NEW ORLEANS, LA, May 9, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Increasing tension in the United States between local bishops and Catholic educational institutions have now affected the Archdiocese of New Orleans after the President of Loyola University announced that the Landrieu family would receive an honorary degree in part for their exemplary public Catholicism.
In a May 5th press release Archbishop Alfred Hughes announced he would not attend the commencement activities at Loyola University. In his statement Archbishop Hughes praised Judge and Mrs. Landrieu for both their remarkable family and for their service to the Church and the community. The Archbishop noted however “that in honoring the whole family, the Loyola Law School did not clarify its conviction on respect for human life. Not all members of the family have been faithful to the Church’s teaching regarding public policy.”
Two of Moon and Verna Landrieu’s children, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, support abortion rights in their public lives. Mary Landrieu has consistently supported abortion, but has voted to prohibit a controversial late-term abortion procedure. Mitch Landrieu, as a state legislator in 1990 and 1991, opposed several bills seeking to criminalize abortion. The bills passed the Legislature but were vetoed by Gov. Buddy Roemer, with Landrieu voting to uphold the veto.
In light of Loyola’s decision, Archbishop Hughes further stated “I have expressed my disappointment to the President of Loyola University that the Law School has decided to extend this honor in this way. In addition, I have reluctantly decided not to participate in any commencement exercises of Loyola University, lest my presence confuse the faithful and give the impression that it is appropriate to include in an honor anyone who dissents publicly from Church teaching.”
Archbishop Hughes’ decision is based on the July, 2004, statement “Catholics in Political Life” in which the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops indicated that Catholic institutions should not give awards, honors or platforms to those who act contrary to Church teaching on fundamental moral principles.
This is the third time in three years in which Archbishop Hughes has had to publicly distance the Archdiocese from Loyola. In 2002, Loyola honored Kim Gandy with an award. Gandy is an alumna who, as the president of the National Organization for Women, was one of the nation’s foremost abortion-rights advocates.
Last year Loyola permitted the presentation of the “Vagina Monologues,” a blunt, provocative play exploring themes of feminine sexuality and violence toward women. Though Loyola president Rev. Kevin Wildes told students in a campuswide e-mail that he did not endorse everything in the play, he urged their attention to its themes, “particularly about sexual violence toward women.” Both instances resulted in objections being voiced by the Archdiocese.
The battle for Catholic education in the United States is continuing to escalate. In spite of last year’s US Bishop’s statement Catholic educational institutions continue to honour questionable individuals. In a report by the Cardinal Newman Society, at least 13 American Catholic colleges and universities have defied the US Bishops by inviting commencement speakers who defy Church teachings on key moral issues. Four institutions have already had their “Catholic” identity removed by their local bishops.
With files from the Cardinal Newman Society.