Sculpture Removed

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, June 29 — A sculpture on the campus of Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., that was considered offensive to Catholics has been removed.

The sculpture, titled “Holier Than Thou,” was of a scowling bishop wearing a miter some said resembled a phallic symbol. Its presence prompted a lawsuit against the school and caused some Catholic high schools to discontinue recruitment for the school, the Associated Press reported.

The lawsuit is on appeal in federal court. The wire service said the sculpture was removed to make way for a new exhibit.

Ave Maria Woes

CHRONICLE.COM, June 30 — According to a letter it received from the U.S. Department of Education on June 21, Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, Mich., might have to repay the federal government for improperly administered student aid.

The department said the college must seek permission before it distributes federal student-aid money it has on hand and in the future allot aid from its own funds before seeking reimbursement from the government, the Web site of the Chronicle of Higher Education reported. After the Education Department completes a review of the matter, it will notify the school the amount it has to repay.

A spokeswoman for the college attributed the problems to turnover in the financial-aid office.

Steubenville Northwest

THE OLYMPIAN (Washington), June 27 — More than 700 high-school students from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia gathered at St. Martin's College in Lacey, Wash., for the first Steubenville North-west conference June 26-27.

Students attended Mass, heard motivational speakers, prayed and sang with other Catholic teens at the conference, whose theme was “Rise Up,” The Olympian reported. Confession was available throughout the weekend and teens were able to renew their baptismal vows.

“The conference is another way to minister to teens and involve them,” volunteer Erin Walker said, “because they are the future of the Catholic Church.”

Regarding Speakers

THE DETROIT NEWS, June 28 — Some Michigan-area Catholic colleges and universities are carefully weighing their decisions about inviting pro-abortion politicians to campuses after the U.S. bishops issued a statement that such invitees “should not be given awards, honors or platforms that would suggest support for their actions.”

The bishops issued their statement at their spring meeting June 14-19.

Aquinas College in Grand Rapids said it tries to be fair and open and has had people on panels who support abortion but, according to the school's director of college relations, “we are very unlikely to invite anyone to speak on abortion rights.”

Twofold Purpose

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, June 23 — In an effort to increase enrollment in some of its suburban schools, the Archdiocese of Chicago is planning to build a combination school and community center in north suburban Waukegan.

The center would be open during the day as a school and in the evening for adult-education classes, youth ministry activities and social-service programs, the Chicago Tribune reported. The new school will combine two existing Catholic schools.

Plans are dependent upon raising $13.5 million for the project, which the archdiocese says it expects to have in time for the center's August 2007 scheduled opening.