Not Notre Dame: Catholic Colleges Applauded for Pro-Life Graduation Speakers
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 13, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — While Notre Dame has drawn national attention over its decision to honor pro-abortion President Barack Obama and allow him to give its commencement address, other Catholic colleges and universities are earning praise for their decision to stick with pro-life advocates.
The Cardinal Newman Society, a Catholic educational watchdog group points out that several Catholic colleges noted for their fidelity to their pro-life Catholic identity are instead choosing to honor individuals dedicated to promoting a culture of life.
“We are blessed in this country by the presence of many honorable leaders who promote the defense of innocent life in the public square,” CNS president Patrick Reilly told LifeNews.com.
“Notre Dame could learn a valuable lesson from Catholic colleges that place principle before prestige when deciding whom to honor at commencement," he said.
Reilly said he was pleased to note that several of the colleges are in the Newman Guide that his organization prepares to guide parents and teenagers in choosing a Catholic college that values the pro-life perspective.
The colleges and their honorees that the Cardinal Newman Society has cited as pro-life are:
Ave Maria University – Dr. Thomas Hilgers, director of Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction
Belmont Abbey College – Most Rev. Michael Miller, Archbishop of Vancouver
Christendom College – Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life
The College of Saint Thomas More – Dr. Ron Muller, founding President and Provost, The Cardinal Newman Liberal Arts Project
DeSales University – Sarah Gammon, CEO of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network
Franciscan University of Steubenville – Most Rev. Michael J. Higgins, TOR, minister general of the worldwide Third Order Regular Franciscan religious community
Magdalen College – Most Rev. Louis Gelineau, Bishop Emeritus of Rhode Island
Mount St. Mary’s University – Papal biographer George Weigel
Southern Catholic College – Archbishop John F. Donohue, emeritus archbishop of Diocese of Atlanta
Thomas Aquinas College – Most Rev. Marc Cardinal Ouellet, Archbishop of Quebec
The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts – Most Rev. Francis Cardinal Arinze, former Prefect, Congregation for Divine Worship and Sacraments
University of Dallas – Bishop Kevin Farrell, Diocese of Dallas
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