C A M P U S    O U T R A G E    A W A R D S :    L E T T E R    T O    G E O R G E T O W N    D E A N

Washington, May 22, 2003

Dean Jane Dammen McAuliffe
Georgetown College

Dear Dean McAuliffe,

We write to express our profound distress at Cardinal Arinze's remarks at the College Commencement ceremony last Saturday morning. You introduced the Cardinal as an expert on ecumenical dialogue, but as you know his speech abandoned that topic early on. The Cardinal's discussion both of faiths other than Catholicism, and especially of the family and the alleged threats against it, was extremely exclusionary and discouraging, to say the least.

We are familiar with the Catholic Church's official position on contraception, divorce, and homosexuality, though we think that even that position can be expressed with far more subtlety and compassion than the Cardinal was willing to muster. The statement of these views on campus by a high official of the Church would strike us as unfortunate in any case, but of course legitimate in a forum such as an invited lecture. We believe however that the Cardinal's remarks were highly inappropriate at Commencement, a ceremony which should celebrate all members of our community, whatever their faith, ideas, or personal identity. A few of our students were so outraged by the Cardinal's remarks that they left the ceremony during his speech. We believe that to be the ultimate proof of how unsuitable the speech was for an occasion at which especially all students should feel welcome and honored.

A few years ago a series of discriminatory and intolerant acts, including the desecration of religious symbols and threats against individuals targeted because of their race or sexual identity, led to an intensive re-examination of Georgetown's commitment to a diverse and inclusive community. This divisive and alienating speech, bolstered by a formal invitation and delivered to a captive audience in a setting which conveys the official support of the University, entirely undermines that commitment.

We seek your assurance that future Commencement speakers will be more respectful of the diverse character of our community, and more willing to acknowledge that this diversity constitutes one of our greatest traditions and strengths.

With best wishes, sincerely yours,

Tommaso Astarita, Professor of History

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