Faith and Science

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICES, May 7 – The Vatican, with an initial grant of more than $160,000 from the John Templeton Foundation, has launched “Science, Theology and the Ontological Quest,” a series of new academic programs at three of Rome's leading universities aimed at promoting a scholarly dialogue between faith and science.

The effort will also bring Nobel Prize winners, top scientists and theologians to Rome for conferences.

The Jesuits’ Gregorian University will study the problems of the foundation of the philosophy of science and of nature while the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University, run by the Legionaries of Christ, will focus on relations between theology, philosophy and life sciences, including bioethics.

The Lateran University, the seminary of the Diocese of Rome, will concentrate on the systematic formulation of the relation between the scientific and humanistic disciplines, using the discipline of formal ontology.

Good Night

CATHOLIC CAMPUS NEWS, May 9 – Radio broadcaster Paul Harvey has canceled his planned commencement address at the Franciscans’ Quincy University in Illinois, the Cardinal Newman Society announced in its e-mail news service.

The commentator, who is pro-abortion, pulled out “lest he cause embarrassment to us and to himself,” said Father Mario DiCicco, Quincy's president.

The Cardinal Newman Society had protested Harvey's appearance as part of its annual survey of commencement honorees who oppose Catholic teaching.

N.D. Resignation

SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE, May 2 – Father Timothy Scully, the University of Notre Dame's executive vice president since May 2000, resigned earlier this month on the day that a report was to be submitted by a board of trustees committee charged with investigating the Holy Cross priest's behavior.

The investigation began in January immediately after Father Scully had allegedly grabbed and pushed television news reporters who were covering a Mass on the campus. One of the reporters even filed an assault report with university police.

Father Scully had been considered a strong candidate to succeed Father Edward Malloy as Notre Dame president in 2005.

BC Grant Studied

THE BOSTON GLOBE, May 9 – The Massachusetts attorney general's office is investigating whether a $15 million grant from a local foundation to Boston College to help build a new athletics center on the campus violated conflict-of-interest rules.

The review will try to determine whether trustees of the Yawkey Foundation were influenced by their strong ties to Boston College. Two of the foundation's 10 trustees also serve on the Jesuit college's board of trustees.

A third, Father J. Donald Monan, is college chancellor. And three other Yawkey trustees are Boston College alumni.

Pro-Vouchers

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, May 5 – Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams has come out in favor of school vouchers, a move that brought him into conflict with the Democratic establishment that dominates local politics, the Journalreported in its lead editorial of the day.

The editors also pointed out that a need for more money could not explain the problems of the under-performing Washington, D.C., schools, which have the third-highest level of spending per pupil in the nation.