the latest from Our Lady's university

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Apr 02, 2003

As reported in today's news bytes, the University of Notre Dame is conferring its highest award upon Margaret O'Brien Steinfels, the longtime Commonweal editor and defender of dissent from Humanae Vitae (see the second news byte link). No informed Catholic should be surprised.

Still, why not write a brief, courteous letter to Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, the prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education (Piazza Pio XII 3, 00193 Rome, Italy)? Print out the news byte link from Beliefnet (as well as this link and any others you can find) to document her dissent, and voice your concern that the Church's witness to the Gospel of Life in American society is being compromised by the conferral of the award.

Now Notre Dame can protest, "Margaret O'Brien Steinfels was one of the two laypersons whom the bishops invited to address their Dallas meeting." That's true. But reminding curial officials that Mrs. Steinfels is no friend of the Magisterium may have the salutary effect of helping prevent those responsible for her invitation to Dallas from being promoted to higher ecclesiastical office.

And be sure to send a cc of your letter to Rev. Edward A. Malloy, CSC, the president of the University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN 46556). It will make his day.