Next Year, the Pope?

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, May 12 — President George W. Bush was greeted with warm applause when he spoke May 11 at St. Vincent College’s 2007 commencement ceremony. “Lead lives of purpose and character. Make a difference in someone else’s life,” Bush told the graduating class. “And if you do, you will lead richer lives, you will build a more hopeful nation and you’ll never be disappointed.” St. Vincent President James Towey joked he would ask Bush to recruit Pope Benedict XVI as next year’s commencement speaker. “Could you ask him a favor?” Towey asked Bush, who is scheduled to meet with the Pope next month. “Could you tell him that St. Vincent College is looking for a commencement speaker for next year?”

Catholic Group Wins

ASSOCIATED PRESS, May 4 — The University of Wisconsin-Madison agreed May 3 to award $253,273 in student fees next year to the UW Roman Catholic Foundation.

The agreement settles a federal religious-discrimination lawsuit the foundation filed after the university refused to recognize the foundation. David French, the lawyer who represented the foundation, said, “This settlement represents an extremely positive outcome for religious liberty.”

Evangelicals Return

MEDILL REPORTS (WASHINGTON), May 10 — Georgetown University will allow outside evangelical Protestant ministries to return to campus. Last year, Georgetown restricted the operations of six such ministries because of inadequate communication with the groups. They will be allowed to resume operations in the next school year, but will be required to coordinate their activities with Georgetown’s Protestant chaplaincy and with each other.