News

By Hilary White
 
SAN JOSE, California, October 30, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – On October 25, the School of Law at Santa Clara University, a self-described “Jesuit, Catholic university,” honoured one of the US most famous homosexual legal activists at its fourth annual “Celebration of Diversity” gala.
 
  A news release said Birch, a graduate of the school, was president and executive director of the Human Rights Campaign, “the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization,” from 1994 to 2004. Californian Catholic reports that under her tenure, Human Rights Campaign increased its membership from 100,000 to 1.1 million supporters, and its revenues from US $6.5 million to almost $30 million.
 
  Santa Clara University is a well known problem spot to campaigners seeking to reform Catholic higher education. The Cardinal Newman Society, a Washington-based Catholic advocacy group that seeks to restore an authentic Catholic character to such schools, included Santa Clara in its 2006 list of US colleges claiming a Catholic name that opposed Catholic teaching in areas like promoting homosexuality or abortion.
 
  In 2005, the school hosted the first “Out There” conference, the purpose of which was to “promote opportunities for gays and lesbians at Catholic colleges.” Officials of the University defended the conference saying it was “the Catholic way to act.” The 2005 conference attracted 150 students and faculty from 40 different Catholic colleges and universities and was praised by gay activists as opening a new door between the homosexual activist community and the world of Catholic education.
 
  In 2006, Santa Clara posted to the website of its anthropology department a list of internship placements that included Planned Parenthood.
 
  Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

  List of Catholic College Concerns identified by Cardinal Newman Society
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/mar/060317a.html
 
  To express concerns:
  Santa Clara University
  500 El Camino Real
  Santa Clara, CA 95053, USA
  408-554-4000
 
  Bishop of the diocese:

  Most. Rev. Patrick J McGrath DD, JCD,
  Bishop of San Jose
  408-983-0195
  408-983-0200 fax
  900 Lafayette Street, Suite 301
  Santa Clara, California 95050-4966

  Assistant to Bishop McGrath