A radical professor of theology at Marquette University (and former priest) wrote to the New York Times in support of the HHS mandate that forces Catholic colleges and institutions to pay for sterilization procedures and contraceptives including abortifacients.
And it gets worse from there. A lot worse.
Professor Daniel Maguire then outlandishly wrote in the Times that the American bishops who oppose the mandate are in conflict with Pope Benedict XVI who “ended the taboo on condoms.” He wrote:
An accurate look at Catholic teaching on contraception today shows strong support for the position that contraception is not only permissible but even mandatory in many cases.
The American bishops are at odds with other bishops in the Catholic world, with the vast majority of Catholic theologians and with 98 percent of the Catholic laity who have used contraceptives. They are even at odds with Pope Benedict XVI, who has approved the use of condoms “in the intention of reducing the risk of infection.” That concession logically ended the taboo on condoms since it said health care concerns can require the use of condoms.
This, of course, is a wild misreading of Pope Benedict XVI’s statements. In fact, The Vatican issued a clarification of the Pope’s remarks precisely because his words had been “repeatedly manipulated for ends and interests which are entirely foreign to the meaning of his words.” The Vatican clearly states that interpretations like the one Maguire is promulgating are “erroneous.”
One would expect a tenured theology professor to understand this. But this isn’t the first time Maguire has said outlandish things.
He is the author of eleven books, and one of his more recent ones is called Sacred Rights: The Case for Contraception and Abortion in World Religions.
In 2007, the bishops declared as “false teaching” two pamphlets by Maguire which argued that abortion, contraception and same-sex marriage are morally permissible under Catholic doctrine, according to the Times.
But on top of being pro-abortion rights, pro-assisted suicide, pro-ordination of women and pro-gay marriage, Maguire has also reportedly said he doesn’t believe Jesus died for our sins.
The Milwaulkee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel published an interview with Maguire years ago in which he reportedly said Jesus didn’t die for humanity’s sins:
We sat in Maguire’s living room as he told this story. I noticed a wilted Easter lily but not a single religious image or crucifix. Maguire said he doesn’t believe Jesus died for our sins and called it heresy that makes God look like a sadistic monster. Jesus died for standing up to the unjust and exploitative Roman Empire, he said.
“That’s drama enough for me,” he said.
And just in case you might think perhaps Maguire was misunderstood or misquoted, he repeated his thoughts on this in a piece he wrote for his non-profit organization, Religious Consultation, where he wrote:
Jesus was crucified by an empire. With all deference to Mel Gibson, he was not killed so that his suffering would expiate for our sins, a very bad piece of theology that would turn God into a sadistic monster who would feel he had to torture his son to death in order to make up for sins of other people. No, Jesus was crucified as a rebel against empire.
It’s more than a little ironic that Maguire lauds Jesus for being a “subversive” and standing up against a powerful government, but then Maguire himself sides with the overreaching big government program that’s attempting to force religious people to act against their conscience.
Hmmm…
Marquette has responded in the past to complaints about Maguire from The Cardinal Newman Society and others (as shown in The Marquette Warrior) by defending academic freedom and saying Maguire has tenure and there’s little they can do.
Adam Wilson
CNS Staff
Matthew Archbold
Charlotte Hays
17 Comments
The guy is deranged and needs prayers. It is sad that he is left in a position of teacher.
I am sickened by this. As a parent who will be sending children to a ‘Newman Guide’ institution, I am so grateful for the vigilant watch of CNS…keep up the good work!
While Marquette still enjoys the protection of The Constitution, they should fire the guy.
Gee, I was all set to consider Maguire a turncoat and quisling before realizing he’s merely a heretic.
It is hard to believe tenure would protect a professor preaching heresy in a Catholic university. I would seek legal opinion.
“98 percent of the Catholic laity who have used contraceptives”.
I am reminded of the elections in totalitarian countries, where the Leader won 98% of the votes. Does anyone have an idea where this figure, this lie originated? There being over some one billion Catholics in the world, one wonders who counted the 98%.
The 98% comes from the Guttamacher Institute, the research arm of Planned Parenthood, so yes, its a distortion number, though we cannot deny the problem exist – thank God for the Church’s clear teaching. Many blogs of late are from woman who responded ‘yes’ but now know or knew then that contraception is wrong. Visit http://www.ccgaction.org for more on this. Read Obama HHS Mandate Predicted by Humane Vitae.
The thing is: There were many more clergyman of the likes of Dan Maguire who had/have the same views but chose to express themselves more carefully, and remained priests in good standing.
I am totally disgusted with the views of this liberal minded professor and the University that employee’s him. We do not need an ex-priest telling us what Benedict XVII teaching is as far as morality and contraceptive is concern.
To Professor Maguire, I say this: “QUIET! Come out of him.”
This man is either mentally ill, pathologically dishonest, or possessed.
I find Marquette’s claim that they can do nothing about him because he has tenure to be specious. They can really do nothing about a heretic? Rather, they choose to do nothing about a heretic in their midst.
Any parent who sends their kid to Marquette gets what they deserve.
What you probably haven’t heard is that this Catholic contraception number being thrown around comes from the Guttamacher Institute, the research arm of Planned Parenthood, the provider of birth control and abortion under the pretext of “reproductive health services”. Read more @ http://www.ccgaction.org the article Obama’s HHS Mandate Predicted by Humane Vitae.
Sadly, this is twisted reasoning by someone who is trying to justify his own actions. If certain Catholics do not have a conscientious objection to the use of contraceptives, they are free to use them. However, it is not the government’s place to FORCE Catholic institutions to pay for services that are abhorent to our moral teachings!
To Terrie J.
There can be no conscientious objection when it comes to a behavior that is intrinsically evil like abortion. I point you to the USCCB response to President Obama.
Well, this guy is certainly far out….why in the world do Catholic Colleges employ these people…the consumers “parents” should raise hell !!
Note to Daniel Maguire — I LOVE JESUS, I LOVE TRUTH, AND I LOVE HIS ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC and APOSTOLIC CHURCH! BEWARE of your very unwise, nonTruthful stance against the teachings of His Holy Church which Jesus Christ instituted to lead us to heaven. You are misleading Christ’s flock by misquoting the visible head of His Church on earth, and your UNCATHOLIC influence is leading many ignorant lambs astray. Satan absolutely loves your abortive, contraceptive, same-sex marriage mentality! He’s trying to destroy the Church and Jesus’ followers with your help; but history has shown that the gates of hell have NOT prevailed against the Bride of Christ in 2,000 years, and they never will. As Padre Pio once said, “What are the world, the devil, the flesh and all our enemies before the Lord?” God will prevail in the end. You will wish you had said, “Not my will, but Thy will, Lord, be done.” You are a professor with some degree of intelligence, so my non-rocket scientist advice to you is, “Snap out of it! Wake up and smell the flowers, Daniel! Be True to God and His Church!” Believe me, I’m not judging you; I’m only doing a spiritual work of mercy by admonishing you as a sinner. And heaven help Marquette University for its nonOrthodox ways. I pray for all of your eternal souls.
Well said Josephine…well said.
Josephine, God Bless You. What a beautiful truth filled comment. I pray with you for Daniel and Marquette. Please join our faithful with the same action for our legislators and their leader. We must stop satan from dancing!