Trinity College - Update

For those of you who follow the various Catholic blogs (and even this one), it will come as no suprise of how much Trinity College under the current leadership, no longer exists as a Catholic institution of higher learning, but IMHO, as simply a institution of higher learning.

On May 15th, the President of Trinity University, Patricia McGuire pointed to the pro-abortion politicians Nancy Pelosi and Kathleen Sebelius as good examples of the education provided by the Catholic university. Read more about it here.

At the 2009 Commencement, she said:

The real scandal is the spectacle of ostensibly Catholic mobs camping out at Notre Dame for the specific purpose of disrupting the commencement address of the nation’s first African American president. This ugly spectacle is an embarrassment to all Catholics. The face that Catholicism shows to our new president should be one marked with the sign of peace, not distorted in the snarl of hatred.

Wow, 37 people got arrested and it was a mob, including at least one priest and a nun. I guess the prayerful and peaceful commencement ceremony with Fr. Pavone was part of that mob too?

She also stated:

The religious vigilantism apparent in the Notre Dame controversy arises from organizations that have no official standing with the Church, but who are successful in gaining media coverage as if they were speaking for Catholicism. The self-appointed “watchdogs” of Catholic higher education also afflict Catholics in political life, acting as grand inquisitors who appear to want nothing more than to drive all Catholics away from public office. They have established themselves as uber-guardians of a belief system we can hardly recognize. Theirs is a narrow faith devoted almost exclusively to one issue. They defend the rights of the unborn but have no charity toward the living. They mock social justice as a liberal mythology.

I don't see anyone trying to drive away Catholics from public office. Do you?

Some of us do mock the "social justice" crowd. Look at the example of the DC Opportunity Scholarships. Where is the social justice crowd on it? The silence is deafening.

Where are they on tax breaks for parents who send their children to Catholic schools? Or businesses that support them? Silence.

If you are not protesting the School of America's, purchasing Fair Trade coffee and asking for more money for the homeless, then I guess you aren't pro-life enough.

BTW, I know many on the pro-life side who do so much for those who are born. From soup kitchens, to youth groups, to donating money, to helping the elderly person next door by mowing the lawn, shopping or just chatting with them. They don't necessarily do the protest thing, because that just makes you feel good and gives you bragging rights.

Well, I expect that Sebelius will be honored in some way, given the fact that Sen. Pelosi has been. I look forward to seeing the Archbishop's response.

++++++++++++++

To the person who wrote to me about their particular ministry.

You did not answer the questions I have posed. Stating that someone from the Archdiocese came to visit and that it was a nice visit, does not answer the questions. Therefore, I will ask them again.

First, does the ministry which you wish me to help advertise, ask all participants to be faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church?

Second, does the ministry which you ask me to advertise, believe that not living in the state of grace is acceptable and supported by the parish where it meets?

Third, does the ministry see alternatives to marriage between a man and a woman as acceptable and should be recognized by the state and Church?

Simple yes and no answers will do. I look forward to your reply. Thank you, in advance.

"Catholic" Colleges/Parishes Celebrate the Coronation of Obama

Well it seems that a number of Catholic institutions of higher education, as well as, Catholic parishes, celebrated the coronation of the Most Merciful, Lord High Barack Obama:

- Trinity College (what else is new)

- Catholic University of America (although the article does not state if they just rented the facility out or actually sponsored one -- not very clear, so I will give them the benefit of doubt)

- Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Washington. DC

- St. Margaret’s in Seat Pleasant, MD

I don't expect the Archbishop to do anything about Trinity (hasn't done anything in the past, why start now) but come on, you ask us to sign card protesting FOCA and yet two of your parishes host celebrations about the election of a pro-abortion president.

And to make it worse, the pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help waxes on about him, while the pastor and parishoners at St. Margaret's seem to ignore his pro-abortion stance.

If I remember correctly, the largest number of abortions are done on African-American woman. And here they are praising the President, who intends to spend more money on this evil.

What's next? A statue of Barack Obama in the sanctuary?

Thanks to our colleagues at Restore DC Catholicism for making us aware of this.

+++
Update:

Above I made a statement on the number of abortions in the African-American community. The data seems to point out, even the most recent, that there are more abortions conducted on caucasians than blacks but that the rate among black women is higher:

The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control indicate that while 56 percent of all women who obtained legal abortions were white, the abortion rate (the number of abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 per year) for black women was 2.9 times that of white women. For every thousand black women, 32 have abortions, as compared with 11 for every thousand white women. Likewise with numbers of abortions per 1,000 births: The abortions/births ratio for white women was 184 abortions per 1,000 live births; for black women, it was 543 abortions per 1,000 births. This means that abortion ratios for black women were 2.8 times greater than those for white women. Sadly, black women were also more likely to obtain riskier abortions late in their pregnancies, while white women were significantly more likely than black women to obtain abortions before 16 weeks.

Although a little old, I think that this explains it well.

What do you expect from a "Catholic" University?

During the family crisis over the weekend, I inadvertently left my paper copy of the Catholic Standard at an undisclosed location. (No, I know exactly where I left it.) However, I did have a chance to look through it before returning to my domicile.

If I remember correctly there was an article regarding the fact that US News and World Report came out with their college rankings. (Although I have always been very dubious of the rankings, nonetheless, many colleges love them.) The article focused on the fact that there were a couple of "Catholic" colleges on the list, Georgetown being one of them.

However, I came across a very interesting Commentary by Diogenes over on the Catholic Culture website. According to Diogenes:


A recent issue of the Georgetown Magazine contains an article titled "Out on the Hilltop," which treats of gay students at Georgetown over the years, and advances the University's efforts to make its connection to Catholic teaching totally opaque. We're given a number of brief profiles of gay students and alumni and their triumphs over homophobia and internalized shame. The Catechism's instruction concerning homosexual acts is stated correctly in the article, and thereupon the administration's response is given in the wooly prose that conveys the fact that the administration does not wish to communicate its mind on the matter.

If you've been paying attention to the way these battles are waged among Catholics, you won't be surprised that the issues are not subjected to a moral or theological assessment, but instead contradictory positions are elicited from a diversity of "Catholic voices," with the implication that no stance is more Catholic than another, but personal and arbitrary inclinations will steer different Catholics to different conclusions.


In the original article, two priests both graduates of Georgetown are interviewed. Once who upholds the Catholic faith and the other who believes that being gay and Catholic is a "matter of ongoing negotiations."

Personally, I have a real problem with a "Catholic" university (and a Catholic priest) basically supporting an immoral lifestyle. However, this is not just an issue for the university but even one for the USCCB.

How so?

When the Pope came to visit the USCCB created a Papal Blog. One of the postings discussed the number of Catholic universities and colleges. I posted the following, which was removed in a short time:


How many of those who are listed as Catholic colleges and universities are really Catholic? Georgetown and Trinity in the Washington DC area both have homosexual organizations and regularly go against Catholic teaching, such as Trinity's invitation to Nancy Pelosi.


And, let us not forget that Archbishop Wuerl has himself washed his hands of such matters.

So, what do you expect when the USCCB and the Archbishop refuse to take a stand. You get a Georgetown and a Trinity. Both Catholic in name only.

Open Letter to the Editor of The (My) Catholic Standard

Dear Mr. Zimmerman:

I received the most recent issue of the Catholic Standard. I was looking forward to the various articles on the Pope and his visit to the Washington DC area.

When I opened the first page of the issue, my attention was immediately caught by the full page advertisement welcoming the Pope by Trinity Collage.

This is the same Trinity College that hosts a Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgender Club. This is the same Trinity College that welcomed and honored Nancy Pelosi with a Mass. This is the same Trinity College that advertises the fact Nancy Pelosi is a graduate.

It is bad enough that you praised a pro-abortion and pro-homosexual politician upon her death a few months ago, but do you need to accept an advertisement from those who seen to thumb their nose at the Catholic faith?

Do you need to accept an advertisement from this institution welcoming His Holiness?

What are your standards for accepting advertisements? Is this the simple fact that they call themselves Catholic and can pay the rate?

USCCB, the Papal Blog and Catholic Education

On the USCCB Papal Blog, a blog posting was made regarding Catholic Education. In particular, there was a paragraph on the number of "Catholic" colleges and universities.

Now, being a bit of a wise guy/gal, I left the following comment on the blog:

How many of those who are listed as Catholic colleges and universities are really Catholic? Georgetown and Trinity in the Washington DC area both have homosexual organizations and regularly go against Catholic teaching, such as Trinity's invitation to Nancy Pelosi.

Since it is the USCCB's blog, they decided that it wasn't worth posting.

Now, they have that right -- it is after all their blog -- but I wonder how many other people really believe everything they are saying about Catholic education in the US.

And for those of you who are interested, I made certain to get a screen shot of my posting.




++++++++++++

Quote of the Month:

"I've got two daughters — 9 years old and 6 years old, I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby. So it doesn't make sense to not give them information." Barack Obama

Trinity College - Giving to their Endowment (NOT)

Yesterday, I received a letter from Trinity College asking for a donation for their Endowment Fund. In the past, I had given due to personal appeal from a good friend who worked there. At that time, they reminded everyone that they were a "Catholic" instiutition. However, when he left, I decided to stop giving and I am glad I did.

Over the last few years, the word "Catholic" and the following of the teachings of the Church seem to have been forgotten.

We all know about Nancy Pelosi's visit to Trinity. In fact, we probably know more about it because of what the Archbishop did not do, than what they did.

We also know that Trinity has Gay Pride Club. Now, that is okay for a secular college or university but to have one at a college that claims to be Catholic. Nope, not at all.

So, when I received it, I looked at it, and immediately tossed it in the trash.

If you get one, you should trash it too.

+++++++++++++++++++

Quote of the Month:

"I've got two daughters — 9 years old and 6 years old, I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby. So it doesn't make sense to not give them information." Barack Obama