How Dare a Catholic Uni Be So Catholic?

Why do so many people insist on forcing themselves on institutions whose values they clearly do not share, then shrilly demanding that it change its values to suit them? Why, moreover, do they insist on picking on the Christian institutions.

I can’t recall a single instance of a homosexual couple demanding that Muslim bakers cater to their gay wedding – and then running to the courts when the request is declined. Nor can I recall a single instance of a homosexual teacher suing an Islamic school. Feminists demanding female Christian clergy are notably silent on the gender segregation in mosques and the ban in Islam of women leading men in prayer.

So why go to a Catholic university if you vehemently oppose the Catholic Church’s teachings on sexuality?

Graduating students staged a mass walkout during a university speech by former union boss Joe de Bruyn after he starting railing against abortion and IVF.

The Australian Catholic University was bestowing an honorary degree on the former national president of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employess Association during a graduation ceremony in Melbourne on Monday night.

According to people present at the event, Mr de Bruyn spoke about his union achievements for several minutes before veering into abortion, which he strongly opposes.

An opinion shared by the Catholic Church, which has consistently condemned abortion – the direct and purposeful taking of the life of the unborn child… the taking of innocent human life, whether born or unborn, is morally wrong.

This cannot come as a surprise to anyone who attends the Australian Catholic University. As its website makes abundantly clear: As a university proud of our Catholic traditions, ACU is called to live out and express its Catholic character through our relationship with God in prayer.

But apparently a bunch of immature students know better.

Student Charlie Panteli told ABC Radio Melbourne Mr de Bruyn’s speech “took a hard-right turn” and took those present by surprise.

“He started talking about how abortion was wrong and he had a list of things he wanted to talk about and it was shocking,” he said.

“I only heard abortions and IVF and I was one of the first to get up and I was quite far down the front and I started to signal I was going.

“It was the most selfish speech to give at a graduation. He did not reference us at all.”

Because everything has to be about you? Even the church whose university you decided to attend has to bend its teachings to suit some spotty little Herbert, wailing ‘I Am Special’?

While certainly it may be argued that de Bruyn was inappropriately tub-thumping his personal views, graduation addresses are intended to impart ‘life lessons’ and allow the speaker to reflect on their own experiences and values as they relate to the graduates. In this case, graduates of a Catholic university. In that respect, then, de Bruyn’s sharp reminder of Catholic teachings might be said to be entirely appropriate.

Certainly, the university clearly anticipated something of the kind.

University officials were reportedly worried about what to expect from de Bruyn, who was SDA national secretary from 1978 to 2014, given his public opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion, gay rights and IVF.

In other words, his adherence to standard Catholic values?

Which makes the university’s terrified backtracking as hypocritical as it is predictable.

“Mr de Bruyn’s remarks at the ceremony were delivered in a personal capacity,” they said.

“While his views may not be shared by some of our staff and students, as a university we encourage the respectful exchange of ideas that represent the wide spectrum of our diverse community.”

If students and staff members don’t share the views of the Catholic church, then why are they studying and teaching at a Catholic university.

Mr Panteli said he estimated “95 per cent” of people left the auditorium as Mr de Bruyn continued to speak.

Then maybe they should really put their money where their mouths are – and return their degrees or quit their jobs.

After all, they clearly don’t want to be associated with the Catholic values of a Catholic university.

Why are they even there?