Hyprocrisy At Boston College
by Aaron Margolis, May 4th, 2006 at 02:38pm
Two leading theologians at Boston College have written a stinging letter objecting to the college’s decision to invite Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to speak at graduation and to give her an honorary degree.
Nearly 100 faculty members have signed the letter, according to the theology department, which declined to release their names.
The letter, which will be delivered to the president and board of trustees, has set off a fiery debate.
Kenneth Himes, chairman of the department of theology, and the Rev. David Hollenbach, who holds the Margaret O’Brien Flatley chair in the department, titled their letter ”Condoleezza Rice Does Not Deserve a Boston College Honorary Degree,” and sent it to the entire faculty inviting members to sign on. The writers said they were distressed with the university’s decision to invite Rice to commencement May 22. Her selection was announced Monday.
”On the levels of both moral principle and practical moral judgment, Secretary Rice’s approach to international affairs is 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,” the letter said. It pointed out Pope John Paul II’s opposition to the war in Iraq.
”I have no objection to her coming here to speak — I am in favor of free speech — but I don’t believe we should be honoring her with an honorary degree,” Hollenbach said.
Why are they attacking Secretary Rice because she has beliefs that are in conflict with “the values of the Catholic and Jesuit traditions and is inconsistent with the humanistic values that inspire the university’s work,” when Boston College has a disturbing history of bestowing honorary degrees to individuals whose beliefs are exponentially more inconsistent with Catholic and Jesuit traditions.
Let’s look at a few:
Dellinger is a law professor at the Duke University School of Law and formerly served as U.S. Assistant Attorney General and Acting Attorney General in the Clinton Administration. Dellinger has been closely associated with NARAL Pro-Choice America and chaired NARAL’s 1992 commission to defend Roe v. Wade. He served as counselor to President Bill Clinton on constitutional issues, drafting five executive orders that nullified President George H.W. Bush’s pro-life policies.
NARAL president Kate Michelman
Needs no explanation.
U.S. Represenative Ed Markey (D-7th)
Markey was rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record, opposes school prayer (via Issues2000.org).
Senator John Kerry
Kerry was rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record, and voted no on prohibiting same-sex marriage (via Issues2000.org)
Let’s not forget Senator Ted Kennedy, or the three other Clinton Secretaries who received honorary degrees from Boston College.
How about we mention the following examples of Boston College faculty and student body going against Catholic and Jesuit values and tradition:
College officials and faculty with ties to pro-abortion and pro-euthanasia organizations, including a Boston College law professor on the board of directors of the Death With Dignity National Center; a Georgetown University philosophy professor on the board of directors of the Compassion in Dying Federation, and two Georgetown University women’s studies professors who are also employees of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. (source)
Pro-abortion student clubs including the Reproductive Choice Coalition at Boston College law school, H*yas for Choice at Georgetown University, Georgetown Students for Choice at Georgetown law school, and a NOW chapter at St. Ambrose University. (source)
Let’s take a look at political donations
Boston College (employees reportedly gave $17,000 to Kerry and nothing to Bush), Boston College also hosted Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass.), one of the first openly gay members of Congress and a proponent of abortion rights, who endorsed Kerry and criticized the Bush administration for allegedly forcing religious values on America.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary on October 4, Boston College Law School presented its first Distinguished Service Medal to Rev. Robert Drinan, S.J., who is notorious for his service as a U.S. congressman of Massachusetts from 1971-1981, despite Vatican opposition.
This controversy behind the bestowing of an honorary degree to Secretary Rice is just absurd. Come on, she is Secretary of State for an administration that is pro-life and believes in the sanctity of marriage, and they have a problem with it? It’s clear that the primary impetus behind the “controversy” of inviting Secretary Rice is because of the War in Iraq–exclusively. The Boston College faculty and student body who object to the invitation of Secretary Rice are hypocrites for their conjured up controversy. Where were the petitions when Kate Michelman, President of NARAL was speaking at BU, or the handful of politicians with pro-choice agendas?
So much for teaching students to be open-minded.
Entry Filed under: News
2 Comments
1. misskelley | May 5th, 2006 at 9:05 pm
Good homework, Aaron. Apparently Bush hatred trumps all.
2. BC73alum | May 8th, 2006 at 3:32 pm
Aaron’s research amounts to a Christian Right’s list of politicians who support a women’s right to choose. The hipocracy belongs to those who claim to be Christians but care not one wit about human rights (they reserve the right to torture or imprison at will, and to end the life of those convicted), social justice (lower taxes at all costs, even if the poor and needy suffer inequitably), or the judicious and appropriate use of force (wage war under false pretenses and before all other options have been exhausted). Good job, Aaron.