion law.

Loyola University Chicago (Ill.)

Clarence Page will be the commencement speaker for the School of Communication at Loyola University Chicago on May 14.  Page is a syndicated columnist and a senior member of The Chicago Tribune editorial board.  He has written that people who want to ban abortion are “yahoos”.  As a guest on the MSNBC program Hardball last year, Page described proposed pro-life language to the healthcare bill as “worse… because this is declaring that even a woman can’t use her own money to pay for an insurance plan that also covers abortion.”  He has stated, “I stand firmly on the pro-Roe side of the abortion debate.”  Page also supports same-sex “marriage” as evidenced by his editorial “In defense of same-sex marriage”.

University of San Francisco (Calif.)

On May 22, the University of San Francisco will host as commencement speaker Dale Minami, who will also receive an honorary degree.  A supporter of same-sex “marriage,” Minami is lead partner at Minami Tamaki LLP, which in December 2007 sponsored a fundraiser and donated funds to Asian Pacific Islander Equality, a group that advocates for same-sex “marriage.”

A Holy Cross Jesuit In Rome And Orvieto

A chilly and rainy Saturday in Rome, untypical for this time of year, has provided the opportunity to relax and reflect–and not to go rushing about in this tempest to add lines to the list of worthwhile things I have seen in Rome. At my age, that would be unseemly. This trip to Rome, aimed at two weeks’ research in the Jesuit Archives, has been a wonderful experience. It started with an overlong flight on Monday night. 

We flew over North Africa in order to avoid the Icelandic ash plume. I was taken by the fact that I was seeing Africa for the first time, albeit from 30,000 feet, the place where my niece spent three happy and generous years in the Peace Corps and the place of origin of so many colleagues, acquaintances, and friends.

The superior of the House of Writers, a genial Californian named Fr. Ernie Martinez, made room for me in the infirmary since the regular guest rooms are full. It has the advantage of a comfortable chair and bed and a private bathroom; and it’s agreeably close to the dining room. What food! I love the fresh-baked rolls and cappucino for breakfast; the main meal at 1, served in four courses; and the informal suppers–leftovers and sandwich makings. Last night, they offered four types of pizza: the sweet onion pizza was fantastic, washed down with a good glass of beer. What company! I have enjoyed re-connecting with Father Jim Pratt (HC ‘76) whom I knew in his student days. 

Jim now works at the Curia in the Istituto Historico and is a font of information and hospitality. Tomorrow, we will travel to Orvieto on a day trip; since his Italian is fluent and his personality is friendly, I’m looking forward to a good outing, even on a meterologically drippy day. The Jesuits in this house are a microcosm of the whole Society. Many of the younger men in the house work at Vatican Radio, and most of them (Southeast Asians, Poles, Chinese, and others) can converse in English. 

Yesterday, when I went to breakfast at my accustomed time, we had a surprise visit from Fr. Adolfo Nicolas, the general of our Society. Since he wasn’t expected, few were present and I had the pleasure of sharing the table with him and one other Jesuit. 

Fr. General has happy memories of New England, where he learned English at the former Jesuit house at Shadowbrook in the Berkshires.

(On it, I highly recommend the Shadowbrook website prepared by Ms. Alice Howe, curator of the N.E. Jesuit Archives.) A great surprise and treat to meet the head of our Society, a genial and unassuming man.

Link (here) to the full post of The College of the Holy Cross  Jesuit,  Fr. Anthony Kuzniewski, S.J. at his blog post is entitled the Eternal City.

Party Time At Holy Cross

Officials at the College of the Holy Cross said they “regret” an incident earlier this week

in which Frank Vellaccio, the school’s senior vice president, lashed out at District 4 City Councilor Barbara G. Haller,

who, over the years, has pushed school administrators to do more about cracking down on student partying on College Hill.

Link (here) to a much larger story in the Telegram

Saints And Souls At The College Of The Holy Cross In 1898

All Saints' Day was fittingly observed at the college.

In the morning Solemn High Mass was celebrated, with Father Casey, S. J., officiating as celebrant, Father Keveney, S. J., as deacon, and Mr. Becker, S. J., as sub-deacon. During the Mass the choir discoursed beautiful music. In the evening Vespers were sung, and the service concluded with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

On the morning of All Souls' All Souls' Day,

the students assembled in the chapel, where the Office of the Dead was chanted. After the Office of the Dead, Mass was celebrated by Father Rector. During the rest of the morning there was no class, and the students enjoyed themselves in various ways.

Link (here) to The Purple, the official publication The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.

German Jesuit: Mixed Media

Jesuit Scholar Brings Contemporary Art into Historic Churches

WORCESTER, Mass. – Rev. Friedhelm Mennekes, S.J., a visiting international Jesuit scholar at the College of the Holy Cross, will give an illustrated lecture titled “On the Sacredness of Emptiness: Contemporary Art and Religion at St. Peter's Jesuit-Church in Cologne,” on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 4 p.m. in the College’s Rehm Library. The lecture, presented by the Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture, is free and open to the public.

For more than three decades, Fr. Mennekes has focused on fostering a dialogue between the world of faith and the world of contemporary art. He has written extensively on the spiritual dimension in artistic works and

“on the disastrous relationship between modern art and the Christian churches.”

In 1979, he started an exhibition program of contemporary art in sacred spaces, first at the church of St. Markus, Frankfurt, and later at the church of St. Peter's, Cologne, with its annex, the Kunst-Station Sankt Peter, a center of contemporary art and modern music that he founded. Fr. Mennekes invited some of the world’s leading contemporary artists—including Josef Albers, Francis Bacon, Anish Kapoor, Barbara Kruger, David Salle and Cindy Sherman—to install site-specific works in the still-active parishes.

Since 2003, he has worked on a project for young artists in the Kurdish part of Iraq. It is a regular collaboration between the Art Laboratory, Suleimanyah (Iraq) and the Kunst-Station Sankt Peter, Cologne. Fr. Mennekes has traveled to Iraq and organized three exhibitions of Kurdish artists from Iraq in St. Peter's, Cologne and the Art Academy of Leipzig, Germany.

Fr. Mennekes is professor emeritus of pastoral theology and sociology of religion at Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology, Frankfurt, Germany. Until recently he was also pastor of the Jesuit Church of St. Peter's, Cologne, Germany. He is currently teaching a seminar titled “New Art in Sacred Spaces” in the visual arts department at the College.

Link (here)

Photo of Fr. Friedhelm Mennekes, S.J. (here) with artist Hermann Nitsch.