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Catholic World News News Feature

Ave Maria U. founder reiterates plan for moral community June 16, 2006

Tom Monaghan, the founder of Ave Maria University, plans to go forward with plans to build a Florida community based on Catholic moral principles, despite complaints from liberal critics.

Monaghan, the former pizza magnate who has earmarked most of his billion-dollar fortune to the foundation of Ave Maria University, has joined with a Florida real-estate development firm, Baron Collier, to plan a town alongside the school, in a location east of Naples, Florida.

Last last year, Monaghan provoked a chorus of outrage when he suggested that the town of Ave Maria, Florida, would be governed by Catholic social teaching. Pornography would not be tolerated in the town, he said, nor would abortion and contraception be available. Residents would be expected to live in accordance with Church teachings.

Monaghan's vision for the town was denounced by scores of editorial writers and commentators, who saw the Catholic philanthropist's plan as a threat to the civil liberties of Florida residents. Many reports conveyed the impression that residence in the town of Ave Maria would be restricted only to Catholics.

Responding to those critics, Monaghan said that he "misspoke" if he conveyed the idea that only Catholics could live in the new town-- which is expected eventually to have a population of 20,000. "The town will be open to anybody," he said.

As for restrictions on commerce in Ave Maria, Monaghan said that many "misconceptions" had been spread in news reports. In a joint statement issued on March 3, he and Baron Collier president Paul Marinelli announced: "It is critical top note that no restrictions will be enforce on contraceptives or any other inventory."

But Monaghan returned to his vision of a town based on traditional moral principles during a speech delivered earlier this month, according to a report in the Denver Catholic Register. Speaking on June 2 to the city's First Friday Forum, Monaghan said: "We control 50% of the development. Our plan is that no adult material will appear on the town's cable system and the pharmacy will not sell contraceptives."

Monaghan acknowledged to his Denver audience that his plans for Ave Maria University and the town of Ave Maria still face many obstacles, including the opposition of those who decry his insistence on Catholic orthodoxy. But he showed no signs of backing away from his plans. "Bring 'em on," he said.