On January 17, Santa Clara University will welcome Amy Tan, a novelist who has made no secret of her support for abortion “rights,” as well as the unfettered use of contraceptives. Ms. Tan has used her novels as a means to promulgate erroneous opinions, with abortion featuring prominently in one of her books, The Joy Luck Club.
Additionally, Ms. Tan has not shied away from announcing her anti-Catholic position. In a public Facebook post sprinkled with obscenities, she harangued pro-life politicians, accusing them of “wanting to pervert the lives of women.” (Warning: foul language)
However, Santa Clara University — a Catholic institution — has invited Amy Tan for a lecture and book signing on campus. “Tan’s work speaks to millions,” claims a university statement, “with its universal themes of family relationships, generational change, and personal history.” It is unclear how abortion and misguided feminist theories could possibly qualify as a legitimate “family relationship.”
In light of the author’s avowed opposition to Church teaching, combined with her attack on the right to life, is she the type of role model the university wants to present to its students? Should abortion advocates like Ms. Tan be given a platform on any Catholic campus?
On this issue, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is clear: “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”
Santa Clara University’s decision to feature an outspoken opponent of Church teaching in its Presidential Speaker Series throws a dark shadow over its Catholic identity. Ironically, the theme of the 2012-2013 speaker series is “Enlivening the Whole Person: Head, Heart and Body.”
“Abortion destroys the whole person,” said TFP Student Action Director John Ritchie.
“Abortion deliberately destroy heads, hearts and bodies. It destroys God’s plan for children. It shatters motherhood, fatherhood, and families. That’s why I’m hoping that Santa Clara University will reconsider its invitation to pro-abortion supporter Amy Tan and replace her with a better speaker, a true role model, someone Catholic students can look up to and imitate, someone who respects the right to life,” he said. “I can’t fathom why a Catholic university would give Amy Tan a platform.”
According to its web site, Santa Clara University is “committed to faith-inspired values and educating leaders of competence, conscience, and compassion who will help fashion a more just, humane, and sustainable world.” Surely, in pursuance of those “faith-inspired values,” the University ought to maintain an environment in which Church teaching is respected, upheld and defended.
Join the protest
In the spirit of charity, for the sake of the Santa Clara’s Catholic identity, and for the unborn, please join TFP Student Action in calling for the cancellation of Amy Tan’s scheduled appearance on January 17.
Politely voice your peaceful protest with a phone call to: 408-554-4100
Santa Clara University
Fr. Michael E. Engh, S.J.
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053
Phone: 408-554-4100
E-mail: mengh@scu.edu
But how can we blame Santa Clara university for bringing this lady to the lecture hall, when bishops bring equally strident pro abortionists and pro gay politicians not just into lecture halls but into Cathedral sanctuaries?
Well-spoken, Harry.
The more than obvious answer to the question: “In light of the author’s avowed opposition to Church teaching, combined with her attack on the right to life, is she the type of role model the university wants to present to its students? Is YES THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT TO INDOCTRINATE THEIR STUDENTS WITH!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
What else is new? These people are not Christians let alone Catholic. They are waging war on Christ from within his house.
Santa Clara University is “committed to faith-inspired values and educating leaders of competence, conscience, and compassion who will help fashion a more just, humane, and sustainable world.”
Typical modernist garbage that one can translate into: “We are an apostate “Catholic” university that is committed to eradicating sound Catholic doctrine and we care not in the least for the salvation of souls.”
In addition to contacting as requested above,
Contact Bishop Patrick J. McGrath, The Diocese of San Jose, 1150 North 1st Street, Suite 100, San Jose, California 95112-4966
Phone: (408) 983-0100.
The Bishop has the authority of forcing the removal of the name “CATHOLIC” from any university or organization within his Diocese if they violate Church teachings.
Send copy to: US Papal Nuncio: Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, 3339 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008 Telephone: (202) 333-7121 Fax 202.337-4036
Unfortunately, Bishop McGrath is too busy interferring in politics which is the prudential judgement of the laity with his gun control statement rather than take care of his own responsibility within his own Diocese.
Although he is preaching gun control, he has not yet gone after baseball bats or knives – and he ultimately has not seen fit to go after the real weapon rather than inanimate objects. The real weapon is human hands.
Most literature selections in public schools are designed to effeminize at risk boys.
its sad but true Skai…I feel bad for our boys and the rest of the innocent
… and bore the rest of them.
Santa Clara University is a pradigm of “nepotism”, if that is what you can call the incredible ability of “gays” to set up job and career opportunities for each other. This, of course, spills over into their bringing in likeminded people into speaking engagements where they can spread their venom and milk fees from Catholics.
Why do we find fault with SCU when Cardinal Dolan invited and welcomed President Obama to the Al Smith Dinner in New York? What is the difference between Cardinal Dolan and SCU? As we all know,
President Obama is the most Pro Abortion president to ever occupy the White House. And as a Senator in Illinois, he supported the killing of children born alive during an abortion. So why are we shocked at what SCU does? Cardinals, Bishops, priests and Religious voted this Pro Abortion president back into office for another 4 years. The Catholic Church would appear to be divided on the subject of abortion and who to vote into office. Someone in our Roman Catholic Church needs to get the message out – starting at the top – and instruct us on what an intrinsic evil is and how we form a right conscience. This is not being done and is a basic fault in our church. We seem to be afraid of paying taxes. I say –
pay taxes….then Catholics sitting in the pews on Sunday can be told right from wrong and how their tax dollars are being spent to kill the unborn.
Planned Parenthood received over $500 million dollars last year from the U.S. Federal government and most of those dollars went for abortions. Not mammorgrams, women’s health, etc. as PP proclaims. The figures are easy to verify.
Santa Clara invites a pro abort author to speak on campus. Bishop Soto of Sacramento authorizes the Cathedral to be used by the most vocal of pro abort legislators and supporters. Holy Names College, in Oakland, has often allowed its campus to be used for homosexual conferences. A couple of years ago St. mary’s College in Moraga invited Bill Ayers of the Weather Underground to speak on campus. San Diego University is a bastion of homosexual activists. Don’t even bother mentioning USF.
Does one see a connection here to a loss of faith and focus? Does ArchBishop Cordileone have any sway with Santa Clara officials?
I once met Amy Tan at a Lutheran university and smugly assured myself that she would not likely be received so warmly at a Catholic school. That was before I realized how fully institutions like the once-admired Santa Clara University have sold Catholicism down the river, and indeed are using the institutional legacies of faithful Catholics of the past to promote their own unCatholic agendas. Turn your back on Santa Clara University and send your children to Thomas Aquinas College or any other great and truly Catholic college or university where they can continue to develop a fully formed Catholic system of values with which to address the world as responsible adult Catholic citizens.
I called the number given and was put on hold for 10 minutes before being transferred to a staff member in the Communications Dept., where I received a voice message. I left a lengthy (respectful) message, asking why they would have a speaker who is openly anti-Catholic, supports abortion and contraception. I left my name and phone number “in case they would like to call me for further discussion…”
God bless you Peggy.
Thank you Clinton R. for saying it like it is. USF is the same as SCU and Loyola Marymount as well. Why doesn’t the Papal Nuncio step in and take care of this problem. Surely Pope Benedict knows of this as he had the former Archbishop of S.F., Cardinal Levada, at his right hand for many years. Enough talk about Social Justice among the hierarchy…..get to the heart of the matter in our Church. Our Catholic Church is sadly very divided and needs to be united. We seem to be a ship without a rudder. Where is our leadership? Pray, pray, pray!
Jesuits and/or Jesuit schools, again…so what else is new?
Now 10% of the people in the new Congress have attended Jesuit colleges, too – “Dominus ac Redemptor” anyone? (Who says Clement XIV didn’t know what he was doing?)
Let us all offer to pray three Hail Marys for a peaceful and just solution to the problem of inviting a wolf into the flock. I am very grateful to my own Catholic University (St. Johns, in Jamaica,NY) for selecting the Blessed Mother Teresa to address us in 1976. Surely we must still be able to find women of virtue and of peace and accomplishment to speak at our Catholic Universities. Might I suggest that Santa Clara employ a Catholic Speaker’s Bureau when it invites someone to address their students. I know it is a novel concept. My heart breaks at the corruption and ignorance of this choice of speaker and what it says about Santa Clara.
Good advice OotS, I said 3 Hail Marys as you suggested. I also signed the petition.
Also, apparently, Fr. Engh is sending those who protest this scandal the following email:
“Dear Ms. (name withheld),
“Santa Clara University’s policy on guest speakers does not require that they be Catholic to speak on campus, nor that they adhere to all of the formally defined positions of the Church or its hierarchy. We are a university that welcomes people with a variety of thoughtful and honestly held perspectives and we encourage debate on issues with a moral perspective. Specifically, the President’s Speaker Series is a venue to engage with “speakers and ideas that shape our world.” Each of the speakers has expertise on a significant issue of the day. This kind of open and diverse dialog is a hallmark of higher education and one that we at Santa Clara University uphold.”
Michael E. Engh, S.J.
President
Santa Clara University
Our culture provides an excess of opportunities to understand how people of “a variety of thoughtful and honestly held perspectives” think; why is there not more emphasis on providing speakers with a Catholic perspective while these young minds are exploring as many aspects of the world and its views, opinions, and behaviors as possible? Catholic moral and intellectual perspectives are uniquely based on rootedness in Catholic values, which are themselves based on the teachings of Jesus Christ himself, and as such are uniquely worthy of broad exploration and in depth familiarity in order to provide Catholic school students the richly furnished minds they seek and deserve and will desperately need as they create intentional futures for themselves and participate in the creation of future chapters of the story of humankind.
Father Engh,
With all due respect…..what about the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops statement do you not understand?
It is quite clear: ‘The Catholic Community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or PLATFORMS which would suggest support for their actions.’
CASE CLOSED!
And Father, if you and the University do not want to adhere to the Church’s teachings, may I say with all charity……you need not identify
the University in any way, shape or form as ‘Catholic’. Go truly secular.
All, it is said, in the name of freedom of speech. But when is the last time these harbingers of hell colleges brought in speakers from SSPX, the Orthodox clergy, ALL, Focus on the Family, members of Congress whose voting records are 100% prolife, etc?
These typical anti-God speakers are defended by Catholic college presidents … but the speakers are deceivers, and thus so are these college presidents. They put on a good show of being upright, but to paraphrase the image used by both St Paul and Jesus, they are nothing more than “whited sepulchres filled with dead men’s bones”. This metaphor is what God uses to define “hypocrite”.
Santa Clara University has had radical feminism on its campus at least since the 1970’s. They even show on campus the “Vagina Monologues”, a disgusting advocacy of lesbianism that even encourages it with the under aged, according to the Newman Society.