CNS Statement on Ave Maria University

Ave Maria University's decision to honor Mr. Golisano does at least give the appearance of violating the bishops' 2004 policy.

ARLINGTON (Cardinal Newman Society) - Recently Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida, announced an extraordinary $4 million gift and the naming of a new campus field house in honor of the donor, B. Thomas Golisano. The honor has been scrutinized by local media and others because of Mr. Golisano's past political activities and campaign donations which have associated Mr. Golisano with support for abortion rights and for those who are champions of abortion rights.

Because of suggestions that Mr. Golisano may today fully support Catholic teaching on abortion, and knowing of the demonstrated commitment of Ave Maria University to a strong Catholic identity and to Catholic doctrine on the sanctity of all human life, The Cardinal Newman Society has communicated with the University and others to gather complete information. Meanwhile, Ave Maria University has released a statement affirming that Mr. Golisano supports the University's Catholic mission and, in response to criticisms about the honor, has asserted that "it is precisely because you [Ave Maria University] are confronting the culture that you got my attention."

It is clear to us that Ave Maria University is fully committed to a genuine Catholic identity; that Ave Maria University has no desire to violate the bishops' 2004 policy on Catholic honors and platforms for those who publicly oppose Catholic teaching, and believes that the University did not do so in this instance; and that while Mr. Golisano's past political actions and reported statements suggest a "pro-choice" position on abortion that has not been clearly and publicly disavowed (including a 1994 quote in The New York Times that he is "pro-choice" on abortion), Mr. Golisano's statement to Ave Maria University indicating support for the university's mission is welcome and indicates some level of support for Catholic teaching.

Nevertheless, Ave Maria University's decision to honor Mr. Golisano does at least give the appearance of violating the bishops' 2004 policy--which for a committed Catholic university should be a concern--and perhaps also in fact.

The naming of a building for a particular individual is clearly an honor. Some have compared the honor for Mr. Golisano to the University of Notre Dame's honorary degree for President Obama last May; that is an exaggerated comparison, as the Notre Dame action was clearly much more serious with great potential for scandal given the greater publicity and President Obama's strident positions and actions with regard to abortion and embryonic stem cell research. It could also be noted, however, that while an honorary degree has only a short-term visibility, a named building is an honor providing long-term recognition to the individual.

While Mr. Golisano may in fact support Catholic teaching, whether fully or in part, we could find no public statement from Mr. Golisano that has clearly disavowed what appears to have been his public "pro-choice" position. Nothing clearly dispels the impression that Mr. Golisano may espouse the "personally opposed but" position, soundly rejected by the Catholic Church, that abortion is disagreeable and immoral but ought to remain legal. In several instances, Mr. Golisano's campaign contributions appear to ignore the bishops' guidance regarding the obligations of Catholic citizens in elections that offer a pro-abortion candidate in opposition to a pro-life candidate.

The fact that Mr. Golisano's positions remain unclear permits the appearance that Ave Maria University honored a publicly "pro-choice" individual who has repeatedly aligned himself with pro-abortion politics. The fact of Ave Maria University's decision to honor an individual whose reputation at the time was of a "pro-choice" individual is of concern regardless of subsequent statements from Mr. Golisano.

The hopeful result of evangelizing or fostering dialogue with Mr. Golisano does not, in itself, make the honor appropriate. Defenders of Notre Dame's honor to President Obama hailed the potential for evangelizing him and opening doors for dialogue on abortion; but Bishop John D'Arcy and other bishops responded that a Catholic honor is not an appropriate means of evangelization and encouraging dialogue.

As long as there remains the perception and possibly the fact that Ave Maria University's athletic center is named for a publicly "pro-choice" individual, we fear a negative impact on a university that largely serves and employs faithful Catholics.

The Cardinal Newman Society and Ave Maria University have a shared, demonstrated commitment to faithful Catholic higher education. We continue to have a strong relationship. The Cardinal Newman Society trusts that the University will address this concern with a sincere reflection on its mission and will develop policies to appropriately address such situations in the future.

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The Cardinal Newman Society is dedicated to renewing and strengthening Catholic identity at America's 224 Catholic colleges and universities.This article is used with permission.