Catholic News 2

Emmitsburg, Md., Mar 1, 2016 / 03:09 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- After fierce controversy during his short-lived term at Mount St. Mary's University, president Simon Newman has stepped down, the school's board announced Feb. 29.

“I am proud of what I have been able to achieve in a relatively short time, particularly in helping the University chart a clear course toward a bright future,” Newman said in a statement from the university.

“I care deeply about the school and the recent publicity relating to my leadership has become too great of a distraction to our mission of educating students,” he said, adding that he believes this decision to be the “right course of action for the Mount at this time.”

Immediately following Newman's resignation, the university appointed Karl Einolf, Ph.D., as acting president.

Einolf is the Dean of the Richard J. Bolte, Sr., School of Business at Mount St. Mary's and had previously served as a professor of finance and the Director of the Mount's Honors program. He graduated from Penn State and John Hopkin's University, and earned his doctorate from Lehigh University.

Mount St. Mary’s University, the second oldest Catholic university in the United States, hired Newman as president in 2015. Previously a private-equity chief executive officer and entrepreneur, Newman brought his business experience to the university.

But the new president also sparked a media frenzy over his comments on struggling students and for firing two faculty members – one with tenure – soon after his role as president began.

Since late January, Newman had been the focus of controversy. The school's student newspaper ran a story about the president’s alleged plan to pursue the dismissal of 20-25 freshman students based on results from a survey predicting their future success at the school. A number of faculty members reportedly objected to the plan.

In the article, a faculty member quotes Newman as saying, “This is hard for you because you think of the students as cuddly bunnies, but you can’t. You just have to drown the bunnies…put a Glock to their heads.”

Newman also reportedly called some students “Catholic jihadis” and had planned to belittle the university's Catholic roots, saying “Catholic doesn't sell.”

According to the Washington Post, Mount St. Mary's faculty had voted 87-3 for Newman to resign by Feb. 15, but he did not do so. Further outrage over the situation eventually resulted in Newman reinstating the fired faculty.

Among Newman's critics were faculty, alumni, and students. Newman's new leadership also raised eyebrows from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education – the organization that accredits the university.

Despite Newman's experience with the school, the Board of Trustees and some students stood by their new president. The board of directors had called Newman's words “unfortunate,” but continued their support of his leadership.

It wasn't until Feb. 29 that the university officially announced Newman's resignation.
 
“The board is grateful to President Newman for his many accomplishments over the past year,” said Chairman of the Board of Trustees, John Coyne, in a statement from the university. “We thank him for his service.”

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Washington D.C., Mar 1, 2016 / 04:51 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- While the movie “Spotlight” won Best Picture for portraying a journalistic investigation of the sex abuse crisis in Boston, the story is incomplete without recognizing the reforms that followed in the Catholic Church, one commentator said.

Christopher White, associate director of Catholic Voices USA, said the movie is “a painful reminder of one of the darkest periods in Catholic Church history.”

At the same time, White said the U.S. Catholic response to abuse allegations has improved considerably.

“The newer reforms of accountability and transparency have made the Catholic Church among the leading institutions seeking to protect minors in the United States,” he said in a Feb. 29 essay for the Washington Post.

The movie “Spotlight” covers the Boston Globe’s investigation into sex abuse of minors by Catholic figures in the archdiocese, as well as cover-up by some members of the hierarchy. The film won an Oscar for Best Picture at the Academy Awards on Feb. 28.

“Spotlight” ends with the Boston Globe printing an explosive exposé, before listing all the other cities where sex abuse was later found to be a problem in the Catholic Church.

But what happened in the years the followed is also an important part of the story, White said.

He cited Cardinal Sean O’Malley’s comment that the media “helped make our Church safer for children by raising up the issue of clergy sexual abuse and forcing us to deal with it.”

Among these safety measures are the Church’s “zero tolerance” policy for abusers, safe environment training and oversight, and mandatory background checks for any individual who has contact with minors.

“If a clergy member commits even one act of sexual abuse, he is immediately and permanently removed from ministry,” White said.

The Vatican has also restructured its proceedings regarding abuse charges, according to White. From 2004-2011, there were 3,400 U.S. cases of alleged clergy abuse reported to Rome for review. Of the accused priests, 848 were laicized and 2,572 were permanently removed from ministry.

White said Pope Francis is following the example of Benedict XVI in combatting sex abuse by clergy.

“Francis knows that PR efforts will do the Church no favors,” he wrote. “Only a change in practice will ensure that predatory priests are a thing of the past.”

 In 2013, the Pope created the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors to consider abuse cases. In June 2015, he created a special tribunal to discipline bishops who have been negligent in responding to abuse.

“This is an ongoing process that has not yet managed to fully heal the very painful wounds of the past, but it’s a commitment that a broken system is finally in the process of being fixed,” White continued.

He said that the movie “Spotlight” is a reminder that the Church “must listen to the stories of those most affected, tell them, and ultimately, repent and reform.”

 

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 WASHINGTON-Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York called on everyone "concerned about the tragedy of abortion" to recommit to a "vision of life and love, a vision that excludes no one" on January 14. His statement marks the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Cardinal Dolan chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Most Americans oppose a policy allowing legal abortion for virtually any reason - though many still do not realize that this is what the Supreme Court gave us," wrote Cardinal Dolan. "Most want to protect unborn children at later stages of pregnancy, to regulate or limit the practice of abortion, and to stop the use of taxpayer dollars for the destruction of unborn children. Yet many who support important goals of the pro-life movement do not identify as 'pro-life,' a fact which should lead us to examine how we present our pro-life vision to others."

"Even as Americans remain troubled by abortion," wrote Cardinal Dolan, a powerful and well-funded lobby holds "that abortion must be celebrated as a positive good for women and society, and those who cannot in conscience provide it are to be condemned for practicing substandard medicine and waging a 'war on women'." He said this trend was seen recently when President Obama and other Democratic leaders prevented passage of the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, "a modest measure to provide for effective enforcement" of conscience laws.

"While this is disturbing," said Cardinal Dolan, "it is also an opportunity." Pro-life Americans should reach out to "the great majority of Americans" who are "open to hearing a message of reverence for life." He added that "we who present the pro-life message must always strive to be better messengers. A cause that teaches the inexpressibly great value of each and every human being cannot show disdain or disrespect for any fellow human being." He encouraged Catholics to take part, through prayer and action, in the upcoming "9 Days for Life" campaign, January 16-24. More information on the campaign is available online: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxJwfcefUiU

He also cited the Year of Mercy called by Pope Francis as a time for women and men to find healing through the Church's Project Rachel post-abortion ministry.

The full text of Cardinal Dolan's message is available online.
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Keywords: Roe v. Wade, anniversary, Pro-Life, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, 9 Days for Life, USCCB, U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Year of Mercy, Project Rachel, Pope Francis
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