Unbalanced Protest

THE NEW YORK POST, May 23 — Columnist Rich Lowry observed that protesting students at Boston College “would be on firmer ground objecting to [Secretary of State Condoleezza] Rice’s pro-choice position” than the Iraq war.

This is because Church opposition to war is not absolute and “respecting unborn life is a fundamental Catholic teaching” — one that none of the protesting students or faculty “bothered to mention,” said Lowry.

In fact, “the opposition at BC was jump-started by a faculty letter,” said Lowry. “It is these sorts of professors who set the tone at top colleges,” and who “protect a monopoly on thought.”

California-bound

UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON, May 9 — Beginning this summer, Marianist Father James Heft will take a leave from his post as Dayton’s chancellor to serve as president of the fledging Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California.

He had been juggling both jobs for nearly six years.

Father Heft said he will devote his energies to institute expansion, fund-raising and continued research in such areas as passing the faith to the next generation.

Homosexual History?

THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, May 21 — Columnist Debra Saunders decried as “irrelevant” and not “good for California students” a proposed state law passed recently by the California Senate that would force into classrooms mandatory instruction on the contributions of homosexuals to history.

The bill calls for “particular emphasis on portraying the role of [homosexual] groups in contemporary society.”

Opined Saunders: “When close to 11% of seniors have flunked the high-school exit exam — thanks to a Superior Court judge, they now can flunk the test and still graduate — it is clear that California students need more education, not more political indoctrination.”

A ‘Sermon’ Silenced

PIONEER PRESS, May 22 — Ben Kessler, a seminarian and graduating senior at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., learned something about giving a sermon when he used part of his commencement address to lecture both students and faculty about their selfishness.

Kessler, a star football player honored by peers and faculty as “Tommie of the Year,” later apologized for the remarks, which had “led to … boos,” as “some students walked out on their own graduation,” reported the newspaper.

The Pioneer Press story described the event as the latest in “a series of controversies,” including the administration’s decision to enforce a policy against unmarried faculty sharing rooms while on student trips.

Pope of Peace

POPE JOHN PAUL II CENTER, May 22 — Blaise Blain of Albuquerque, N.M., took first place and a $10,000 college scholarship in a national essay contest sponsored by the center in Washington, D.C.

Blain’s winning essay was titled “A Christian Response to Terrorism.” This year’s essay topic was “Terrorism, 9/11 and Pope John Paul II’s Promotion of Peace.”

Kelsye Gould of Rapid City, S.D., won second place and a $5,000 scholarship for her essay, “Pope John Paul II: A Pope for Peace.”

The contest is sponsored annually by the center as a continuation of John Paul’s legacy.