Catholic universities are generally honored when high-ranking Vatican officials drop by for a visit. Georgetown University, however, is no ordinary Catholic university. Several sources confirm that former President Jimmy Carter was GU's first choice for keynote speaker at the 2003 commencement exercises. But when Carter fell through at the last minute, Dean of Georgetown College, Jane McAuliffe quickly arranged for Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria, head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, to stand in. The cardinal's name has been raised as a possible successor to Pope John Paul II. Furthermore, he is an expert on inter-religious dialogue, particularly between Islam and Christianity. Given his credentials, he sounded like an ideal candidate for a commencement speaker.

To the disappointment of some in the Georgetown administration, Cardinal Arinze did not deliver a politically-correct address. Instead he chose to offer Georgetown's graduating class a little moral guidance, reiterating the church's teaching on sexual ethics. "In many parts of the world, the family is under siege," the cardinal said. "It is opposed by an anti-life mentality as is seen in contraception, abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia. It is scorned and banalized by pornography, desecrated by fornication and adultery, mocked by homosexuality, sabotaged by irregular unions and cut in two by divorce."

Theology professor Theresa Sanders was so appalled at Cardinal Arinze's comments that she stormed off the stage, as did many students. In response to the brouhaha, including a letter signed by 70 faculty deeming Cardinal Arinze's remarks inappropriate, Dean McAuliffe sent an email to all students of the College. She apologized for any offense and offered counseling sessions to those who suffered psychological trauma as a result of the speech, pleading that the university expected the Cardinal to talk about Christian-Muslim relations. President Jack DeGioia also refused to defend the cardinal, issuing statements reaffirming Georgetown's commitment to students of all sexual orientations.

Additional Information:

http://www.thehoya.com/news/060303/news2.cfm
http://www.thehoya.com/news/090903/news4.cfm

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