What next, from Holy Cross?

Today's Worcester Telegram reports on the new Embryonic Stem Cell Bank at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, MA. Dr. Michael Collins, interim chancellor of the medical school and senior vice president for health sciences for the university, said in the article that UMass may be able to establish itself as the top center in the world for storing and handling [embryonic] stem cell lines for researchers.

It remains unclear from this article whether the UMass bank will include adult stem cell lines, or only Embryonic stem cell lines. The distinction is important for two reasons; Adult stem cell research is ethical, and is supported by the Catholic Church while embryonic stem cell research is controversial because human embryos, the very earliest stages of development of human life, have to be created only to be destroyed so that their stem cells can be exploited. This is why the Catholic Church is opposed to Embryonic Stem Cell research.

The second reason is, Dr. Michael Collins is Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Holy Cross College, which means we have another example of Holy Cross flouting Catholic Moral teaching.

Ciriganano Not Guilty

The blog Pie and Coffee is reporting that Larry Cirignano was found not guity of assault and battery against the ACLU board member who stood in front of the Vote on Marriage crowd holding a sign. Larry escorted the woman back into the crowd, where she tripped over someone's foot, then claimed that she was pushed to the ground.

Alumni write Fr. McFarland

Dear Fr. Michael J. McFarland SJ,

I am in receipt of your recent e-mail regarding the upcoming conference.

"Holy Cross fully affirms and promotes Catholic teaching on abortion and the sanctity of all human life. Our contract and dealings are do not involve Planned Parenthood or NARAL.."

Actions speak louder than words. You are giving a platform to the world's largest abortion provider, no matter how you try and spin it.

"As president of a Catholic college in the Diocese of Worcester, I wholly respect the duty of Bishop McManus to uphold the teachings of the Church?most especially the sanctity of life and opposition to abortion. However, it is the College's position that providing rented meeting space to a conference of professionals from a variety of Massachusetts organizations discussing the safety and care of at-risk teenagers does not represent a disregard of Catholic teaching."

Please stop lying ....it is sadly transparent. You are not respecting the Church's teaching. You are hosting orgazinations (Planned Parenthood, et. al) directly and flagrantly in opposition to Church teaching. Neither are you respecting the authority of the Bishop. I pray for a sliver of humility to be opened in you for the Holy Spirit to fly into, and for the courage to be granted you that will be required to make the wrenching decision to cancel the conference. This is your crucible. It could be your finest hour, or it could be your downfall. If you were struck down this evening would you be able to look Jesus in the eye and tell him you did everything you could to protect the least of his His?

"This is a meeting of adult professionals who work for the health and well-being of Massachusetts teenagers and children"

It is an outright LIE to say that organizations such as Planned Parenthood work for the health and well-being of teenagers and children (let alone unborn children!). Perhaps you haven't heard documented cases of them protecting child predators? I suggest you have a listen to these recorded conversations and take your blinders off:
http://www.plannedparenthoodexposed.com/

I am praying fervently for you and don't envy the position you find yourself in. But I have great faith that you will find the courage to do the right thing and cancel this conference.

Respectfully,
Margot Hird
Woodland Hills, CA

Sue Widemark responds to O'Brien

Subj: Pro-Life Response To Planned Parenthood At Holy Cross
Date: 10/19/2007 2:05:52 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: gswidemark@cox.net
Reply-to: catholic-and-prolife@yahoogroups.com
To: dobrien@holycross.edu

David,

I am mystified and disappointed (to put it mildly) by your comments below. "Reduce abortions"? How... by birth control? That's a fallacy and even Planned Parenthood admits that 50-60 percent of their abortion business comes from failed birth control... that's not even a good solution for NON Catholics.

But you are supposed to be Catholic and you are DEFENDING Holy Cross allowing a conference pushing abortion and birth control and attacking those Catholics who are (rightly) astonished and disgusted at this lack of Catholicism apparently at Holy Cross?

Let's cut to the chase and get to some facts here:

1. ABORTION IS MURDER - we don't want to "reduce abortions" - we want to get RID OF ABORTION and those Catholics who play ring around the rosey with abortion providers whom YOU are saying it is no problem to allow on your so called Catholic campus, are just plain garden variety cowards, too cowardly to really stand up for what Jesus taught but Jesus said "unless you take up your Cross and Follow me, YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF ME!".

If half the people who called themselves Catholic would stand up and say "NO MORE ABORTIONS" that would be the end of abortion, like right now. Our church has a NO TOLERANCE attitude toward abortion. Every pregnancy, we teach, is a direct act of God - every abortion is a ghastly affront to that Direct Act of God.

2. Your BISHOP TOLD the president of the college to not allow the conference, suggesting that you could lose your accreditation as a Catholic school and his admonishments were ignored .... and you are DEFENDING THIS? What message does his refusal to follow his Bishop's requests give to the students at your school about obedience and respect for the Catholic church and the Holy Father of whom the Bishop is YOUR representative?

3. To remind you of something you might have long forgotten, ADMONISHING THE SINNER is a spiritual act of mercy. That is only ONE thing our "unproductive action" did with you....

4. Was Jesus knocking over the money changers in the temple an "unproductive action"? He did not mince words and that was only money He was talking about, NOT WHOLESALE MURDER OF HUMAN BEINGS.

5. the birth control mentality LEADS to abortion and several types of birth control are abortafacients anyway (besides being horribly medically risky for the women who take these medications). Have you forgotten that the Catholic church teaches ABSTINENCE outside of marriage and that married couples are offered the safest and most effective means of family planning i.e. billings ovulation or NFP? Actually many state agencies teach ABSTINENCE as the ideal way to cut teen pregnancies and do you REALLY think, considering that the speakers at that conference SELL abortion and birth control, that abstinence will even be mentioned? (if you think THIS, I know
where there is a bridge I can sell you....)

6. Even the secular medical community is saying that "abortion is a STRONG predictor of breast cancer" - do you really NOT CARE about the teens you are professing to "help" - Holy Cross is not only NOT protecting them SPIRITUALLY, they are NOT EVEN PROTECTING THEM PHYSICALLY.

Tell me, why should students spend big bucks to attend YOUR school only to get exposed to Planned Parenthood when they can save bucks and go to the state schools where they will be on alert to the Planned Parenthood action there?

In my opinion, your attempt to philosophize this whole affair is merely a straw man to cover the sinfulness of NOT canceling this conference teaching evil concepts.... and all for $10,000 .... that's more than 30 pieces of silver, but not much more is it? So how are YOU and the school better than Judas when you have, just as much, DENIED the Very Jesus you profess to teach?

In Him,
Sue Widemark
Pro Life, Catholic and proud of it.
http://abortion-not.org

PS: is it true the Holy Cross College invited Francis Kissling to talk there - she's not only RABIDLY pro abortion but also EXTREMELY anti Catholic... I hope this is not true or doesn't seem much hope for Holy Cross.... :(

Holy Cross' O'Brien defends decision

As expected, Holy Cross Professor David O'Brien defends Fr. McFarland's decision to accept $10k from Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy to bring in Planned Parenthood for a Conference. Rebuttal to follow.

From: "David O'Brien"
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007 7:21 AM
Subject: Re: Pro-Life Response To Planned Parenthood At Holy Cross
Hello

I deeply regret that I will be returning from giving a talk at Xavier University in Ohio on Tuesday night or I would be in the audience to offer a defense of the College and its leaders. Too often our pro-life movement focuses on symbolic actions rather than substantive strategies to reduce abortions and change the climate that allows so many assaults on life. Indeed actions like that taken against Holy Cross are counter-productive and need to be challenged, respectfully and in a spirit of solidarity and shared responsibility. I attach to comments I have written in defense of the College. Thank you for your concern and your commitment to faithful
citizenship.

David O'Brien

What Holy Cross could have done

Oct.23,Tues.7PM "Preventing Teen Pregnancy: the Catholic Approach – What Holy Cross could have done to address this critical problem". Featuring Dawn Eden at the Cenacle room, St. Paul's Cathedral, 38 High St., Worcester. Dawn is director of the Love and Responsibility Program at The Cardinal Newman Society and the author of "The Thrill of the Chaste." In her talk she will detail how Church teachings on chastity offer a solution to not only the problem of teen pregnancy but also the wider problems of family breakdown, while abortion and contraception exacerbate those problems.

This talk is hugely important for two reasons;

1. So many of our kids, and our 20 and 30 years olds, have been lied to, and misunderstand that contraception prevent families, it prevents monogamy, it prevents stability, and prevents happiness.

2. We have a Bishop who showed some spine, who clearly addressed a problem up on Holy Cross Hill, and told them to dissociate themselves from this Planned Parenthood conference if they want to remain a Catholic Institution. Fr. McFarland has refused. Please do not take any delight in this potential schism, even though you, like me, have been constantly angered by the wayward ways of Holy Cross. Prayer is extremely important now, but a large public showing at this talk by Dawn Eden will help put Holy Cross on notice.

Please tell as many people as possible to attend so that we might have a great showing of opposition to Holy Cross' embrace of Planned Parenthood.

If anyone can contact College students, invite them, and even offer them rides, Dawn has promised to work with us to provide transportation. Please spread the word to anyone you know at Assumption, Quinsig, Worcester State, etc...

Letter to Fr. McFarland

From: "Sue Robbins"
To: "Michael McFarland"
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 11:14 PM
Subject: Response to your letter "For those who do not have a voice"

Dear Father Mc Farland.

I read with great interest your response to those who oppose Holy
Cross renting space for the Alliance on Teen Pregnancy. I’m pleased
to learn that you are not opposed to nor do you run away from public
discussions that are controversial. Therefore, I’m assuming you will
allow me to comment on this subject even though we do not agree on
substance.

I can assure you Pro-Life members do not view in any simplistic way
the many motives of Planned Parenthood. As much as I respect them as
being God’s children too, I find them to be totally misguided in
their belief that their only source of power comes from doing with
their bodies as they please. I wish Holy Cross were hosting a real
balanced public discussion on Teen Pregnancy because Fertility Care
Services, who do also teach applications on avoiding pregnancy and
procreative wellness, would have been a good balance. They provide,
among many things, in depth information on the most current,
effective, and scientific natural system to avoid pregnancy, a very
morally acceptable alternative.

As far as pro-life voices being marginalized because we shun Planned
Parenthood and publicly discredit them and I quote "however
justified in theory" is really buying into pro-choice thinking and
rhetoric. It’s my impression that one is obfuscating this point in
order to justify Holy Cross’ actions. Pro-life people do not deal
with theory but facts. Pro-lifers are on the frontline and in the
trenches, so to speak, putting themselves on the line to be possibly
arrested or even injured. The horrors they have seen and the women
they have counseled after their encounter with Planned Parenthood
leave indelible impressions on them. It’s an abhorrence one doesn’t
shake off easily so it’s only natural to shun evil and reveal its
true nature.

I agree we need to protect the welfare of young children and teens
and that’s why we have organizations such as Problem Pregnancy and
Visitation House. These and other organizations have in fact
prevented abortions, demonstrating that pro-life people do put great
value on the welfare of women, while at the same time respecting the
life that "pro-choice" people do not respect. How that plays into the
hand of Planned Parenthood is a mystery to me.

I realize Holy Cross will not withdraw from their agreement to host
this event but I would hope Holy Cross would reflect on why Pro-life
people feel the way they do. I pray that you will come to better
understand and appreciate their faithfulness to Catholic Doctrine. We
are far from being perfect and without sin, but we practice
discernment in order to recognize what is morally right, and to
prevent ourselves from being unwittingly influenced by voices like
Planned Parenthood.

Thank you for your consideration,
Sue Robbins member of St Mary Parish North Grafton

Statement from Bishop McManus

Statement from Most Rev. Robert J. McManus, S.T.D.
Regarding Teen Pregnancy Conference at the College of the Holy Cross

A controversy has arisen at the College of the Holy Cross that has resulted from the College’s renting space for a conference sponsored by the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy. The conference involves workshops presented by members of Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts. Both organizations promote positions on artificial contraception and abortion that are contrary to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church.

I have received numerous complaints from people who are shocked and outraged that a Catholic institution like Holy Cross would have anything to do with such groups. They have appealed to me to ask Father Michael McFarland, president of the College of the Holy Cross, to revoke the College’s agreement to rent space to the Massachusetts Teen Alliance. I have done so.

As Bishop of Worcester, it is my pastoral and canonical responsibility to determine what institutions can properly call themselves “Catholic.” This is a duty that I do not take lightly since to be a Catholic institution means that such an institution conducts its mission and ministry in accord with Catholic Church teaching, especially in cases of faith and morals.

The moral teaching of the Catholic Church on respect for life at all stages of its development is manifestly clear. Life is a fundamental good that must be protected and respected from the moment of fertilization to natural death. This teaching is so basic and important that it provides the foundation upon which much of the Church’s moral and social doctrine rests. It is beyond modification and compromise.

Both Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice are notorious for their policies and practices that directly reject the Church’s teaching on artificial contraception and abortion. The College of the Holy Cross should recognize that any association with these groups can create the situation of offering scandal understood in its proper theological sense, i.e., an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil. Certainly it is understandable how people of good will could interpret the college’s allowing presentations to be made by such groups as truly scandalous.

I strongly contend that the confusion and upset to the Catholic faithful and others that flow from the perception that the administration of the College of the Holy Cross supports positions contrary to the fundamental moral teaching of the Church must be avoided. To deny Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice a forum in which to present their morally unacceptable positions is not an infringement of the exercise of academic freedom but a defensible attempt to make unambiguously clear the Catholic identity and mission of the College of the Holy Cross.

It is my fervent wish that the administration of the College of the Holy Cross will unequivocally disassociate itself from the upcoming conference sponsored by the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy so that the college can continue to be recognized as a Catholic institution committed to promoting the moral teaching of the Roman Catholic church.

Issued October 10, 2007, WORCESTER, MA

Worldly logic from St. James hill

From: "Michael McFarland"
To:
Subject: Re: For those who do not have a voice.
Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2007 20:51:09
Dear ...,
Thank you for your message. I commend your concern for the unborn.
However, I cannot look at the Alliance on Teen Pregnancy as simplistically as you seem to do.

It is not and has never been the mainstream Catholic position, and certainly is not the Jesuit position, that we should run away from public discussions of issues that are important to us just because of the presence of those whose positions or activities we find to be wrong...I must point out that the strategy of some pro-life groups to shun Planned Parenthood and thus discredit them in the public eye, however justified in theory, has been a miserable failure in practice. To the extent that the Church has tried it, all it has done is marginalize its own voice, which is tragic.

By refusing to take part in broad-based efforts to help young girls and their children, we play into the hands of Planned Parenthood, who want to portray us as only caring for our own ideology and not for the welfare of women. I think that...a much sounder strategy of involving itself in important efforts to protect the welfare of children and young people in ways that we find morally acceptable. If successful these efforts could lead to fewer abortions. In any event, given importance of the work done by the Alliance and the involvement of Catholic Charities and other Catholic groups, I don't see that we are compelled to withdraw from the agreement to rent space to them.

Strive to enter by the narrow gate

The narrow gate

August 26, 2007, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C - Pope Benedict XVI

Today's liturgy presents to us enlightening yet at the same time disconcerting words of Christ.

On his last journey to Jerusalem someone asked him: "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And Jesus answered: "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able" (Lk 13: 23-24).

What does this "narrow door" mean? Why do many not succeed in entering through it? Is it a way reserved for only a few of the chosen?

Indeed, at close examination this way of reasoning by those who were conversing with Jesus is always timely: the temptation to interpret religious practice as a source of privileges or security is always lying in wait.

Actually, Christ's message goes in exactly the opposite direction: everyone may enter life, but the door is "narrow" for all. We are not privileged. The passage to eternal life is open to all, but it is "narrow" because it is demanding: it requires commitment, self-denial and the mortification of one's selfishness.

Once again, as on recent Sundays, the Gospel invites us to think about the future which awaits us and for which we must prepare during our earthly pilgrimage.

Salvation, which Jesus brought with his death and Resurrection, is universal. He is the One Redeemer and invites everyone to the banquet of immortal life; but on one and the same condition: that of striving to follow and imitate him, taking up one's cross as he did, and devoting one's life to serving the brethren. This condition for entering heavenly life is consequently one and universal.

In the Gospel, Jesus recalls further that it is not on the basis of presumed privileges that we will be judged but according to our actions. The "workers of iniquity" will find themselves shut out, whereas all who have done good and sought justice at the cost of sacrifices will be welcomed.

Thus, it will not suffice to declare that we are "friends" of Christ, boasting of false merits: "We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets" (Lk 13: 26).

True friendship with Jesus is expressed in the way of life: it is expressed with goodness of heart, with humility, meekness and mercy, love for justice and truth, a sincere and honest commitment to peace and reconciliation.

We might say that this is the "identity card" that qualifies us as his real "friends"; this is the "passport" that will give us access to eternal life.

Dear brothers and sisters, if we too want to pass through the narrow door, we must work to be little, that is, humble of heart like Jesus, like Mary his Mother and our Mother. She was the first, following her Son, to take the way of the cross and she was taken up to heaven in glory, an event we commemorated a few days ago. The Christian people invoke her as "Ianua Coeli", gate of heaven. Let us ask her to guide us in our daily decisions on the road that leads to the "gate of heaven".

An Alumni responds

Response from HC Alumni to HC concerning Planned Parenthood’s three presentations during the Teen Pregnancy Institute conference Oct.24

Dear
Thanks for your very timely reply, below, and for sharing mine with Fr. McFarland.

As for the last sentence of yours, concerning the university (using the term generically, and certainly including a Catholic college where faith and reason should meet and embrace) being a place where a respectful exchange of ideas and information may take place, I believe my acknowledgment that, "there no doubt would be circumstances where PP might legitimately be invited to participate in an event on The Hill in the interest of academic freedom and the pursuit of Truth in the university marketplace of ideas (e.g., a debate at which Catholic scholars presented and explained why the Church views PP's weltanschauung as inherently evil and destructive) . . ." had already accorded a tip of the hat to that important precept. But as I had also noted, the Oct. 24 conference quite clearly is not such a forum. A debate between representatives of, say, Problem Pregnancy of Worcester, Inc. (staffed 100% by volunteers and providing information and support to girls and women which allows them to have true choice, Visitation House, Inc., which provides free housing and parenting education for pregnant girls and women which enable them to help their children be born and thrive) with those of Planned Parenthood (which makes millions and millions of dollars each year by killing unborn millions), would be perfect for the free and respectful exchange of ideas while at the same time offering the College an opportunity to stand with the unborn, in a manner consistent with the Jesuits' charter.

You also note that, "Holy Cross believes that a state-wide meeting of educators, health professionals, counselors, and other professionals who are working to ensure the health and safety of at-risk teenagers does not constitute an attack on Catholic teaching." And naturally, you are quite correct in that statement. Per se such a conference, designed to address what is recognized as one of the most serious problems in our modern, U.S. society, is by no means an attack on Truth as the Roman Catholic Church discerns and proclaims it. But the statement quite misses the point, n'est pas?? The point being that abortion, the so-called morning after pill, which acts as an abortifacient, and artificial contraception are all means which Planned Parenthood very effectively promotes, participates in and propagandizes. As it will indubitably do in what I noticed after sending my email of Sunday are actually three (3) workshops, rather than one (1), one of which in addition to offering the "latest and greatest" information "on protection methods", also will offer lessons on how to avoid parental consent laws by resort to the courts - not, I suspect, something that parents of students at the Cross would place high on their list of hopes for their children's education.

A brief aside. I realize, as you say, that this is not a course offering and that so far as I know the event has not been publicized in such a way as to encourage students to attend. But it does afford PP an entry to the campus, and thus a contact point for students, and there can be little doubt that students are or will be aware of their presence on campus. And their speal is very seductive, appealing in a shallow way to 'freedom of choice' and 'women's rights and dignity', etc.. I recently attended a hearing of the Worcester planning board concerning a planned parking lot at PP's soon to be new location on Pleasant Street in Worcester. At least 50-60 supporters of PP attended, wearing their pink PP pins. The vast majority were young, well-dressed, women who demonstrated energetic, and no doubt idealistic, enthusiasm for Planned Parenthood.

And aye, as the Bard said, that's the rub. PP taps into youthful idealism and exploits it to the nth degree. These young women believe that Evil is Good. And Good, Evil. Is it not the job of a Catholic college to inform its students (and others) as to what is the Truth?? Both by word and example?? What Catholic Charities of Boston and Caritas Christi do begs the question of what is right and what is wrong for The College of the Holy Cross to do. I cannot speak to the former, as I have no direct connection with them; I do with the Cross, as a beloved alma mater. Hosting a conference such as that on October 24, with PP as a prominent presenter, inevitably has the effect of blurring the line between Good and Evil - a line which it is our job to highlight as clearly as possible.

Since Sunday further information has come to my attention concerning Teen Pregnancy Institute ("TPI"). It is listed under Pro-Choice clinics, groups and organizations on the NARAL Massachusetts site. See http://www.prochoicemass.org/about/resources.shtml. With PP and NARAL it signed a letter to HHS Secretary Leavitt objecting to use of the term "unborn child" on the HHS web site promoting parent child communication, www.4parents.gov. See, http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/michael-leavitt-11091.htm.

These facts give rise to a reasonable inference that TPI is working hand-in-glove with the elements of our society which the late Holy Father, John-Paul II, described as charter members of the Culture of Death, which our present Holy Father Benedict XVI has continued to teach should be rejected as inimical to the intrinsic dignity and immeasurable worth of each and every, distinct, invaluable human being.

My purpose is not to take the Cross to task for a mistake in hosting the conference. I presume that applications are considered and some judgment made as to whether an organization and event pass minimal muster for presence on the Cross campus. But I also realize that in the press of business oft times all the facts are not known when such a decision is made, and particularly if TPI had noted that its membership or collaborations included Catholic or Catholic-affiliated organizations, that it would be likely to conclude that it so qualified. Moreover, I have made (and will inevitably will again make) more than my share of mistakes. But I sincerely, hope and urge that the Cross rescind its approval of the Oct. 24 conference for all of the reasons set forth above, and to that end ask that you once again, kindly, share this email with Fr. McFarland.

Thank you once again for your courtesy and assistance.

Sincerely,


----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 11:21 AM
Subject: Re: Planned Parenthood and Oct. 24, 2007 Teen Pregnancy Institute at H.C.
Dear ,

Thank you for your email, which I've shared with Fr. McFarland. We respect your concerns.

I'm sure you're aware of this, but to clarify: This is not a Planned Parenthood "event" or conference. The Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy www.massteenpregnancy.org (an association of providers of health, counseling, and other critical services to teens - including the Archdiocese of Boston and Caritas Christi health programs) is holding its annual meeting at the conference facility on campus. Holy Cross is not sponsoring and did not invite any of the presenters; nor are any faculty, administrators, or students involved in the programming of this organization.

Holy Cross believes that a state-wide meeting of educators, health professionals, counselors, and other professionals who are working to ensure the health and safety of at-risk teenagers does not constitute an attack on Catholic teaching. Further, a college campus must be a place where the respectful exchange of ideas and nformation takes place-an environment Holy Cross is committed to maintaining.

Thank you again for writing, and please know that I've forwarded your email to Fr. McFarland.

Planned Parenthood at HC

Sadly, Holy Cross college will host the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy on Wednesday October 24, with presenters from Planned Parenthood and topics such as the latest birth control methods, how to circumvent parental rights with judicial bypass so that a minor can obtain an abortion without their parents knowledge, and understanding sexual urban legends. Nothing on Post Abortion Stress syndrome or monogamy!

Ellen Ryder, Director of Public Affairs at Holy Cross is already defending this decision by Holy Cross, claiming the Cross did not invite the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy and has no control over who they bring in as presenters. However, Ms. Ryder did admit in an email that the college "evaluates all requests by individuals and organizations to the College to rent facilities."

Apparently Holy Cross did not adequately evaluate the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy, because this group is an obviously Pro-Choice organization, is against abstinence-only education based on their web site, is listed under Pro-Choice clinics, groups and organizations on the NARAL Massachusetts web site, signed (with Planned Parenthood and NARAL) a Letter to HHS Secretary Michael O. Leavitt claiming that the HHS web site promoting parent child communication did not address the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and questioning [sic] needs of children and demanded that the term 'unborn child' be replaced with ‘fetus’. The Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy consistently works with Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and the Abortion Advocacy Project in Boston to promote abortion as an acceptable birth control method.

These are the marks of a radically Pro-Choice, pro-abortion organization. They certainly are not the marks of a Catholic educational institution. These connections between the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy and NARAL and Planned Parenthood cannot simply be smoothed over or covered up. The fact that Planned Parenthood is presenting three workshops underscores the Pro-Choice stance of The Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy. By Holy Cross' own standards this group should not have been allowed to rent the Hogan Center. HC did not evaluate this request closely enough!

Now that the truth is out, please contact Holy Cross and ask them to rescind their business deal with this Pro-choice organization. Haven't faithful Catholics in Worcester and Massachusetts had enough Scandal coming from Holy Cross?

MA Provincial Superior V Rev Thomas J. Regan S.J. email: tregan@sjnen.org

Bishop McManus' secretary Fr. Rocco email: frocco@worcesterdiocese.org

Ellen Ryder, director Public Affairs, email: eryder@holycross.edu

Send a Letter to the Editor of Holy Cross Magazine: Jack O'Connell'81,
email: joconnel@holycross.edu