‘Indecent Proposal’

THE NEW YORK SUN, Dec. 21 — Columnist Steven Stalinsky, executive director of the Middle East Media Research Institute, criticized Georgetown University’s acceptance of a $20 million gift from Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal as an “indecent proposal.”

The gift — the second largest in the university’s history — will be used to expand Georgetown’s Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, which will now bear Talal’s name.

Stalinsky’s criticism focused on the prince’s ownership of Arab-language TV stations that routinely criticize and degrade Americans and Jews.

The prince made headlines in the days right after Sept.11, 2001 when his gift of $10 million to the Twin Towers Fund was rejected by New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani after the prince attributed some the root causes of the terrorist attack to America and Israel.

‘Gay’ and Catholic?

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, Dec. 17 — While such organizations exist at some 50 Catholic colleges, the new “gay/straight alliance” at Duquesne University comes with ground rules, including that “group members cannot sponsor or participate in public protests, petitions or other actions if deemed in conflict with university policy or Duquesne’s Catholic identity.”

In a surprisingly direct connection to the role of moral formation, Duquesne President Charles Dougherty said the group would be expected to promote understanding of the Church’s teachings on sexuality and sexual orientation.

Dougherty said he had briefed Pittsburgh Bishop Donald Wuerl regularly on the matter, and that “he knew the direction this was going in, and he supported it.”

Homeschool Increase

FAMILY NEWS IN FOCUS, Dec. 15 — More than 30,000 U.S. black children are taught at home, according to the National Black Home Educators Resource Association.

The association’s Joyce Burges said teaching at home was frowned upon in the black community because of the civil rights battles of the 1950s and ’60s to gain access to quality public schools.

The times are changing, however, with an estimated 5% increase in the number of black children taught at home in just the last few years.

Opening Kickoff in ’07

INSIDEINDIANABUSINESS.COM, Dec. 15 — The Board of Trustees of Marian College has approved a plan to develop a football program at the college, and the first game will be played in September 2007.

The college administration announced earlier this year that it would seek to establish the first football team in the school’s history.

Marian says it plans to name a head coach and assistant coach by February.

         

Unlicensed Charity

THE CATHOLIC REVIEW, Dec. 15 — The Jesuits’ Loyola College in Baltimore has suspended a food program for the homeless after the city’s health department said such a program is illegal if done without a license.

Several students have continued to give out sandwiches on their own outside St. Vincent de Paul Church in downtown Baltimore.

A spokesman said the college is in discussions with students and the health department to “come up with a working solution.”