Rights

At Carnegie Mellon, “Naked Pope” Tosses Condoms Into Crowd (UPDATED)

May 4, 2013 By Kathy Schiffer 49 Comments

Costumed in papal vestments, naked from the waist down with a cross shaved into her pubic hair, a Carnegie Mellon University student tossed condoms into the crowd.

“It’s all in good fun,” said one of her fellow students who was present and who saw the woman in the school’s annual art school parade on April 18. “It’s not meant to harm anyone.”

Bishop David Zubik disagrees. The bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, where CMU’s 4^th Annual “Anti-Gravity Downhill Derby” occurred, was quick to condemn the demonstration, calling it “inappropriate and disrespectful.”

Bishop Zubik has called for the university to address the disrespect shown toward Catholics and the papacy. “We all know that when we’re growing up, we do stupid things,” Bishop Zubik said. “But to cross over the line in this instance shouldn’t happen with anybody.”

Random photos from the art school parade. (No photo is available of the “nude pope”.)

The Diocese has asked Carnegie Mellon University to take action to discipline the student. As of this writing, CMU has not announced what action, if any, will be taken. The university issued a statement saying, in part, “We are continuing our review of the incident. If our community standards or laws were violated, we will take appropriate action.”

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A couple of quick observations regarding the so-called “community standards”:

RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLIC NUDITY. Public nudity is always against community standards. Small children and conservative seniors could not have avoided the woman as this sideshow passed their homes at 3:00 in the afternoon. Even on television, nudity is prohibited because it violates the religious or cultural sensibilities of private citizens. Nude beaches are limited and age-restricted to protect the rights of citizens.

RESPECT FOR RELIGION. The disrespect shown toward the Catholic Church would never be tolerated, were it directed instead toward Muslims, Jews or minorities; and it should not be tolerated when directed against Catholicism. Bishop Zubik is right to stand against this bigoted, intolerant treatment of Catholics, and to demand an apology.

THE LIMITS OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM. Students loudly proclaimed their right to “freedom of expression.” The term “freedom of expression”, though, has been applied by the U.N. Human Rights Council to protect against wanton disregard for religions, such as that displayed at CMU:

On March 22, 2013, the UN Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a new resolution on combating religious intolerance. ARTICLE 19, a charitable organization established in 1987 to ensure that religious ideas are respected in the public square, and CIHRS (the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies) welcomed the new resolution.

Refworld.com, the website of the UN Refugee Agency, explains the two organizations’ support for religious tolerance (emphasis mine):

In particular, ARTICLE 19 and CIHRS appreciate that the resolution reaffirms the positive role of the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the full respect for the freedom to seek, receive and impart information can play in strengthening democracy and combating religious intolerance.

The Action Plan requires States to foster a domestic environment of religious tolerance, peace and respect, by:

Encouraging the creation of collaborative networks to build mutual understanding, promoting dialogue and inspiring constructive action;

Creating an appropriate mechanism within Governments to, inter alia, identify and address potential areas of tension between members of different religious communities, and assisting with conflict prevention and mediation;

Encouraging training of Government officials in effective outreach strategies;

Encouraging the efforts of leaders to discuss within their communities the causes of discrimination, and evolving strategies to counter these causes;

Speaking out against intolerance, including advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence;

Adopting measures to criminalize incitement to imminent violence based on religion or belief;

Understanding the need to combat denigration and negative religious stereotyping of persons, as well as incitement to religious hatred, through, inter alia, education and awareness-building;

Recognizing that the open, constructive and respectful debate of ideas, as well as interfaith and intercultural dialogue can play a positive role in combating religious hatred, incitement and violence;

The resolution further calls upon States to:

To take effective measures to ensure that public functionaries in the conduct of their public duties do not discriminate on the basis of religion or belief;

To foster religious freedom and pluralism by promoting the ability of members of all religious communities to manifest their religion, and to contribute openly and on an equal footing to society;

To encourage the representation and meaningful participation of individuals, irrespective of their religion in all sectors of society;

To make a strong effort to counter religious profiling, which is understood to be the invidious use of religion as a criterion in conducting questionings, searches and other law enforcement investigative procedures;

ARTICLE 19 and CIHRS reiterate its call upon States to continue their active engagement in good faith dialogue to ensure the protection of the rights to freedom of expression and opinion, freedom of religion or belief, and non-discrimination for all individuals. We urge States to renew their commitment to the action plan set out in HRC Resolution 22/40, and redouble efforts to implement that plan at the domestic level.

AND LASTLY, INTENT. Did this outrageous costume just slip through the cracks, blindsiding the university’s administrators? It wouldn’t seem so. According to the event’s Facebook page established by Carnegie Mellon School of Art, “Last year got a little out of hand… we expect nothing less this time around.”

I trust that an apology will be forthcoming, and that the university will lay out a strong policy against denigration of the Catholic faith here in the U.S., in keeping with the UN’s goals for other parts of the world.

* * * * *

UPDATE: On May 1, Carnegie Mellon University President Jared Cohon has apologized for the actions of the student who dressed as the pope in the art school’s 4th Annual Anti-Gravity Downhill Derby, while parading through campus naked from the waist down and tossing condoms to an amused crowd.

According to local CBS affiliate KDKA, the matter is still under investigation; but President Cohon has said he is “extremely disturbed” by the incident.

The statement reads:

“This act was highly offensive and, as we have said, the university has been investigating the matter and following our procedures to determine if disciplinary action is warranted.

Some people seem to equate limited communication with no action, believing that the university is doing nothing, and somehow hoping that the issue will just go away. This is not the case, and those who know me and my administration should reject such ideas out of hand.

While our process is still in motion and I cannot comment on or speculate about the resolution of the matter, I can apologize to those who took particular offense. I regret that this occurred, and I apologize to all who were offended by this, for religious or other reasons, and especially to those who witnessed this behavior.”

Filed Under: Art, Education, Prejudice, Rights Tagged With: Anti-Gravity Downhill Derby, Carnegie Mellon University, Community Standards, Diocese of Pittsburgh 49 Comments

BREAKING: Federal Judge Overturns Restrictions on Sale of Morning-After Pill (UPDATED)

April 6, 2013 By Kathy Schiffer Leave a Comment

The New York Times reported on April 5 that a federal judge in Brooklyn has overturned the government’s restriction on over-the-counter sales of the morning-after pill, which had been available only by prescription for girls 16 and under. Senior Judge Edward R. Korman of the Eastern District of New York ruled on April 4 that Sebelius’s decision on Plan B One Step was “arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable.”

The question of who should have access to emergency contraception has been a contentious issue since the introduction of RU-486 (Mifepristone) in the late 1980s. In 1988, RU-486 was available only in France; the following year, the Bush Administration banned imports of the drug for personal use. After years of continued debate and advanced clinical trials, the drug was finally approved for use in the United States in 2000.

Plan B One Step, a more recent development, is an emergency contraceptive pill taken by mouth after unprotected sex. It is used to prevent pregnancy. It is not intended for routine contraceptive use and does not prevent against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

The decision by Judge Korman effectively reverses a 2011 ruling by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, requiring a prescription for girls 16 and younger who wanted “Plan B” pills. Women 17 and older could purchase Plan B without a prescription; but as a restricted-use medication, it was kept behind the counter.

Sebelius’ policy, which overruled the Food and Drug Administration’s recommendation that Plan B be sold over the counter, had received unequivocal support from President Obama. “I will say this, as the father of two daughters,” said the President. “I think it is important for us to make sure that we apply some common sense to various rules when it comes to over-the-counter medicine. And as I understand it, the reason Kathleen made this decision was she could not be confident that a 10-year-old or an 11-year-old going into a drugstore should be able — alongside bubble gum or batteries — be able to buy a medication that potentially, if not used properly, could end up having an adverse effect. And I think most parents would probably feel the same way.”

Abortion opponents argue against Plan B for a different reason: It is an abortifacient. Plan B One Step works by providing a dose of the synthetic version of progesterone, a female reproductive hormone, which prevents ovulation or, if ovulation has already occurred, makes the uterus “less hospitable to a fertilized egg.”

And parents’ advocates argue that over-the-counter sales to minors deny parents the right to be involved in their children’s lives, to help shape their moral character, and to monitor their health needs. With side effects including nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, and heavy menstrual bleeding, the drug should not be taken lightly and without the knowledge of a parent or responsible adult. Critics point to rules which require a school to obtain parental permission before administering an aspirin to a teen or pre-teen; yet the harsh chemicals in Plan B One Step will now be available to children as young as 10 or 11.

And since the drug offers no protection against sexually transmitted diseases including HIV, opponents argue that immature youth should not be granted access to the pill, which may provide a false sense of security and encourage promiscuity.

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UPDATE: On Friday, April 5, Deirdre McQuade, spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Pro Life Activities, issued a statement regarding the judge’s decision to lift age limits on purchase of over-the-counter emergency contraceptives. McQuade wrote:

“A federal district judge in New York has ordered the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lift all age limits on over-the-counter access to the so-called “emergency contraceptive” drug Plan B and its generic versions.

“Plan B is a large dose of a powerful hormonal drug (levonorgestrel) that is available only by prescription when used in smaller doses for contraception.The court has acted irresponsibly by making this powerful drug available without a prescription to minor children.

“Plan B does not prevent or treat any disease, but makes young adolescent girls more available to sexual predators.The court’s action undermines parents’ ability to protect their daughters from such exploitation and from the adverse effects of the drug itself.

“Many studies have shown that wider access to “emergency contraception” among young people does not reduce pregnancy or abortion rates, but can contribute to higher rates of sexually transmitted disease.No public health consideration justifies the unregulated distribution of such drugs to children.This ruling should be appealed and overturned.”

Filed Under: Abortion, Government, Rights Leave a Comment

LIKE DAY AND NIGHT: Two Catholic Groups in Detroit This Weekend

June 9, 2011 By Kathy Schiffer 1 Comment

This weekend, there will be two major Catholic conferences in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Because I think the Detroit News coverage has been so patently slanted, I wanted to point out important differences between them.

#1 – CALL TO HOLINESS

The Call To Holiness Conference conference will be held on Saturday, June 11, at Burton Manor Conference Center in Livonia. Call To Holiness, which draws hundreds or thousands of participants each year, is one of the most dynamic events in the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

CTH features solid Catholic speakers who are in conformity with the teachings of the Catholic Church, including (among others):

Al Kresta, host of “Kresta In the Afternoon” on Ave Maria Radio
Jeff Cavins, founding host of EWTN’s “Life On the Rock” and Relevant Radio’s “Morning Air” and author of popular books on Catholic apologetics
Raymond de Souza, founder and director of the international apostolate St. Gabriel Media, host of a program on EWTN, progam director for Human Life International
Johnette Benkovic, founder and president of Living His Life Abundantly, a Catholic apostolate with outreaches in television, radio, print and internet communications, and founder of Women of Grace, a Catholic women’s apostolate
Fr. Clement Machado, S.O.L.T., who has served as parochial vicar in Montreal and as parochial administrator in Ottawa, and who now works with Vatican Radio in Rome.
Fr. Edmund McCaffrey, Ob.S.D., Ph.D., president Eternal Life, political scientist, scholar, writer, retreat master. Strong proponent of Marian devotion.

Archbishop Vigneron has sent a message of welcome to Call To Holiness, saying,

“It is a blessing for me to be able to greet all of you who are participating in the 13^th annual Call To Holiness Conference, “Call to Fidelity: The Power of Truth.” This conference promises to be a powerful catalyst for growth in holiness and a deepened conviction about our need, particularly in these difficult times, to persevere in fidelity to Jesus Christ who is the truth incarnate. Please know of my prayers for all of you.”

#2 – AMERICAN CATHOLIC COUNCIL

The American Catholic Council meets June 10-12 at Cobo Hall. Declaring itself a “grassroots movement of Catholics,” the dissident group is releasing their own “Catholic Bill of Rights and Responsibilities” demanding, among other things:

Primacy of Conscience – Every Catholic has the right and responsibility to develop an informed conscience and to act in accord with it. (No need to follow the laws of the Church.)
Community – Every Catholic has the right and responsibility to participate in a Eucharistic community and the right to responsible pastoral care.
Freedom of Expression – Every Catholic has the right and responsibility to freedom of expression and the freedom to dissent.
Sacraments – Every Catholic has the right and responsibility to participate in the fullness of the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church. (No doubt, here again comes the “women’s ordination” canard, as well as priesthood for women, communion for divorced, etc.)
Reputation - Every Catholic has the right to a good name and to due process. (Hailing back to handling of the clergy abuse crisis.)
Governance - Every Catholic and every Catholic community has the right to a meaningful participation in decision making, including the selection of leaders. (They would like the community to elect pastors and bishops.)
Participation - Every Catholic has the right and responsibility to share in the interpretation of the Gospel and Church tradition. (So you get to decide what the scripture really means.)
Councils. Every Catholic has the right to intervene and speak in assemblies where diverse voices can be heard.
Social Justice. Every Catholic has the right and the responsibility to promote social justice in the world at large as well as within the structures of the Church.

I think there is a church like that– It’s just not the Catholic Church.

Speakers at the ACC Conference include:

Hans Kung, widely-recognized and highly controversial Swiss theologian/priest. The Vatican has rescinded his authority to teach Catholic theology, but he retains the title of “professor of ecumenical theology.”
Anthony Padovano, former Catholic priest, founder of CORPUS, now pastor of The Inclusive Community where Catholics and Protestants worship together
Jeanette Rodriguez, scholar whose work specializes in liberation theology (denounced by the Church), previous chair of Pax Christi, a peace group which advocates civil disobedience.
James Carroll, scholar-in-residence at Suffolk University, columnist for the Boston Globe. In a 2009 book, he denounced Pope Benedict XVI as “the chief sponsor of the new Catholic fundamentalism, enforced with no regard for the real cost to human beings.”
Kathleen Kennedy-Townsend, eldest daughter of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, vociferously pro-abortion former Lieut. Gov. of Maryland.
Joan Chittister, Benedictine nun, author and speaker. Outspoken advocate for women’s ordination, etc. Founder of Benetvision, which encourages spirituality through a feminist perspective.
Matthew Fox, former Dominican priest, now a member of the Episcopal church. Advocate for New Age “Creation Spirituality,” which is aligned with ecological and environmental movements and with a focus on “deep ecumenism” that embraces numerous spiritual traditions around the world, including Buddhism, Judaism, Sufism, and Native American teachings.

Archbishop Vigneron has cautioned Catholics about this so-called “Catholic” group and has issued a strong warning to priests and deacons not to participate in their liturgy this weekend. He writes, in part:

In order to fulfill my responsibilities, so clearly enunciated by the Second Vatican Council, of fostering of communion with both the local and the universal Church, I am compelled to caution any priests or deacons who may be considering participation in this liturgy. It is not being celebrated with my permission as required by the law and the good order of the People of God. Further, clergy should be aware of the impact of forbidden concelebration with those who are not in full communion (canons 908 and 1365). This is a serious delict, for which recourse to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is required, and which may result in dismissal from the clerical state (cf. Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela, 2001 and 2010).