The Uninvited: Part 2

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, May 1 — St. Joseph High School in Fort Wayne, Ind., on April 30 rescinded its invitation to Gov. Joe Kernan to speak at his alma mater's graduation because his pro-abortion stance conflicts with Church teaching.

The school made its decision upon the request of Bishop John D'Arcy of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, who has direct authority over the school, the wire service reported.

St. Joseph's theology teachers said they thought the Catholic governor's presence would contradict moral truths they teach, the bishop said, adding, “I am in full agreement with these teachers.”

Crucifixes Return

THE JOURNAL NEWS (New York), May 5 — Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y., had a surprise for its students when they returned from spring break: Crucifixes are now in all the classrooms.

An alumnus and high-profile benefactor visited the school in the fall and noticed the lack of crucifixes in the classrooms he remembered when he was a student there, the newspaper reported. The alumnus paid for the crucifixes in more than 100 classrooms on campus.

“It was a long time coming,” said Kim Morey, the college's student government president. “Students are supposed to embody the mission of the Christian Brothers.”

Discussing NFP

THE GW HATCHET, April 30 — Speakers at an April 26 panel discussion on contraception at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., encouraged students to abstain from sex until marriage and then to practice natural family planning.

“Catholicism and Contraception: Why Condoms Don't Work” discussed Church teaching on contraception and natural family planning, the student newspaper of the university reported.

Several students were impressed. “The nature of [natural family planning] is so powerful,” one audience member said. “I mean, is their anything in this world that is more powerful than creating life?”

D.C. Schools Thrive

THE WASHINGTON POST, May 6 — Only a few years ago, the District of Columbia's Catholic schools were thriving in affluent areas and hurting in the inner city, much like their counter-parts nationwide. During the past few years, Catholic schools around the country have been closing at a fast rate, the paper reported.

However, the one exception has been in the District, where fund-raising efforts for improvements have helped increase enrollment. More than half of the city's 30 Catholic schools have undergone renovations in the last few years.

The news comes at the same time the District is preparing to start a federally funded voucher program for the 2004-05 school year. Many of its participants will likely choose to attend Catholic schools.

Michigan to the Vatican

THE ANN ARBOR NEWS (Michigan), May 4 — Eastern Michigan University's only known Catholic priest to serve on the school's faculty has been appointed to a papal advisory position at the Vatican.

Father Bernard O'Connor will leave for his new post in late May. In the area of diplomacy, the priest will work with the Catholic population and issues in Iraq, Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries, the newspaper reported.

Father O'Connor has been a professor, lawyer, adviser and arbitrator on the campus. He has won awards for teaching and holds several bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, including a law degree.