MANASSAS, VA, April 29, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Cardinal Newman Society has issued a shocking new report on scandals at U.S. Catholic colleges and universities that is certain to reignite concerns about the colleges’ religious character.
The 56-page report, “The Culture of Death on Catholic Campuses: A Five-Year Review,” documents inroads made by advocates of abortion, contraception, premarital sexual activity, and physician-assisted suicide onto Catholic college campuses since 1999. It is the most extensive evidence of problems in Catholic higher education ever compiled in a single source-and yet it only scratches the surface, relying primarily on media reports and college websites.
“‘Pro-choice’ is no choice for a Catholic institution, which by its Catholic mission must be courageously pro-life,” said Erin Butcher, lead researcher and co-author of the report. “Cardinal Newman Society has responded to scandal after scandal on Catholic campuses, but many Catholics still fail to appreciate the scope of the problem.”
The report, which can be downloaded free of charge at www.cardinalnewmansociety.org identifies the problems and suggests solutions to ensure that Catholic colleges uphold their Catholic, pro-life mission. Highlights include:
* Pro-abortion presidential candidates at Catholic colleges. In January, St. Anselm College (N.H.) hosted seven pro-abortion candidates for their final debate before New Hampshire’s Democratic primary. Other campaign appearances have included John Kerry at Georgetown in January 2003, Dennis Kucinich at Sacred Heart University last June, Howard Dean at St. Anselm last September and at Georgetown last October, Dick Gephardt’s daughter at Boston College last November, Gephardt and Kerry at Clarke College (Iowa) in January, Wesley Clark at Rivier College (N.H.) in January, and Kerry at Georgetown again in April.
* Nearly 200 instances of campus speakers and honorees who have been public advocates of abortion or otherwise contributors to the “Culture of Death”. These include at least 17 visits and lectures by President Bill Clinton at Georgetown University, researchers engaged in human cloning and embryonic cell research at Assumption College and the College of the Holy Cross, NARAL Pro-Choice America president Kate Michelman at Boston College law school, radical feminist Gloria Steinem at Fairfield University, pornographer Larry Flynt at Georgetown University, and National Organization for Women (NOW) president Kim Gandy at Loyola University of New Orleans.
* “Emergency contraception,” an abortifacient, provided to students by the College of Santa Fe and Rockhurst University.
* College officials and faculty with ties to pro-abortion and pro-euthanasia organizations, * Pro-abortion politicians serving as college officials and faculty, * Pro-abortion student clubs * Internships and service opportunities offered by Catholic colleges, including service as a Planned Parenthood “clinic escort” promoted by Nazareth College’s campus ministry and internships with Planned Parenthood offered by Villanova University.