Le Moyne Students and Faculty Don’t Want Catholic Cardinal Giving Commencement
They want the college to change their choice because of the abuse scandals and remarks the cardinal has made about LGBT issues.
Syracuse.com reports.
Le Moyne students, faculty ask college to remove Cardinal Dolan as commencement speaker
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Some students and faculty at LeMoyne College will be closing their ears when Cardinal Timothy Dolan speaks at this year’s commencement.
Dolan’s handling of allegations of child sexual abuse against priests and comments he’s made about gays and lesbians make him an unfit speaker, they said. Dolan is the leader of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York.
“Overall, I do not think Cardinal Dolan represents the tenets we value at Le Moyne College,” said Katherine M. Bakhuizen, a senior and president of CARE, a group promoting the acceptance of gay and lesbian students on campus. “With sexual assault becoming endemic on college campuses and marriage equality with LGBTQ+ acceptance on the forefront of history, we cannot welcome someone who does not align with our values as a Jesuit institution.”
A petition on Change.org asking the college to change the speaker has been signed by more than 300 people. The college’s graduating class is roughly 600 students.
The college has already met with some students regarding their concerns, and will host a campus meeting later this week so any other students or faculty can be heard on the topic, said Joe Della Posta, a college spokesman.
He said the college recognizes that not everyone will be happy with the selection of Dolan.
Le Moyne students, faculty ask college to remove Cardinal Dolan as commencement speaker (Syracuse.com)