More on the Boston College controversy ...

[MOJ-friend Patrick Shrake writes:]

I think it would be interesting to know if  these protesting BC professors
did anything in the past when the following were scheduled to receive
honorary awards or made commencement speeches (though I understand that it
is the award, and not the invitation to speak, that the professors object
to):

Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, Honorary Degree, Chairwoman of the John D. &
Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (May 2002). The MacArthur Foundation's
Population and Reproductive Health grant program is a leading contributor to
organizations advocating abortion, contraception and population control.

Paul Cellucci, Ambassador to Canada and former Massachusetts Governor (May
2002). While governor, Cellucci was a strong advocate of abortion rights.

Walter Dellinger, commencement speaker, May 24, 2004.  Dellinger was closely
associated with NARAL Pro-Choice America and chaired NARAL's 1992 commission
to defend Roe v. Wade.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer, author of Stenberg v.
Carhart, commencement address, May 23, 2003.

Rev. Robert Drinan, received BC's first Distinguished Service Medal (October
2004). As congressman, opposed numerous efforts
to ban federal funding of abortions.  In 1996, published articlesin the
National Catholic Reporter and the New York Times supporting
President Bill Clinton's veto of a partial-birth abortion ban.   

I'll note that I'm NOT saying that the professors are wrong to oppose the
award for Rice.  Just curious if they have consistently opposed awards to
those who were "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."

Grace & Peace,

Patrick Shrake
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mp
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UPDATE, 5/5/06

In posting Pat Shrake's message, I edited out his sentence referring to the Cardinal Newman Society.  In his original message, Pat wrote (right before his final paragraph, which begins: "I'll note that . . ."):  "I'm sure there is a long history of similar awardees and speakers, I picked these ones up after perusing the Cardinal Newman Society website for a few moments (http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/)."