Thursday, March 28, AD 2024 5:06pm

Catholic and Jesuit identity: The stormy petrils lose this round at Santa Clara University…

 

Despite the Siren song of the stormy petrils, a Bay Area News Group article reports that the Board of Trustees of Santa Clara University (SCU)—a Jesuit university—has upheld its decision last year to terminate elective abortion healthcare coverage for employees beginning January 1, 2015.

In a statement issued February 14, Board Chairman Robert Finocchio wrote:

In making the decision, the President carried out this duty. The decision was not a decision of condemnation or of exclusion, but rather one that flows from the University’s identity and mission as a Jesuit, Catholic university.

In his statement, Finocchio merely reiterated what the Board had  stated previously when Fr. Engh announced the Board’s decision last fall.

As was entirely predictable, Fr. Engh’s announcement didn’t set well with SCU’s Faculty Senate, which objected strenuously. Members claimed that the Board’s new policy sent several messages: the Board doesn’t value diversity (not all employees support Church teaching), the Board doesn’t value inclusivity (having excluded faculty leaders from the process), and the Board was imposing Catholic doctrine on employees (many are not Catholic).

Addressing the protests, Fr. Engh announced a delay in the benefits change until January 2015. The extra year, he said, would allow the Faculty Senate to review the new policy and study options beyond SCU’s healthcare plan.

That said, in this round, the decision has been made. The Board didn’t reverse it, despite the Siren song of the stormy petrils.

Isn’t it refreshing to read that members of the Board of Trustees of a Catholic university are upholding their sacred trust? Would that members of the boards of every institution of U.S. Catholic higher education had as much spine!

Come to think of it: Why do so many of Board members live in mortal fear of and cower before the stormy petrils who charge them with not being diverse and inclusive as well as with imposing Church doctrine on employees? Or, is the real truth that many Board members actually side with the stormy petrils?

 

 

To read the Bay Area News Group article, click on the following link:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_25219267/abortion-debate-santa-clara-university-upholds-decision-drop

To read The Motley Monk’s daily blog, Omnibus, click on the following link:
http://www.richard-jacobs-blog.com/omnibus.html

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Mary De Voe
Wednesday, February 26, AD 2014 8:05am

This is not about contraceptives. This is about normalizing fornication. This is an assault and offense against God, in the same way that gay-rights and/or so called unnatural marriage is about normalizing sodomy.
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Persons who do not use contraception or practice sodomy are being dragged into the mele without their informed consent and/or knowledge and are being abused to make a case for the legal imposition of vice.
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The innocent opposition is being scraped from the womb. Justice is being twarted and the wrath of God is being scorned.

Botolph
Botolph
Wednesday, February 26, AD 2014 8:45am

It is a Catholic University. By what logic did they expect it to be Catholic and something totally opposed to being Catholic at the same time. I worry about the quality of the intellects represented on the Faculty senate.

Phillip
Phillip
Wednesday, February 26, AD 2014 9:07am

“By what logic did they expect it to be Catholic and something totally opposed to being Catholic at the same time.”

Because they think Catholic means something different than you and I do. Dealing with the same thing now in a Catholic hospital in which I work. Had to push and cajole to get some Catholic teaching into a course on bioethics. The book they use teaches abortion as a licit approach to prenatal problems, etc. etc.

Botolph
Botolph
Wednesday, February 26, AD 2014 9:24am

Philip,

You should bring this to the bishop

Phillip
Phillip
Wednesday, February 26, AD 2014 10:22am

In due course. At this point, given the bishop, I am not sure that he would intervene. As it stands now, I’ve already caused some consternation with my stands so far. So will take it step by step.

trackback
Wednesday, February 26, AD 2014 11:35am

[…] – E. Pentin Bad Liturgy Is Not A Victimless Crime, Just Ask Jimmy Fallon – S. Skojec Jesuit Identity: Stormy Petrils Lose One at Santa Clara U. – Motley Monk The Death of the Reform of the Reform? The Liturgical Movement – Shaw […]

Micha Elyi
Micha Elyi
Wednesday, February 26, AD 2014 12:45pm

We must ask how did the Board of Trustees of Santa Clara University (SCU)—a Jesuit university—ever come to offer elective abortion healthcare coverage for employees in the first place.

And we must be pleased as angels in Heaven that the current Board has repented, then chose to go and sin no more (at least after 2015).

c matt
c matt
Wednesday, February 26, AD 2014 1:12pm

Exactly Micha – why dd they ever have such coverage in the first place? I suppose better late than never on getting rid of it.

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Wednesday, February 26, AD 2014 3:15pm

Objective Truth/Church Teachings vs. Liberal ideology

Faith and the power of prayer

Mary De Voe
Wednesday, February 26, AD 2014 8:59pm

“Objective Truth/Church Teachings vs. Liberal ideology Faith and the power of prayer ” and someone standing up and speaking the truth, so often obliterated, and speaking the truth and speaking the truth.

Anzlyne
Anzlyne
Wednesday, February 26, AD 2014 11:04pm

“Board doesn’t value diversity (not all employees support Church teaching)”

But of course every one supports diversity over Church teaching! This reminded me of the cartoon of Moses, who, having received the 10 Commandments, is shown with his face lifted to heavens saying: “so I guess diversity is not a priority ?”

Kevin
Kevin
Thursday, February 27, AD 2014 8:02am

Philip, You get a decade today!

Mary De Voe
Thursday, February 27, AD 2014 8:32am

Kevin: “Philip, You get a decade today!” Read: “Phillip” TAC has Philip and Phillip. Both are wonderful. Say a decade for each as I will.

Phillip
Phillip
Thursday, February 27, AD 2014 12:17pm

Kevin, Mary

Yes I have two l’s in my name as oppose to Philip who has only one. I do appreciate the decade (especially as I will be on retreat this weekend in part to discern further what to do) and I suspect Philip also will.

Thanks for your comments.

William McCormick
William McCormick
Thursday, February 27, AD 2014 1:25pm

I’m very proud of my alma mater. Santa Clara has shown leadership to all Catholic colleges and universities.

CAM
CAM
Thursday, February 27, AD 2014 11:56pm

When my brother attended medical school at a well known Catholic university in the mid-1970s, he was dismayed to find that medical ethics was offered as an elective and not as a required course. What was sown in the 60s and 70s at so-called “Catholic” colleges and universities has now come to fruition. Santa Clara’s example, I hope, will be emulated by other Catholic institutions.

Kevin
Kevin
Friday, February 28, AD 2014 7:51am

L – That’s the one I owe you Phillip. Yesterday I was very busy and it was my promise to offer up a decade that brought me to the rosary. So your prayer became my blessing. Funny how those things work out.

Kmbold
Kmbold
Friday, February 28, AD 2014 11:59am

The decision should take effect immediately. Let them have Obamacare.

Kmbold
Kmbold
Friday, February 28, AD 2014 12:00pm

I bet those same employees did not object to the lack of diversity within the Obamacare mandate.

Patti
Patti
Friday, February 28, AD 2014 5:15pm

Tell me please if I am missing something here! I have in front of me the January 16 issue of the National Catholic Register in which there is an article re: SCU/Fr. Engh “taking a stand.” Under the paragraph, “Reason for Change” it states: The SCU president explained that the university’s health-care representatives and insurance informed his administration that they are not required by California’s Dept. of Managed Care and Insurance to provide “elective abortion.” However, he noted, the university will ‘continue to cover therapeutic abortions, contraception and other forms of reproductive health care …”. Is there more than one SCU or Fr. Engh?! Help me understand why you are all celebrating their catholic identity?

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