Raymond Dennehy has spent his life fighting for life.
For five decades, the decorated philosophy professor, debater, writer and crusader has rushed in where even many faithful Catholics fear to tread: the front lines of the war against what has come to be called “the culture of death.”
His unrelenting battle against abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide placed him at odds with prominent and powerful opponents: Planned Parenthood, the Hemlock Society, the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Organization for Women.
Dennehy, who turns 85 at the end of August, would continue the charge if he could.
But he no longer receives the once frequent invitations from the media, which sought his views on ethical issues, and from the University of California, Berkeley, which offered him a stage for 50 consecutive semesters to debate abortion.
And he no longer holds the rapt attention of students at USF, where he spent 41 of the 49 years he taught philosophy.
“I was a big hero with previous generations but on a collision course with modern-minded millennials who drove me into the dumper,” said Dennehy, who retired five years ago when “it just wasn’t fun or productive anymore.”
He exonerates the students, who without spiritual guides are left to secular sources for information and inspiration.
“The people have to hear the truth from the pulpit, and they’re not,” he insisted. “So Madison Avenue and the media, which promote a hedonistic, meaningless, purposeless life, are teaching kids what to believe and how to live. The kids don’t stand a chance.”
Priests and bishops should step up and speak out, but many fear backlash from touching on tender topics, he said.
Full story at Catholic Voice Oakland.
Bravo to Dennehy! Grateful for the update!
He described the great spiritual tragedy of our times. May Our Lord help us!
Ray Dennehy—and anyone who holds similar views—-will never get respect from the bishops, especially Bishop McElroy
But, take heart Fellow Catholics, the Truth never die. Truth may be ridiculed, suppressed and crucified, but it will never die.
Bravo, Professor Dennehy, one of the great heroes of the pro-life movement in America. May he be richly rewarded and welcomed in Heaven especially by all the babies he defended who never walked the Earth during their brief lives.
One would think that Archbishop Cordeleone would have Professor Dennehy on board as his expert for the archdiocese. Why not?
Surely, the Jesuits who pride themselves on academics and the morality of St Ignatius would be honoring Professor Dennehy—or am I delusional???
Thank you for your service. Doctor mediated Euthanasia is all the rage in California now that it is the law of the land.
I was a student of his at USF but when I saw how Ray would humiliate students I dropped his class. He was lionized and looked up to by the Irish Catholics on campus. It completely alienated me from the Catholic religion. It made me realize I had nothing in common with Irish Catholics so why was I studying or worshipping Jesus Christ with them? Their hero Dennehy wasn’t treating people like Jesus would. I abandoned the Catholic church because of Dennehy and his Irish followers. I follow Jesus Christ only and am now a born again Christian.
Follow Jesus Christ and come back to His Church. Don’t let people with their faults and frailties come between you and Him.
Hope you don’t run into anyone in your current church that disappoints you, or you’ll be looking again. The old adage of don’t ever join a perfect church because as soon as you do, you ruin it holds for everyone. If someone belongs to a church because of all of the saints, they’re soon to be looking for a new church.