Hilary White
HALIFAX, February 9, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – As Canadian society becomes more secularized, Canadian Catholic universities are following suit. In one case this week in Halifax, Peter March, St. Mary’s University professor of philosophy, said that he believes Christianity is a “pernicious thing.”
March made the comment after he posted to his office door some of the cartoons of the Muslim prophet Muhammad that have offended Muslims and sparked riots and violent protests around the world.
When confronted by Muslim students March said, “I don't believe in your faith. I believe your faith is a pernicious thing -- the same as Christianity, the same as Hinduism.”
The university has issued no correction or clarification of March’s comment. That a professor of philosophy at a Catholic university should openly assert that Christianity is “pernicious,” without comment from the administration, is symptomatic of the growing anti-Catholic atmosphere at many Canadian Catholic institutions.
St. Mary’s University was founded 200 years ago by the Catholic bishop of Halifax and says on its website, “Saint Mary’s is proud of its heritage as the oldest English speaking Roman Catholic university in Canada.” The university, however, makes no mention in its mission statement of working to pass on the Catholic or Christian worldview.
The Archbishop of Halifax, Terrence Prendergast and Halifax auxiliary bishop Claude Champagne are the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of the university, respectively.
Catholic education institutions may assume or retain the Catholic part of their public identity only with the permission of the local bishop. It is up to that bishop to make every effort to ensure the fidelity of a teaching institution to Catholic teaching. However, in recent decades very few North American or European bishops have exercised their authority in this area.
Tomorrow, St. Mary’s plans to stage the Vagina Monologues for its third consecutive year. The Vagina Monologues is feminist play that has been condemned by many Catholic organizations and colleges in the US for its extreme vulgarity and anti-Catholic slurs.
The play has become the central feature of “V-Day” at many universities where February 14 has become a day of radical feminist protest and activity. The St. Mary’s website says, “V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations.”
In the closing days of the Canadian federal election, the university sponsored a talk by NDP leader Jack Layton, a vocal supporter of abortion and advocate of same-sex “marriage.” Layton spoke January 18, four days before the election, but none of the other party leaders were invited to speak at the university.
Calls to Dr. March and St. Mary’s were not returned by press time.
Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Several Catholic Universities Cancel Vulgar 'Vagina Monologues' Play
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2003/mar/03031303.html
To express concerns:
Paul Fitzgerald
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: paul.fitzgerald@smu.ca
Archbishop Terrence Prendergast
P.O. Box 1527
1531 Grafton Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2Y3
Phone: 902-429-9800; ext. 301
Fax: 902-423-5201
E -mail: chancery@catholichalifax.org
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