LETTER TO LOYOLA UNIVERSITY

DEAR MICHAEL J. GARANZINI, S.J. PRESIDENT;
IS LOYOLA "KEEPING THE FAITH?" NOT IN WORD OR DEED! I RECENTLY HEARD THAT MY HUSBAND'S ALMA MATER, LOYOLA, ('61) AND MY NOW INCORPORATED ALMA MATER, MUNDELEN COLLEGE ('62) HOSTED A CONSERVATIVE SPEAKER, ANN COULTER, BACK IN MARCH ‘06 TO ADDRESS THE STUDENTS. SHE WAS TREATED UNCIVILLY AND FRANKLY TOLD THAT SHE WAS NOT WELCOME. SHE WAS DRIVEN OFF THE STAGE WITH A TORRENT OF VITUPERATION AND BOMBAST. WHO DEFENDED THE TYPICAL COUNTER-CULTURAL AND 'RABBLE-ROUSING' LIBERAL CAMPUS ATTENDEES EXPRESSING THEIR DISPLEASURE? I HEARD THAT IT WAS A SPOKESMAN FOR THE JESUITS THEMSELVES. THE MOTTO OF LOYOLA UNIVERSITY WAS HISTORICALLY LIVED OUT AND TAUGHT BY ITS JESUITS, AS "ALL FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD." NOT ANY MORE. THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE JESUITS SAID THAT CONSERVATIVES SUCH AS ANN COULTER AND HER 'AGENDA' DID NOT REPRESENT JESUIT TRADITION AND THINKING; THEREFORE, CONSERVATIVES AT THE UNIVERSITY MADE A MISTAKE TO INVITE HER IN THE FIRST PLACE. IS THIS HOW A UNIVERSITY PREPARES "PEOPLE TO LEAD EXTRAORDINARY LIVES?" IF MS. COULTER HAD BEEN AN ANOINTED ONE, SPOUTING HATE SPEECH AGAINST ACCEPTABLE SHIBBOLETHS OF THE LEFT, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN TREATED DIFFERENTLY, WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS. I AM SHOCKED TO REALIZE THAT I AND MY HUSBAND RE-LOCATED FROM CHICAGO - WHERE WE WERE BOTH BORN AND RAISED AS STRICT, TRADITIONAL CATHOLICS - JUST IN TIME.

OBVIOUSLY THE JESUITS HAVE ABANDONED THEIR WONDERFUL TRADITION OF INQUIRY INTO BOTH REASON AND FAITH. THEY PAY LITTLE ATTENTION TO THE SCHOLARSHIP AND WISDOM OF OUR PRESENT POPE BENEDICT XVI. WHERE OH WHERE HAS ST. IGNATIUS GONE? WHERE OR WHEN WILL HIS FOLLOWERS ATTEMPT AGAIN TO COUNTER OUR PRESENT, CLOSE-MINDED REFORMATION ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES? LOYOLA HAS GONE THE WAY OF DICTATORIAL LIBERALISM.. THE JESUITS HAVE PERVERTED AND INVERTED ACADEMIC FREEDOM FOR LIBERAL BIAS AND LEFTIST POLITICAL CORRECTNESS AND THE BOORISHNESS THAT ACCOMPANIES THEM. WHAT FOR ME WAS PRIDE IN MY CATHOLIC HERITAGE, NOW FEELS TOO MUCH LIKE REGRET IN RETROSPECT. IN MY UNDERGRADUATE YEARS, I WAS NOT - TO QUOTE ANOTHER CHICAGOAN, JOE EPSTEIN, "DIVERTED BY CULTURE OR LIBERTINAGE." THIS EASTER I DID NOT LET YOUR DEPRESSING STATE OF AFFAIRS HIGHJACK THE TRUTH OF OUR REDEMPTION.

I RECENTLY RECEIVED MY UNSOLICITED SPRING 2007 MAGAZINE OF LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO. LUCKILY, I HAVE NEVER CHOSEN TO DONATE A CENT TO MY ALMA MATER. NOR HAVE I EVER LOOKED BACK WITH ANYTHING BUT ADMIRATION AND APPRECIATION FOR THE SERIOUS EDUCATION THAT I RECEIVED THERE. IF YOU WERE TO KNOW HOW MY HUSBAND 'TURNED OUT, A SHAME APPROPRIATELY ATTACHED TO THE MODERN STRIDES YOUR UNIVERSITY HAS TAKEN, SHOULD BE YOURS.

INSIDE THE BACK COVER OF THE ISSUE WAS A PICTURE OF A DOCTORAL STUDENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION. LOYOLA MAGAZINE WROTE WITH PRIDE OF THIS MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, BUT NEGLECTED TO OBSERVE THAT SHE APPARENTLY PUT THEM SECOND TO HER CAREER. THE IDEA, INHERENT IN CATHOLIC TEACHING, OF PARENTS BEING PRIMARY CARE-GIVERS AND GUIDES TO THEIR CHILDREN, HAS BECOME A MODERN, SIDEBAR ISSUE. THIS YOUNG 'ACADEMIC' MOM WHO WROTE ABOUT ACHIEVING "THE SUCCESS YOU DESERVE," IS OBVIOUSLY FOLLOWING THE PROGRESSIVE LINE OF CHURCH DOCTRINE TODAY, FILLED WITH RELEVANCY AND FEEL-GOOD IRRELEVANCE.

THE COVER OF THE LOYOLA MAGAZINE PICTURES THE BASKETBALL TEAM DISPLAYING SHIRTS WITH A WOLF LOGO. THE CAPTION ON THE PICTURE READ, "KEEPING THE FAITH." NOT REALLY, LOYOLA, NOT IN WORD OR DEED. TO ME, BASKETBALL OR ANY HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE OR PROFESSIONAL SPORT IS INTELLECTUALLY USELESS AND EDUCATIONALLY DETRIMENTAL. BUT THE WOLF'S IMAGE, MADE ME THINK. MY DEPARTURE FROM CHICAGO INTO THE COUNTRY, HAS ALLOWED ME TO HEAR A COYOTE PACK HOWL, ECHOING WIDELY ON A CLEAR, COLD NIGHT. NO MAJESTIC WOLF CALL TO UNCENSORED FREEDOM WILL EVERY RESONATE FROM MY ALMA MATER AGAIN.