By Sherry Saavedra
Union-Tribune
August 21, 2008
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080821-1130-bn21rescind.html
SAN DIEGO – A petition demanding that Catholic feminist theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether be allowed to assume an endowed chair at University of San Diego was delivered to the president and provost offices Thursday morning.
The petition, which contains more than 2,000 signatures, including 50 from USD faculty, was delivered by members of the nonprofit Call to Action of San Diego County, which advocates on Catholic social reform issues.
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| Rosemary Radford Ruether |
"She's a distinguished theologian, and this is really a violation of academic freedom," said organization president Al O'Brien, who was joined by about 15 others.
USD withdrew its appointment of Radford to the Monsignor John R. Portman Chair in Roman Catholic Theology last month because she serves on the board of directors for an abortion rights organization called Catholics for Choice. University officials say that role is in direct conflict with this particular chair, "a powerful, visible symbol of Roman Catholic theology." In addition, the appointment was never approved by the provost, as required.
The petition was sponsored by the national Women's Ordination Conference, an advocacy group for female priests, deacons and bishops; and the national Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual, a multi-religious feminist educational center with Catholic co-directors.
Subway
"In revoking their offer, USD violated the principle of academic freedom, in direct contradiction with their stated intention to 'uphold the highest standards of intellectual inquiry and academic freedom,' as stated in one of the university's five core values," said Barbra Calantas, a USD alumna and representative of the Women's Ordination Conference.
Neither President Mary Lyons nor Provost Julie Sullivan were in town, but an office worker accepted the petition, which demanded that Ruether either be allowed to assume the post and receive an apology from the university, or be invited to speak at USD on academic freedom.
"The university accepts the group's interest and issues of concern to the community, however this remains a university personnel matter," USD spokeswoman Pamela Gray Payton said.
Also, delivering the petition were members of the local Mary Magdalene Apostle Catholic Community, who are led by Jane Via, who was recently ordained a priest by a Catholic reform movement. She faces possible excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church. Women are not permitted to be priests by the Catholic Church.
Sherry Saavedra: (619) 542-4598; sherry.saavedra@uniontrib.com
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