The President at Georgetown: Did this Catholic University Deny the Faith?

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) – As we walk through the Easter season the readings from our daily Catholic Liturgy set before us the heroic missionary witness of an early Church truly living the implications of their Resurrection faith. The first readings are taken from the Acts of the Apostles.It includes a recounting of the fidelity of the early followers of Jesus Christ.They were unashamed of stating clearly that Jesus Christ is the only name by which men and women can be saved. (Acts 4:12) These Christians were certainly not confused concerning their Catholic identity.

As the story of these courageous witnesses unfolds we see several of their leaders, led by Peter, brought before the Sanhedrin and told, “We gave you strict orders (did we not?) to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles said in reply, "We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:28, 29).” This struggle between the law of God and the laws of men is not a new experience for the Christian Church. We must always “obey God rather than men” when confronted with a conflict of loyalties. While Christians are to be good citizens we must first, in the words of the great evangelist Paul whose year we now celebrate, remember that our lasting “citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20). St. Paul told the Christians in Rome: “ I am under obligation; that is why I am eager to preach the gospel also to you in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel! It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes"(Romans 1) We are still “under obligation”.

Now consider what occurred on April 14, 2009 on the campus of Georgetown University where President Obama was invited to speak. The invitation caused an understandable controversy since, under his leadership, the Federal Government of the US has clearly signaled an institutional opposition to the fundamental Right to Life and its intention to silence those who disagree. The US Bishops made their position clear “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” The controversy over the President speaking at the Notre Dame Commencement and receiving an honorary Doctor of Law Degree is still front and center.

What occurred at Georgetown University is one of those symbolic moments in history which speaks beyond any single incident. The administration literally covered over the Cross of Christ and the “I.H.S.”, both of which were engraved on the backdrop against which the President spoke on the Gaston Hall stage. The reaction to this censorship of Christian signs at a Catholic University was immediate. The associate Vice President of Communications of Georgetown gave her spin: "In coordinating the logistical arrangements for yesterday's event, Georgetown honored the White House staff's request to cover all of the Georgetown University signage and symbols behind Gaston Hall stage… The White House wanted a simple backdrop of flags and pipe and drape for the speech, consistent with what they've done for other policy speeches… Frankly, the pipe and drape wasn't high enough by itself to fully cover the IHS and cross above the GU seal and it seemed most respectful to have them covered so as not to be seen out of context."

Out of context? This is a Catholic University! It is clear what was done, the symbol of Christian faith was covered over. The University could have refused. It is a part of the Church, an ecclesial community. The White House weighed in: "Decisions made about the backdrop for the speech were made to have a consistent background of American flags, which is standard for many presidential events… Any suggestions to the contrary are simply false."

“I.H.S.” is derived from singling out the first letters of three Latin words, Iesus (Jesus), Hominum (of men) and Salvator (Savior). In this symbol is contained the very core of our Catholic identity.We proclaim that Jesus Christ is sent from the Father as the Savior of all men and women. Whether this White House requested the Christian symbols to be covered is a fitting subject for further investigation, particularly in light of the Department of Homeland Securities’ announcement the next day that overtly Pro-Life Christians (read every faithful Catholic) could be terrorists. However, what is scandalous about what occurred at Georgetown University is the behavior of Georgetown University.

By their actions the leadership effectively denied the central claim of the Catholic faith by covering these symbols. With the Passion narrative still echoing in our Catholic ears we should recall the two men who did so on that night when Jesus was arrested. The one named Peter repented and turned back to the Lord. He was forgiven and became the very Rock upon which the Church, the Body of the Risen Jesus Christ, was built. The other named Judas suffered a horrid death and has become synonymous with every act of apostasy since. The Question now faces the leadership of Georgetown University. Which one are you?

LET US REMEMBER THE DISTINCTIONS: HERESY v/s APOSTASY

Heresy differs from apostasy. The apostate a fide abandons wholly the faith of Christ either by embracing Judaism, Islamism, Paganism, or simply by falling into naturalism and complete neglect of religion; the heretic always retains faith in Christ. Heresy also differs from schism. Schismatics, says St. Thomas, in the strict sense, are they who of their own will and intention separate themselves from the unity of the Church. The unity of the Church consists in the connection of its members with each other and of all the members with the head. Now this head is Christ whose representative in the Church is the supreme pontiff. And therefore the name of schismatics is given to those who will not submit to the supreme pontiff nor communicate with the members of the Church subject to him. Since the definition of Papal Infallibility, schism usually implies the heresy of denying this dogma. Heresy is opposed to faith; schism to charity; so that, although all heretics are schismatics because loss of faith involves separation from the Church, not all schismatics are necessarily heretics, since a man may, from anger, pride, ambition, or the like, sever himself from the communion of the Church and yet believe all the Church proposes for our belief (II-II, Q. xxix, a. 1). Such a one, however, would be more properly called rebellious than heretical. http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5695

Ted of Windsor | 5/3/2009

LaAn: The Church of my youth and the Church now continues to support the poor and the right of individual workers to organize in the workplace but neither then nor now has it done so by being "not" Church or backing down or denying its heritage and symbols in the culture. In fact it has done so using that very power along with Catholic action of all kinds.

The action of Georgetown Jesuits would ..if it had been done in the time of the Church you speak which is my youth as well and before that would have effected nothing on behalf of those you cite except a lessening of the very real and symbolic presence in the world. Your reference with all respect begs and even ignores this distinction.

And for the record..my father was a union machinist for 40 years and spent most of his life and 30 of those years representing the issues of working men and women. He reveled in the position of the Church ..was taught by Jesuits..
I am glad he is no longer here to see what has befallen the Jesuits as well I believe his beloved unions.

Let your light go forward in the world not cover up its symbols in the face of political necessity. Had the Church done that in our youth regarding the groups you mention...there would have been no encyclical or any other action of substance...in support of the very groups you cite.

With all respect your logic is off here.

Patty Whalen | 4/29/2009

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