Priest at Santa Clara University attempts to justify lecture by pro-abortion author

By John Ritchie

January 11, 2013

Over the last few days, thousands of Catholic students and concerned parents have joined TFP Student Action's recent e-petition, asking the president of the Catholic Santa Clara University to reconsider hosting pro-abortion author Amy Tan.

Those who expressed respectful concern, however, received an unexpected reply from Fr. Michael Engh, S.J., president of the university.

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

Although the guest author, Amy Tan, openly promotes abortion in her writings, she has been invited to deliver a lecture and do a book signing at Santa Clara University on January 17. It is difficult to imagine how her presence will help foster a "moral perspective" -- the mission of every Catholic institution of higher learning.

If Ms. Tan's ideas are allowed to "shape our world," what type of culture would they favor? Certainly not a Catholic one. Nor do her opinions respect the most basic human right, the right to life. Besides, aren't book signings designed to generate book sales? It seems as though "diverse dialog" is ignoring the counsel of Our Divine Savior: "Let your speech be yea, yea: no, no..." (Matt. 5:37).

STAND UP FOR THE TRUTH: Sign your e-protest here

To report a problem on your campus, contact us here.

Comments

+7 # marty 2013-01-11 17:40

Scandalous! Priest should be reprimanded. The Church needs to be protected from such wolves!

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+6 # marypat 2013-01-11 18:57

Fr Engh should lose his job. A catholic university should not invite speakers that have views directly against the Catholic churches view. SHAME ON HIM. Get rid of him

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+4 # Sergio Enriquez 2013-01-11 20:54

This priest is typical of weak catholics, those types who are always attempting to appear "open minded" by "tolerating" radical non-catholic ideas. In the end, those who listen to these liberals end up embracing their garbage. Catholics need to stop being fooled by such dishonesty as this priest is dishing out and the compromises being made.

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+4 # Barb 2013-01-12 20:29

Typical example of a so called shepherd taking his flock down with him. He should be excommunicated and fired!

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+1 # leslie 2013-01-15 12:36

Let her take her abortionist rhetoric to a non-Catholic university. Why should a Catholic institution give her a platform to spew her liberal diatribe that is in direct opposition to our beliefs? Someone as unprincipled and unconvinced as Fr Engh has no business being president of a Catholic university.

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+1 # ralph rivera 2013-01-22 17:32

Such priest needs to be excommunicated. For they are the wolves whom Jesus warned us about. Dialog is an evil subterfuge to spin lies and obfuscate the truth. Pols are very adept at it. Especially when war is eminent. Priests have no business engaging in it. We need to stand tall with the truth and not compromise. Not at all! You cannot compromise with evil. Our laws are etched in stone, and priests need to remember that.

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0 # Carol 2013-01-24 10:52

We know that youths are impressionable. Parents at, great expense, send their young adult children to Catholic Colleges to learn the Truth. Since Michael E. Engh, S.J. has failed in his obigation to serve God through the young adults he was entrusted with, has failed to appropriately guide and teach his charges, he no longer deserves to lead Santa Clara College. Faithful Catholics are called upon to do everything they can to see that he is removed immediately from his post. We have some outstanding Jesuit priests, like Fr. Mitch Pacwa, but those that think they are more intellectual if they promote the other side, should realize that puts them on the other side, directly opposed to God. Excommunication was intended to make the person think twice about their actions, to heal their soul. It appears the appropriate response from the Church for clerics who promote anti-Catholic values. I pray he is excommunicated, so that his students will know he had lead them down the wrong path.

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0 # Gary Lockhart 2013-01-26 08:33

For starters, Engh should be removed from his position by his superiors, have his faculties as a cleric suspended, be given the opportunity to repent and perform penance and if failing to do so be dismissed from the clerical state.

Excommunication is the last resort for obstinate heretics like this, re Roy Bourgeois.

The problem with the Jesuits is that there are many, particularly in the hierarchy, who agree with Engh and embrace his nonsense. They will all pay a heavy eternal price for poorly exercising their free will.

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