retraction

By Diogenes ( articles ) | May 05, 2005

It seems I was mistaken in my generalization that moral defeatism was endemic to Jesuit universities, in view of the rigorous defense offered below on behalf of Marquette Gold -- not, as it sounds, a new brand of lite beer, but a market-tested and Jesuit-approved replacement for ethically defective sports-team nicknames (blogger credit to Kevin Miller at HMS).

"While I recognize that some people will be disappointed that we are not reinstating the Warriors nickname, we cannot teach one principle about respect for human dignity in our classrooms and then fail to act by that same principle when making decisions," [Marquette University President Fr. Robert Wild, S.J.] said. "The Warriors nickname will always be part of our proud athletics tradition, and we will honor that tradition. But we live in a different era than when the Warriors nickname was selected in 1954. The perspective of time has shown us that our actions, intended or not, can offend others. We must not knowingly act in a way that others will believe, based on their experience, to be an attack on their dignity as fellow human beings."

Outstanding. We've traded up our 1954 principle of human dignity in exchange for a newer model, which we may use to direct our moral thinking until Cher, or Elton John, or the Democratic National Committee presents us with another.

It has further been pointed out that I oversimplified Loyola University's pastoral concerns by emphasizing their commendation of the latex dental dam. Displaying solicitude greater than that found in other institutions, Loyola insists that polyurethane dental dams should be used by student sodomites who are allergic to latex. The Jesuit Difference™.