Ave Maria University Receives Four Million Dollar Gift and Uncharitable Criticism

By Deacon Keith Fournier
11/20/2009
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Charity calls us to be charitable, beginning with one another. It calls us to love all men and women as the Lord does.

Ave Maria is one of several dynamically faithful Catholic Colleges preparing future Catholic leaders. I have great respect for the courage shown by the University founder, the leadership of its President and the scholarship and dedication of those who are gathering together to build this new University dedicated to Our Lady.

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CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Catholic Online) � I was recently delighted to learn that Ave Maria University was the recipient of a Four Million dollar ($4,000,000.) gift from a man named Tom Golisano. The first words which came into my heart upon reading the news were from St. Paul, �Rejoice with those who rejoice�� (Romans 12:15)

I am convinced that the most important work being done in this new missionary age is the preparation of the next generation of faithful, well educated young Catholic men and women, prepared to respond to the call to every Christian vocation and to participate in the mission of the Church. It is these men and women, now being prepared at places like Ave Maria, who will carry on the work of the Church well into the Third Millennium making it into a new missionary age of the Church.

Our work as Catholics called to rebuild the Church and transform the culture will take a long time given the devastation of the last one hundred years. We need �living stones�, young women and men in love with the Lord and the Church and truly educated in the Truth which alone sets us free to take up the charge. They will carry on the New Evangelization through their work and their witness of life. Ave Maria is one of several dynamically faithful Catholic Colleges preparing future Catholic leaders. I have great respect for the courage shown by the University founder, the leadership of its President and the scholarship and dedication of those who are gathering together to build this new University dedicated to Our Lady.

My next response was to find out more about the donor and how this gift would be used. I discovered that B. Thomas Golisano is the founder and Chairman of Paychex, Inc. I used Paychex in my work in starting organizations in the past but never knew who founded it. I also discovered that he owns the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League, so I was not surprised to read that the funds will be used to build an athletic facility. Mr. Golisano told the Press, "I am pleased to contribute to this exciting new endeavor at Ave Maria University�.The new field house will be an integral part of the University's future growth and vitality. Athletic programs, sport teams, wellness activities and clubs help to round out the college experience for students and their families and more importantly, keep young minds engaged and healthy."

I have spent the last few months getting back into shape and rediscovering the essential importance of living an integrated and healthy lifestyle. This was necessary after years of pursuing a graduate degree during which I simply fell apart physically. One of the things I admire most about Ave Maria is their commitment to helping those who study there and live in the community of faith on campus to develop good habits of both body and soul. Their focus on virtue and holiness is as inspiring as it is practical. Finally, I discovered the impressive philanthropy of Mr. Golisano, much of which is done through the �Golisano Foundation� which assists people with learning disabilities. Clearly this is a man who through his giving, his charity, has helped many of the �poor� and is to be commended for that work.

However, it was what I discovered next online which prompted this article. I found petty, vicious attacks against Ave Maria for accepting the gift published in certain segments of the Catholic blogosphere. It appears that Mr. Golisano, like most of us reading this article, is a work in progress. His long life reveals that he held some positions in the past which do not comport with those which he holds today. Some within certain segments of the Catholic blogging community were only too eager to point out those positions of the past. However, they took another step; they attacked the man�s motives and attacked Ave Maria for accepting his charity so as to help fund their work of forming young men and women in Charity. First, I became angry, and then I grew sad.

I immediately wrote to their President, Nick Healy, to congratulate him and to encourage him. I was sure he had seen these negative attacks. I share an excerpt from my E-Mail in order to then express some thoughts for us to consider together:

******

��You have heard the expression about water rolling off the backs of ducks...that is how you and the founder of the University, Tom Monaghan, should approach the ever annoying peanut gallery of whining negative critics in some of our own circles. Let it roll off your back and rejoice in the Lord who has blessed you with so many gifts. CONGRATULATIONS!

Securing this gift from Tom Golisano is wonderful news for the thousands of faithful young Catholics and others who will grow in their ability to serve the Church - called into the world - while living and studying there through his generosity! It is also a great example of a Catholic vision of evangelization and mission. ...

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1 - 10 of 27 Comments

Esther M Ferencz
3 years ago
I find comical relief and hillarity in the STUPIDNESS of some of our very own, I mean looking for the plank in anothers eye YET ignoring their very own. So typical of the so called catholic GROUPS and laypersons who genuinely lack any purpose in life other then to find fault with every move made by individuals such as Mr. Galosano and his most generous gift to AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY and his coversion to the pro life stance. BLESS THIS KIND MAN OH LORD!
Thales
3 years ago
The Cardinal Newman Society has just issued a statement raising concerns about AMU's honoring Golisano.

Is the Cardinal Newman Society one of those uncharitable critics that Deacon Fournier is talking about?
Veritas
3 years ago
In response to Nic Chavoso's post, would your cardinal have named a building "Lucifer" if he were to donate money to feed the poor? The issue is not the donation, but the honors bestowed upon the donor.

"Our late revered Archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin, once said, "I will accept money from the devil himself if that will enable me to help the poor and feed the hungry." So there you go! Kudos to Ave Maria University and thanks to Mr. Galisano. And God bless the pure of heart who tremble at His word. "
Vance
3 years ago
I applaud Mr. Golisano's philanthropy to higher education. I take Deacon Fournier's word that Golisano has made a positive conversion to Pro-Life. That being the case, I think a building named after him is in order. A strong Obama supporter is not going to donate money to a college like Ave Maria. The Pro-abortion killers would throw their money at universities that employ the Ward Churchill's of the world.
M C
3 years ago
I totally agree with Deacon Fournier! I, at one time was pro choice and am now very pro-life. I understand that people do change, learn and grow. What a generous gift.
Lourdes del-Calvo
3 years ago
Congratulations...to all, to this wonderful man, and to the president of Ave Maria University. When I first heard about Ave Maria, Fl....I said that's the place I would love to live. I am still praying and hoping to be able to live my last years there, I went before the opening and fell in loved w/it...If God leads me there I would like to give my time, volunteering at the Church and at the University...I would not be a burden...God Bless you all
SB
3 years ago
Thank you National Velvet for your comment. I still haven't figured out what the concerns of people with the Tom Golisano / Ave Maria happenings have to do with the issue of charity...They are pointing to what they believe to be a problematic way of acting on the part of Ave Maria. But no one has made clear why this criticism by itself amounts to being uncharitable! I must say - with all due respect, I'm very disappointed with Deacon Fournier's article. The problem isn't that he's wrong (though I think he is); the problem is that he completely misses the real issue at hand. He should have spent his time clearing TG's name, and giving evidence of TG's change of orientation.
National Velvet
3 years ago
As many comments above have reiterated: it is not the acceptance of the money that is at issue, but the honoring of TG that is at issue. Further, it is one thing for people to DISAGREE on whether or not TG should be honored; it is another thing to be DISHONEST about what is really going on. It is outright disingenuous to say that TG is pro-life - for if he were, he would never be involved in the Clinton Global Initiative. Investigate for yourselves: http://www.clintonfoundation.org/ Further, see http://news.muckety.com/2008/08/20/ny-republican-tom-golisano-gives-big-money-to-democratic-convention/4642, a report indicating TG's $1 million donation to the Democratic convention just over a year ago.

In short, at this point, the worst of it is the blatant denial of what is going on that is most problematic. One begins to feel that one is at the mad hatter's tea party...

Finally, anyone who objects to the situation is said to "lack charity", and to be judgmental" - a very manipulative move, to attack the motives, instead of addressing the arguments, of your opponent. For shame.
RG
3 years ago
I am pleased to see the call to treat an institution and its people with charity. Unfortunately, some supporters of Ave Maria have been uncharitable in comments questioning the Catholicity of other colleges and universities. Perhaps this episode may encourage a bit more humility now that the shoe is on the other foot.
Ave Law '07
3 years ago
Oh my goodness - are you kidding me? The criticism you've seen directed at Tom Monaghan/AMU/AMT is legitimate criticism based on the evidence available. Mr. Golisano has a public record of supporting the same politicians as NARAL. Ave Maria University named a building after him. That doesn't make you queasy?

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