The following comes from a Nov. 19 story on the Cardinal Newman Society site.
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles wants to find a new president that cares for its Catholic mission, but The Cardinal Newman Society has learned that the person chosen to lead the presidential search committee has served as board chair for an organization that has given more than half of $1 million to Planned Parenthood.
Presidential search committee leader David Zuercher is an alumnus and current member of the Loyola Marymount University Board of Trustees, according to the University. Under Zuercher’s guidance, the committee is expected to find a replacement for retiring President David Burcham by May 2015.
Loyola Marymount professor of philosophy James Hanink recently contacted The Cardinal Newman Society concerning Zuercher’s background. Zuercher served as chairman of the board for Global Impact, a philanthropic non-profit formerly known as International Service Agencies, from 1999-2006.
Global Impact states that its mission is “to provide a trustworthy, effective and efficient organization through which Americans can direct charitable contributions toward programs that nurture the poorest among us.”
But according to annual reports released from 2002-2006, Planned Parenthood – World Population is consistently listed as one of Global Impact’s “member agencies” or “charities.” Member charities are described as “the most respected not-for-profit organizations in the country” and Global Impact worked with these charities “to establish corporate offerings and matching gift programs that align with their charitable goals and interests.”
In 2004, while Zuercher was serving as board chair, Global Impact’s Form 990 reported $563,097 of grants and/or allocations given to Planned Parenthood – World Population.
In the same year, Global Impact also gave $9,056 in grants and allocations to Population Communications International, a group which works to promote the use of contraceptives in various countries in order to limit population growth, according to its website.
LMU did not respond to The Cardinal Newman Society’s request for comment on whether Zuercher’s position as the head of the committee would compromise the search for a truly Catholic president of the University.
The Los Angeles Loyolan recently posted an interview with Zuercher regarding his new position as head of the presidential search committee. He specified that he was looking for a candidate who “understand[s] the concept of shared governance, that faculty and the administration need to work in harmony with one another… somebody that has a passion for education, has a passion for young people.”
Zuercher also specified that the candidates should live “the Catholic mission and Marymount identity that we have,” but noted in the interview that it was not necessary for the candidate to be religious.
Earlier this year, LMU sponsored a discussion on the University’s Catholic identity, hosted by a professor who supported abortion rights and opposed LMU’s August 2013 decision to drop abortion coverage. Additionally, numerous members of the faculty and staff have demanded that the University reverse its plans to drop abortion coverage for employees, leading to LMU’s recent compliance with the California abortion mandate.
In April, the Newman Society also reported on the University’s newest dean of the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, who had worked in the past with a Planned Parenthood-sponsored clinic and a pro-abortion rights organization. Additionally, the Society reported on the University’s decision to host the president of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles on campus.
RenewLMU, a group of students, alumni, faculty, and supporters seeking to “strengthen LMU’s Catholic mission and identity,” recently posted a Novena to St. John Paul II on its website, praying for “a president yearning to serve God and eager to lead the souls at LMU closer to Him.”
To read the original story, click here.
All Catholic Universities and Colleges are REQUIRED to adhere to Apostolic Constitution – ” EX CORDE ECCLESIAE ” –
which also has hiring and firing requirements within.
Any employee including Board of Trustees are required to adhere to the teachings of the Faith,
and may be fired if they break this law.
“Ex Corde Eccelsiae” went into effect in Aug., 1991.
There are no excuses.
Please pass this on to everyone appropriate at Loyola Marymount in LA, and Diocese Abp Gomez, who is responsible for everything Catholic within his Diocese.
It loks like Zuercher is not qualified to be on the Board of Directors of any Catholic University, and certainly not a search committee.
https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_15081990_ex-corde-ecclesiae_en.html
If this man is what the article says he is and if his charity has given to Planned Parenthood, then he is neither qualified to be on the Board of Directors or on the search committee. It is, or should be a requirement that the incoming President be a Catholic who certifies that he supports all Catholic doctrine, especially those dealing with abortion, etc. and that he/she is a practicing Catholic who attends Mass on weekends, and lives the Catholic life. This is first and foremost a Catholic institution. The primary purpose is to provide a high quality education based on Catholic beliefs, adherence to Catholic doctrine and development of strong Catholic graduates who will practice their faith with vigor. Any hiding behind academic freedom is a shill for non-Catholic culture.
In the words of a former First Lady: “Just say no.” Surely, a better search for a more qualified and loyal candidate should have been initiated. Our one, holy, Catholic, apostolic church and its institutions would be served better with a Jewish Orthodox rabbi in charge than to install a man of such fickle and feckless allegiance and character.
When are the bishops, archbishops going to stop universities such as LMU, University of San Diego, Notre Dame University and dozens of other faux “Catholic” universities from calling themselves Catholic? The hierarchy should not negotiate with the schools, but demand that they stop immediately and sue them in civil court, if necessary. I blame the hierarchy for allowing this to happen. They are responsible for what happens in their dioceses.
So Zuercher wants a candidate who “understand[s] the concept of shared governance, that faculty and the administration need to work in harmony with one another… somebody that has a passion for education, has a passion for young people.” and should live “the Catholic mission and Marymount identity that we have,” but the candidate need not to be religious!
Funny how this seems to describe a majority of Jesuits, doesn’t it?
Zuercher seems to recognize that being Catholic and Marymount’s (Jesuit) identity is different, doesn’t he (why else would he differentiate between the two?).?As for not being necessarily religious…that is the problem with LMU (and most Jesuit schools), so why not be honest and remove whatever reference they use that says they are Catholic?