Fight fiercely, Harvard...

Several weeks ago, there was mention in an MOJ posting of someone working in a large New York law firm who did not share the view of colleagues who had contributed some of their pro bono time to a pro-abortion cause that was subsequently celebrated within the firm. While the firm was reminded that not all shared in the celebration of this work and the victory to which it led, there was no indication that the work for this type of cause would desist as a pro bono activity. I wonder if that will be the same at Ropes & Gray in Boston?

As I mentioned in my previous posting from this morning, when members of the Lambda student organization at Harvard Law School discovered that the Ropes & Gray was assisting Catholic Charities to explore ways of avoiding same-sex couple adoptions, it was reported by this paper that the “gay and lesbian students wanted to stop the law firm in its tracks.” One student was quoted by the Globe as saying that there were “people who were upset and people who were very upset.” Again it was reported that a representative of the Harvard Lambda group met with the managing partner of Ropes & Gray to register the group’s complaint.

The Globe further reported that Lambda members suggested that students might protest in the future should Ropes & Gray recruit on the Harvard Law Campus. The Globe further asserted that a Lambda board member from Harvard was prepared to “shame” the law firm through tactics relying on terms quoted by the Globe that included “boycott-slash-picket.” Another person associated with Harvard Law School mentioned to the Globe that “students realize the powerful role they can play…” The possibility that the law firm would in fact recruit on the campus seems quite likely since it traditionally hires many of its new associates from Harvard according to the Globe. Whether or not the Lambda organization was successful in stopping the work the law firm was doing for Catholic Charities is unknown based on the Globe report, but the law firm did announce that it would no longer work for Catholic Charities because it “could not reconcile church [sic] doctrine, which holds that gay adoptions are ‘gravely immoral,’ with state antidiscrimination laws.”

I wonder what would happen if the Catholic Law Students organization at Harvard attempted a similar maneuver if a Boston law firm were assisting Planned Parenthood? I am certain that many share my view that assisting the destruction of human life at its earliest stages could be considered gravely immoral. I also wonder if any other student group may decide to lodge complaints with Ropes & Gray since, according to the Globe, the firm has also done pro bono work for “Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders” and filed an amicus brief in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health?   

In closing this posting, I recall the football fight song written by Tom Lehrer, I believe an alumnus of Harvard College, many years ago which might have some application to these developments in Boston and environs:

“Fight fiercely, Harvard,

Fight, fight, fight!

Demonstrate to them our skill.

Albeit they possess the might,

Nonetheless we have the will.

How we shall celebrate our victory,

We shall invite the whole team up for tea

(How jolly!)

Hurl that spheroid down the field, and

Fight, fight, fight!...”

RJA sj