Campus Reform: Ursinus College

A professor at Brooklyn College recently published a series of articles on the official campus website in which he associated climate change skeptics with early Holocaust deniers.

On Friday, May 4th, Georgetown University unveiled their list of 2012 Commencement Speakers, revealing that the oldest Catholic university in America had chosen to invite Kathleen Sebelius, the architect of the HHS mandate herself, as a commencement speaker. Georgetown’s action was a direct slap in the face to the Conference of Catholic Bishops, and to every practicing Catholic. In the wake of the scandal, petitions have been circulated and letters have been written, and the university has predictably tried to change their story a few times (she’s now speaking at a “commencement event”.)

This controversy offers a chance to view in microcosm current events in the Catholic Church and the divide in American public opinion about the role of government in regulating religion. Understanding these events is crucial for all Americans who hold religious liberty dear.

By now, you've probably heard about the latest outrage at Georgetown University.

Kathleen Sebelius, the United States Secretary of the Health and Human Services - the department that brought you the infamous HHS Mandate - has been invited to be a commencement speaker at the so-called Catholic Georgetown University.

Yesterday, April 27th, Congressman Paul Ryan courageously took on the faculty of Georgetown University.

90 faculty members wrote Ryan a formal letter, condescendingly informing the Catholic public official that his understanding of Catholic moral teaching was incorrect. As historian George Weigel described it:

Conservative conferences serve to disseminate information, create networking opportunities, and inspire young activists. Famous national conferences include the Conservative Political Action Conference, RightOnline, and the Values Voter Summit. 

However, organizations realized that state-level conferences throughout the year would be a great idea to rally politicos, energize the grassroots movements, and provide and opportunity to focus on state issues. 

Pennsylvania has such a conference and it is the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference (PLC) which has been taking place for more than two decades! 

Held in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania the conference this year took place March 23-24th at the Radisson. PLC boasted an exhibit hall, workshops, and a main stage with speakers ranging from presidential candidates to local leaders.

We all know that Georgetown ceased being a Catholic college decades ago. Most recently, a noted conservative Catholic professor publicly announced that he was leaving Georgetown for an only slightly-more-orthodox institution, Notre Dame.

John Garvey, President of The Catholic University of America and constitutional scholar, has taken a public role in the Catholic battle against the Obama Administration's HHS mandate. 

It isn't the first public battle Garvey has faced, as he took on the left wing establishment last year in returning Catholic U to single-sex dormitories. 

These are challenging times for a Catholic university president with expertise in constitutional law and a penchant for standing his ground.

Note: This blog-post was written by LI Regional Field Coordinator Mike Armstrong.

Villanova University has decided to cancel its invitation for a radical gay rights activist and performer to serve as an artist in residence.

Last week, the Catholic institution made the decision to cancel Tim Miller's residency due to his controversial - and sometime's anti-Christian - performances.

In a statement, the university explained its decision:

"Villanova University embraces intellectual freedom and academic discourse.  Indeed, it is at the very heart of our University and our Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition.  With regard to the forthcoming residency and performance workshops by Tim Miller, we had concerns that his performances were not in keeping with our Catholic and Augustinian values and mission."

Villanova has more than a little cause for concern.

A student group at the Catholic University of America has released a statement about their opposition to the Obama Administration's controversial HHS mandate which requires Catholic institutions to pay for birth control and abortafacients for their employees.

Contact: Mary Clare Spence, President, Vita Familiae, 214-662-9633, 27spencm@cardinalmail.cua.edu

For today's list of courses, I will highlight the once esteemed George Mason University.  Here, a student can take a range of anthropology courses, ranging from "AVT 372 Hip Hop Culture," to "ANTH 314 Zombies."  Who would have thought that the study of the "social, political and aesthetic aspects of hip-hop," and the study of how cultures "discuss zombies" mattered?  These two courses are full credit classes, which cost $377.75 per credit hour, or $1,511 per course.