Academic ayatollah?

As expected, conservative Catholics are hopping mad about Notre Dame’s invitation to President Obama to give the commencement address this year. Notre Dame officials, however, aren’t backing down. Jesuit Tom Reese says such squabbles have become as much a part of spring as blooming tulips – though not nearly as pretty. “People need to recognize […]

As expected, conservative Catholics are hopping mad about Notre Dame’s invitation to President Obama to give the commencement address this year. Notre Dame officials, however, aren’t backing down.

Jesuit Tom Reese says such squabbles have become as much a part of spring as blooming tulips – though not nearly as pretty.

“People need to recognize that Catholic universities have to be places where freedom of speech and discussion is recognized and valued. Not to allow a diversity of speakers on campus is to put Catholic universities into a ghetto,” says Reese.


Meanwhile, National Catholic Reporter takes the gloves off, calling Patrick Reilly, whose Cardinal Newman Society incites a lot of commencement outrage, a “self-appointed ayatollah” and “overseer of false orthodoxy.”

“…as Cardinal Newman rolls over in his recently relocated grave, Reilly uses the cardinal’s good name to promote the idea of university as Catholic madrassa,” says Joe Feuerherd, NCR’spublisher and editor-in-chief.

That’s Reilly presenting “The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College” to Pope Benedict XVI on the left.

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