An Honorary Degree for Condoleezza Rice?

CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Thursday, May 4, 2006

2 Professors at Boston College Protest Honorary Degree for Condoleezza Rice

By JENNIFER JACOBSON

Two theology professors at Boston College have written a letter protesting the institution's decision to award an honorary degree to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the grounds that her role in the Iraq war and foreign policy makes her morally unfit for the honor at the Roman Catholic College.

Kenneth R. Himes, an associate professor and chairman of the theology department, and David Hollenbach, a full professor, sent their letter, titled "Condoleezza Rice Does Not Deserve a Boston College Honorary Degree," to the entire faculty by e-mail on Tuesday.

The professors wrote that they "strongly disagree" with the university's decision, announced on Monday, to invite Ms. Rice to the commencement ceremony, scheduled for May 22, and asked their colleagues to sign on. About 150 faculty members had done so by midday Wednesday, Mr. Hollenbach said. He was unable to provide the names of those who had signed the letter, but said he planned to make them public.

"On the levels of both moral principle and practical moral judgment, Secretary Rice's approach to international affairs is in fundamental conflict with Boston College's commitment to the values of the Catholic and Jesuit traditions and is inconsistent with the humanistic values that inspire the university's work," the letter said. It also noted that Pope John Paul II and the United States Catholic bishops opposed the Iraq war.

Mr. Hollenbach said that he and his colleagues who signed the letter do not object to Ms. Rice's speaking at the college because they support academic freedom. "It is not our intent to disrupt the commencement," he said. But since she was the architect of the strategy for the Iraq war, he said, they do oppose awarding her the degree. He said they would submit the letter, which did not call on the college to rescind the invitation, to the institution's Board of Trustees and its president.

John B. Dunn, a spokesman for the college, said that while there may be some disagreement over the selection of Ms. Rice, college officials believe she is an appropriate choice. "As a university that embraces freedom of expression, we expect that she will be respectfully received," he said.

A spokesman for the U.S. State Department could not confirm whether Ms. Rice had agreed to speak at the college and declined to comment on the letter.

Mr. Dunn, however, said that Ms. Rice had accepted the invitation. He also said that students by and large seem to support the decision, citing an editorial, "Politics Put Aside, Rice Is Right Choice," that the student newspaper published on Monday.

Some faculty members disagreed with Mr. Himes's and Mr. Hollenbach's letter.

"What some of my colleagues, in theology and elsewhere, have done is to take contingent political judgments and raise them to the level of dogma," said the Rev. Paul W. McNellis, an adjunct professor of philosophy. He added that people of good will can be on either side of the Iraq war and that the church does not have an official policy on it.

Marc Landy, a political-science professor, also opposed the letter. He said he e-mailed faculty members that it was an honor to have Ms. Rice speak. "She is the secretary of state, after all," he said. "This is not a moment to let foreign-policy disagreements stand in the way of this occasion."

At least five other Roman Catholic colleges and universities have been criticized this year for inviting commencement speakers who have publicly opposed various church teachings (ChronicleNews Blog, April 20).

 

Following is the text of the professors' letter.

Condoleezza Rice Does Not Deserve a Boston College Honorary Degree

We, the undersigned members of the faculty at Boston College, strongly disagree with the decision of the university's leadership to grant Condoleezza Rice an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and to invite her to address the 2006 commencement. On the levels of both moral principle and practical moral judgment, Secretary Rice's approach to international affairs is in fundamental conflict with Boston College's commitment to the values of the Catholic and Jesuit traditions and is inconsistent with the humanistic values that inspire the university's work.

As a matter of moral principle, Rice maintains that U.S. foreign policy should be based on U.S. national interest and not on what she calls the interests of an "illusory international community." This stands in disturbing contrast with the Catholic and humanistic conviction that all people are linked together in a single human family and that all nations in our interdependent world have a duty to protect "the common good of the entire human family."

On the level of practical judgment, Rice has helped develop and implement the strategic policies that have guided the United States in the tragic war in Iraq. Pope John Paul II and the United States Catholic bishops opposed initiating this war on ethical grounds. We also believe the policies that have shaped the war's ongoing conduct cannot be justified in light of the moral values of the Catholic tradition or the norms of international law.

For these reasons, we object to Boston College honoring Condoleezza Rice at its 2006 commencement. Doing so contradicts the university's Catholic, Jesuit, and humanistic identity.
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