This statement was made by Dr. Lakeland at the forum replacing the same-sex marriage forum on April 14, 2005.
I think it is very unfortunate for many individuals that tonight’s scheduled event was first cancelled, and that later it was impossible to restore it to the calendar, at least for now. But I also think it is unfortunate for Fairfield University as a Catholic institution.
In the phrase “Catholic university,” university is the noun and Catholic (or Jesuit) is the adjective. That means, in the first instance, that academic freedom distinguishes all that we do. Our doors should be open and our podiums available to all those who do not preach hatred, whether it is racially based, religiously based, or simple homophobia.
Nor should we imagine that having speakers who represent one side of an issue is in itself problematic. We do that all the time. Openness is not endorsement of opinions expressed but of the freedom to express them. The scheduled conference took a consistent position in disagreement with the public position of the Catholic Church.
What should we say about that as a Catholic university? Perhaps the following: “You are welcome at this Catholic university.
While the church, in whose tradition we stand, disagrees with you on some of your positions, a Catholic university is a place where those who disagree can come together and learn. Catholic colleges and universities can only benefit by learning from those whose experience and wisdom provide an understanding that the Catholic church cannot, from its own resources, acquire.”
I hope very much that this conference can be re-scheduled, and I hope to be able to say that Catholic studies will be a proud co-sponsor of the program.
Paul Lakeland
Aloysius P. Kelley S.J.
Professor of Catholic Studies
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