Last Updated:Friday - 09/24/2010
July 21, 2007
WCR Letters to the Editor
Finances led to Newman cuts
Having read recent articles and letters about the restructuring at Newman Theological College, I feel the need to offer an alternative perspective.
I will complete my bachelor of theology from Newman College in 2009. I have also spent nearly 10 years serving the Church in lay ministry, the past six in a parish setting.
My experience at the college has been enriching both to my own faith life as well as the ministries in which I have served.
I am grateful that four years ago, Archbishop Thomas Collins encouraged me to study at Newman. I know that several of my classmates - both seminarians and lay people - are at the college due to encouragement from people like Archbishop Collins.
It was, however, clear to me that the enrollment in the BTh program was problematic. Were it not for several foreign-born seminarians, many of my classes would have been cancelled.
While some have proposed different reasons as to why enrollment has been so sparse, I would be amiss not to point out that the undergraduate degrees offered by Newman are not provincially accredited. This means that most post-secondary institutions will not accept my studies towards another program.
It does not qualify me for a job outside of the Church, nor does it mean that I will receive a significant increase in pay for the work I do in the Church. At the same time, St. Joseph's College at the University of Alberta offers theology classes that can be counted towards fully accredited undergraduate degrees.
While this transition has clearly been difficult on the community at the college and seminary, I think it is important to keep a proper perspective on why this decision had to be made.
Financially, this program has been a drain on an institution that depends on donations to function: I've been told that the undergraduate program may have been running at a significant deficit.
Practically, offering a degree that is barely recognized beyond the college does not help recruitment.
Finally, if the undergraduate program is duplicating that which is being offered at St. Joseph's College, then the leadership at Newman Theological College has made a responsible, albeit painful decision in moving forward without the undergraduate program.
I believe that the ongoing focus on graduate studies for lay students and seminarians, and the religious education program for Catholic teachers will ensure that Newman College remains one of the most important institutions in our archdiocese.
Michael Landry
Spruce Grove/Stony Plain
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Newman College is long way from its original vision
Re:"Penna named dean of Newman College" (WCR, July 14).
It was with considerable interest I read of the appointment of Father Penna as the new dean of Newman College.
I was intrigued by this statement contained in your story: The college is not becoming more clerical, he insisted. "I don't see that as reality at all." With respect to Father Penna, such thinking˙would seem to fly in the face of the evidence.
Many people feel that it is no coincidence that the faculty members who left the college (Dr. Bob McKeon, Dr. Gwen Miller and Dr. Les McKeown) were lay staff, highly respected and highly valued members of the community. Also, Prof. Richard Corneil has returned to Ontario.
With Dr. McKeon's departure, the college has lost the one senior academic who truly understands the concept of social justice and social action and who has the experience to support his knowledge.
We can only hope that the Catholic social conscience that Dr. McKeon brought to the college will not disappear with him.
With Father Penna coming on board and additional priests joining the seminary staff, one has to wonder how an increase in clericalism can be avoided. Between the seminary priests and the faculty coming from the Franciscan community, which always has had considerable influence at Newman, it would appear that the centre of Balthazarian learning in the West has just grown larger. A balance would be nice.
There has been considerable change in the college since Father Gallagher retired and even more so since Archbishop Collins left Edmonton. This change has not been for the better.
Programs have been cut, courses discontinued and access considerably reduced. It is a far distance from the original vision of Newman. Some would argue there is weakness in the college administration and an inability to understand the vision because of limited experience in university-level learning.
Building a shiny new building or buildings is fine, but bricks and mortar do not create lay leaders in the community. Now, with the exception of the religious education program, which is aimed mainly at teachers, the seminarians will form the bulk of the regular Newman population. One has to wonder how clericalism can be avoided in such an environment.
The western dioceses have some soul searching to do in terms of their failure to support the dream that was Newman and the soul searching needs to start in Edmonton.
Marjorie McKillop Baron
Calgary
Letter to the Editor - 06/30/08
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Ephphatha reacts to Morgentaler honour
On behalf of Ephphatha House Retreat Centre, I would like to express my deep disappointment that the advisory committee and governor general has decided to bestow the Order of Canada on Henry Morgentaler.
We take this position for several reasons.
First, as Catholic Christians, we believe the right to life is the most fundamental and that this right should be extended to and protected in the law to all, including the unborn. Morgentaler is notorious for having violated this basic right in thousands and perhaps millions of instances.
Second, Morgentaler's personal history is checkered with actions which should disqualify him. He has served 10 months in jail time on criminal convictions. In 1973, he was assessed $354,799 by the Quebec Ministry of Revenue for unpaid income taxes. He was suspended in 1976 from practising medicine in Quebec.
Does a convicted criminal, tax evader and "disbarred" doctor deserve an award which was originally intended for those who "desire a better country" through outstanding achievement or service?
It has been estimated that Morgentaler earned $11 million per year from his abortion clinics (Le Devoir, Oct. 26, 2002). The Montreal Gazette reported in 1974 that Morgentaler was re-using disposable vacurettes in his abortion clinics, against the manufacturer's instructions.
In 1976, the disciplinary committee of the Physicians of Quebec reported in part that Morgentaler exhibited an attitude that is primarily directed to protecting his fees.
This committee was incapable of reconciling this behaviour with the humanitarian concern that the accused invoked throughout his defence.
Finally, Morgentaler stated that he deserved the Order of Canada. His lack of humility should automatically disqualify him from receiving the Order of Canada.
Albert A. Robinson
Chairman of the Board
Ephphatha House Retreat Centre
Stony Plain
Headline
Catholics should withdraw their labour
I think Henry Morgentaler being awarded the Order of Canada is outrageous not only because of what he does but also because the order is set aside for those of whom all of Canada is proud.
Clearly Catholics are not part of our governor general's Canada. In Canada, Catholics are regarded as irrelevant, yet we form one of the largest, if not the largest, group.
Now imagine that when the Nazis started their attacks on the Jewish community, the Catholic bishops had asked Catholics not to show up for work as a non-violent protest.
The Nazis would have criticized Catholics and likely charged papal meddling. But I suspect that as the German economy faltered without Catholic labour the Nazis would have reconsidered their stance towards the Jews. The Holocaust could have been prevented.
We can do something about abortion. Imagine if the Catholic bishops would ask Catholics to withhold their labour until pre-natal children are afforded legal protection. Even if only five per cent of Catholics responded, it would have a huge impact.
How long could the Canadian economy do without our participation? I expect politicians would have a renewed respect for Catholics and I don't think Henry Morgentaler would get the Order of Canada.
All polls have shown the majority of Canadians oppose Morgentaler's abortion-on-demand position.
It's a travesty that Catholic politicians like Trudeau, Mulroney and Ed Stelmach ignore the majority, ignore their own consciences and pander to a vocal minority.
Not only that, but these Catholic politicians persecute Catholics by forcing them to participate in this gruesome act through their taxes.
Ed Stelmach neither follows his conscience or the majority when he forces Catholics to pay for all abortions. The Canada Health Act does not require this. It's his choice and he willfully brutalizes Catholics by it.
Robert Mollot
St. Albert
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