Following a report by The Cardinal Newman Society, Villanova University, a Roman Catholic Augustinian University outside Philadelphia, has now cancelled the invitation to a militant gay rights performance artist who had been asked to be an artist in residence this April and lead workshops for students.
The school released a statement announcing that Tim Miller, a pro-abortion rights and pro-gay marriage performance artist who often appears nude on stage, would not be hosting a week-long workshop on campus in April.
“Villanova University embraces intellectual freedom and academic discourse. Indeed, it is at the very heart of our University and our Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition. With regard to the forthcoming residency and performance workshops by Tim Miller, we had concerns that his performances were not in keeping with our Catholic and Augustinian values and mission.
“Therefore, Villanova has decided not to host Mr. Miller on our campus. Villanova University is an open and inclusive community and in no way does this singular decision change that.”
As The Cardinal Newman Society reported, Miller, according to Facebook, sued the National Endowment for the Arts for pulling a grant due to his obscene “art,” he’s been arrested dozens of times, is a very public advocate of gay marriage and abortion rights, and is a member of the anti-Catholic group ACT UP which once sent protesters to interrupt Sunday mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and desecrated the Eucharist, according to The New York Times.
Far from renouncing his membership in ACT UP after that 1989 incident, Miller remains a member of ACT UP, according to Facebook, and even called the group’s confrontational tactics, “the single most influential thing in my life.“
Miller’s “art” has reportedly included simulating intercourse and lewdly exposing his naked body. Has has criticized the “hideous religious baggage” that Americans have and said laws defending traditional marriage are “right out of the Third Reich.”
Miller responded to the cancelled invitation from Villanova in news reports by blaming Catholic blogs, saying that they were spreading “this bizarre lie that I’m anti-Catholic … People tell these lies and it gets people who read these blogs worked up.”
“Times have changed,” he reportedly said. “We’re in a much more coercive, censorious time.”
The school had billed the performance workshop as “an intimate process of self-discovery and exploration, focusing on identity and culture, questions of diversity and difference, knowledge of self and others, etc.”
To read the original report from The Cardinal Newman Society please click here.
Adam Wilson
CNS Staff
Matthew Archbold
Charlotte Hays
122 Comments
But he is not anti-Catholic. There is such a malady as having so open a mind that brains are blown to oblivion by the unrelenting winds of political correctness.
Tim Miller is trying to undermine the basic teachings of the Church concerning marriage and morality to which it has held firm and encouraged others to abide by for over two thousand years. You can believe what you want concerning his attitude towards the Church, but that doesn’t wipe away his hostility against it.
Thank you Joel Martin. There are enough of his ilk out there undermining the morality of our church and society without inviting the viper into our own educational institutions.
Why am I wondering if a certain archbishop didn’t have a chat with Villanova and help things along?
Why would you insult Father Peter? The college president can think, speak, and act for himself! sounds like you would like to speak for him, yourself.
Laura, “chill”!! In all liklyhood a certain Archbishop probably did have something to do with Villanova’s decision to un-invite Mr. Miller. At the very least, the eloquent speaking Archbishop probably had plenty to say about their curious (and that is an under-statement) invitation.
Great Villlanova… true Catholics care! bpp
Bravo, Villanova, for dis-inviting someone whose views and actions are so anti-Catholic. Notre Dame University, take note!
Instead of worrying about inclusiveness and intellectual freedom, why doesn’t Villanova concern itself with upholding the teachings and traditions of the Holy Catholic Church?
I agree with you. Villanova’s dis-invite however is a step in the right direction. We need to praise the school for this to show our appreciation. That fact it stated it “embraces intellectual freedom and academic discourse”, which “is at the very heart of our University and AUGUSTINIAN INTELLECTUAL TRADITION” (emphasis is mine here) speaks volumes. Now the school can be held accountable to its Augustinian intellectual tradition!
I think that it does, for the most part.
Villanova calls itself a CATHOLIC University. In this case they acted like one. Mr Miller can go to some other sectarian college to display his “art”–I’m sure they will love to have him and will heap no end of praise upon him.
The real question is – why was he invited in the first place????
Time to get rid of “Villanova University embraces intellectual freedom and academic discourse. Indeed, it is at the very heart of our University and our Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition.”
Villanova University should, first and foremost, embrace Catholic Truth and Virtue.
It is totally disgraceful that any University, let alone a Catholic one, should “embrace” the likes of Tim Miller.
Long overdue action . Congratulations for Catholic groups like Cardinal Newman society for holding these alleged Catholic colleges accountable.
This is what I was thinking, too. Who invited this guy in the first place? And what are the chances that anyone at Villanova is looking into that!?
Maybe…just maybe..the long night of the Land of Lakes conference is over! Notre Dame, Hesburg,et al…take note! A star has risen and shines in the darkness. That star is called Archbishop Charles Chaput. Where there is one star, many more appear. Let’s hope this is the year of starred filled nights! 181 stars in all known as the constellation USCCB!reborn! Follow the light!
Kudos to those who had the common sense to influence this decision. All Catholic universities, colleges and high schools need to do the same.
Excellent point, Adele! Maybe the long night is over. Dawn is breaking. We can hope and pray.
Hurrah for truth, and virtue.
It is hard to say what specifically prompted president of Villanova University to cancel the event. Perhaps he was not initially aware of it and determined immediately upon becoming aware that the event did not belong at a Catholic institution. Perhaps he was contacted by the Bishop. I do not know for sure, but I do know that I and many other alumni contacted the school to ask that they look closely and reconsider. One very important thing for all Catholic alumni to remember is that we have to act in order for our schools to remain Catholic. Doing nothing allows others who are not truly Catholic to gain influence and bring evil in. Whether you are at or went to Christendom, Villanova, or even Georgetown, your school is in many ways in your hands with God’s help. If something is happening that is not Catholic, make it known that you do not agree with it. Tell friends and other alumni. Encourage them to make it known. And when your school does something good, support them! Even better, offer to help. Encourage the beauty of Catholicity.
Wow. I went reading through these comments and a lot of them make me sick to my stomach. I attended Villanova University as an undergraduate and graduated in 2010. I loved every single moment that I spent there and it really helped me in the development of my faith. That being said, it’s really disheartening to read these comments. I assume you call yourselves Catholics, but you sure as hell aren’t acting like it.
“Instead of worrying about inclusiveness and intellectual freedom, why doesn’t Villanova concern itself with upholding the teachings and traditions of the Holy Catholic Church?”
That comment alone made my blood boil. What exactly do you think Christianity is all about? Did Jesus not welcome the sick? Did he not seek out those who sinned and show them the right path? Did he not tell us to treat others as we would be treated ourselves? Is that not the very definition of inclusion?
By defaming Villanova for inviting a man to teach a workshop (which in no way resembles his own personal work) is juvenile, rash, and not Christian. You really hurt the Catholic image when you blast people in this way and I for one feel sorry for you. I’ll pray for all of you and that you might find some kind of open-mindedness through this ordeal and inclusive of your brothers and sisters.
Andrew, At least you recognize that Tim Miller is one morally sick person. No university should be putting a morally sick person in the position of teaching others. That is just common sense. And yes we all have sinned but some recognize sin for the evil that it is and repent. Jesus chose repentant sinners to be his disciples. The rest he sent away.
He’s not morally sick. His art is just on the vulgar side. It’s no different than watching something like the movie The Hangover. People have their own forms of art and draw upon their own personal experiences to bring that art to life. Tim is more than capable of pulling it back and playing it a little cooler, which was his intention for this workshop. The whole point of the workshop was to enable students to draw upon their personal experiences to create a richer form of art for them to express themselves and develop characters, paintings, music, etc. I personally think that’s a beautiful thing and am sorry that the Villanova community will not have the opportunity to experience it. Even Jesus forgave Judas. There is no such thing as Jesus excluding people, because even those who don’t want to repent or don’t believe are always welcomed with open arms in His kingdom. That is agape.
In reply to Andrew Simone: Tim Miller, is not morally sick? Here’s what the article says about what the New York Times and Facebook reported concerning him:
“As The Cardinal Newman Society reported, Miller, according to Facebook, sued the National Endowment for the Arts for pulling a grant due to his obscene “art,” he’s been arrested dozens of times, is a very public advocate of gay marriage and abortion rights, and is a member of the anti-Catholic group ACT UP which once sent protesters to interrupt Sunday mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and desecrated the Eucharist, according to The New York Times.”
Are you disputing this information concerning Tim Miller? If there is more that a modicum of truth to this report, how can you still continue to defend him?
With all the bashing going on against it, the Church and its institutions can no longer afford to play host to people like him who seek to destroy it.
Forgiving others is one thing, but closing your eyes to destructive behaviors is not wise.
Andrew, there is a major difference between “welcoming” the sick or the sinner, and inviting them to teach their ways, which are diametrically, publicly and proudly opposed to the ways of Christ. If Mr. Miller wants to come and learn, or be healed, or renounce his sins, he’s welcome. If all he wants to do is have a bully pulpit for his anti-Catholic rantings, then that’s not what the Church (or Villanova) should provide. As for you, Andrew, may I suggest you look up Jesus’s speech concerning “whited sepulchers” and take it to heart.
You realize that he’s Christian right?
“He was purely doing an educational workshop. A lot of the focus would have been on students reaching out to each other cross-culturally.”
That was the intention of the workshop. He was enabling students to come together and find new ways to draw upon their own experiences and further their artistic abilities. This wasn’t going to be crude or vulgar. It was going to be very much in tune with the values of the Augustinian culture. He’s not Anti-Catholic. Have you observed any of these rantings? Do you know the context? Humans should never pass judgement on other humans. We’re not capable of that. Judgement is reserved for the Lord. So, I ask of you, Mark, that you find agape within your heart and love Mr. Miller. You don’t have to like him, but you should love him.
Mr. Simone I’m confused. You are obviously upset, but WHAT exactly are you upset about?
Is it:
1. That Mr. Miller was invited to speak and teach at Villanova?
2. That Villanova dis-invited Mr. Miller to speak and teach there?
3. That your alma mater’s reputation has suffered in this affair?
4. That some commenters here have pointed out that many universities that are supposed to uphold Catholic Church teaching do not do so, instead following a false understanding of inclusiveness which is in itself un-Christian?
I agree with everything you said our Our Lord’s “inclusiveness” and how we should follow His example. However we must rightly define how Christ welcomed sinners. Our Lord welcomed sinners first to repent and to cease sinning.
If anyone finds Villanova’s dis-inviting Mr. Miller – a man who is UNrepentant and advocating FOR SIN – incompatible with Our Lord’s own sense of inclusiveness, I would invite them to re-acquaint themselves with Christ’s true teaching as held in His One Holy Catholic Church.
P.S. I usually avoid comboxes like the plague, but I saw in your comment a small fire of anger that I thought needed extinguishing.
Peace be with you.
Oops. You might have mis-stated your beliefs there Mr. Simone, or perhaps you’re under the misapprehension that this is Christ’s teaching:
You said, “even those who don’t want to repent or don’t believe are always welcomed with open arms in His kingdom.”
Now I suggest to you that you review Catholic Church teaching on the requirements for salvation (which are Our Lord’s teachings.) This statement of yours is not compatible with Christ’s teachings.
One last word on charity (agape as you say): It is the opposite of charity – it is malice – to tell anyone that they can continue sinning without repentance and still expect to go to heaven.
You love someone perfectly by doing what is best for them. What is best for anyone is that they end up in heaven and not hell. You love perfectly (with agape) someone who is imprisoned by their sins by warning them to turn away from sin, to repent, and seek God’s forgiveness and Grace. To do less, as a Christian, is to allow your brother or sister – a child of God – to go down the path to hell.
So your alma mater showed true Christian charity towards Mr. Miller, if the university’s dis-inviting him occasioned a charitible call for his repentance.
I respectfully disagree. I think everyone has a chance at getting into Heaven. I think that there is good in everyone. I think that it is our duty to love everyone and that includes people like Osama Bin Laden and Hitler. Again, we don’t have to like them, or the things that they have done, but we are called to love them, because God loves them, no matter what they’ve done.
What has Tim done that needs repentance exactly?
Expressing himself freely is not a sin. Being vulgar may not be appreciated, but it’s not a sin (I know plenty of vulgar priests). And obviously being gay is not a sin…so I’m missing the whole point of why he needs to repent…
Mr. Simone, it is obvious that your own personal definition of what it is to love someone is erroneous. Go back and read what I just said and then re-read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Bible, and the many pronouncements of the Tradition of the Church on the definition of true love (charity, or agape as you put it.)
You said “I think everyone has a chance at getting into Heaven.” Well no one will ever get to take advantage of that “chance” if all they’re ever told is that it’s “o.k.” to continue in their sins and that they have no need of turning away from their sins.
You asked “What has Tim done that needs repentance exactly?”
Oh. I see. You’re setting the “judgemental” trap again… Well, I’m not taking the bait.
Tim Miller’s personal sins are between him and God. I can’t apply right judgement to that unless I directly witness his sins, in which case I would have a duty to object and charitably call him to cease sinning and repent. Furthermore, I would be sinning myself if I were to go too far and call for the condemnation of his soul.
Does any of this sound familiar, or are you hearing it for the first time? Were you taught any of this at Villanova?
What anyone can say of Mr. Miller is:
If someone publicly espouses a “lifestyle” which is based on an objective disorder, without recognizing it as such, and furthermore encourages others to proudly pursue that lifestyle, never mentioning the peril to their souls of carrying out sexual acts following from that objective disorder (thus bringing it into the realm of an objective moral disorder – sin) then…
one is publicly encouraging people to sin.
And that is a sin in and of itself.
So, Mr. Simone, based on what you’ve already said, you’ve personally witnessed Mr. Miller’s act and heard him speak. Therefore it is your duty now, as a Christian, to charitably call Mr. Miller to repent and cease sinning.
Are you implying that it’s a sin to be gay? Because if you are, I have absolutely zero respect for you. I was taught some tremendous values at Villanova, agape being one of them. You have a severely skewed view of this whole situation which is tainted by your narrow mindedness.
“The Greek language uses three words for love. It talks about eros. Eros is a sort of aesthetic love. It has come to us to be a sort of romantic love and it stands with all of its beauty. But when we speak of loving those who oppose us we’re not talking about eros. The Greek language talks about philia and this is a sort of reciprocal love between personal friends. This is a vital, valuable love. But when we talk of loving those who oppose you and those who seek to defeat you we are not talking about eros or philia. The Greek language comes out with another word and it is agape. Agape is understanding, creative, redemptive good will for all men. Biblical theologians would say it is the love of God working in the minds of men. It is an overflowing love which seeks nothing in return. And when you come to love on this level you begin to love men not because they are likeable, not because they do things that attract us, but because God loves them and here we love the person who does the evil deed while hating the deed that the person does. It is the type of love that stands at the center of the movement that we are trying to carry on in the Southland—agape.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
Please, tell me that my own “personal definition of love” is erroneous again. I apologize for my obtuse nature right now, but everything that you are saying is so exclusive and prejudice that I have become quite worked up. I love you. I will no matter what you say. But I pray that you realize that Christ would look at what you’re saying and shake His head in disappointment.
Andrew Simone, “Agape” is God’s love for us. It is the only true love there is. It is not defined by man but by God. So I don’t care so much what man says about “agape” as what God has to say about it.
Yes, it is a sin to be gay if by “gay” you mean giving in to same-sex sexual urges. Likewise it is a sin to be a fornicator. Sexual relations outside the bounds of traditional marriage is sinful whether one is sexually attracted to members of the same sex, to members of the opposite sex, or to both. This is an objective truth given to us by God through his oral Tradition and Scripture.
My wife left me for another man 20 years ago. Since then I have remained single. I realize I can love others without expressing it sexually as a man and wife do. To love is to do what God wants us to do. Even though we have a tendency to sin we do not need to cave in to it, and when we do, we need to repent, for that too is God’s will for us if we are to love him as he loves us.
Andrew: I also remember Jesus telling people,”Go and sin no more”. Do you really think that Jesus wold approve of someone
performing in public without clothing
in sexually suggestive poses? Mr Miller may perform this way at a secular college, but not at a Christian one.
Yes, I do. Art is in the eye of the beholder. His art isn’t a sin, it’s his own thing. Don’t sit on your throne and pass judgement on him. You don’t have that ability.
Andrew, I admire your courage in staying on this website to continue the discussion regarding Tim Miller. Good for you. I enjoyed your participation on the students Facebook discussion. Don’t stop questioning. Seek and you will find.
Andrew, the comment was valid. Yes, Jesus sat with sinners, but he did not ask them to continue on with their behavior. Jesus made his feeling clear regarding sin. Where his love and forgiveness and acceptance came in was with loving the person unconditionally. But that did not mean he allowed it to continue. There is a difference between sitting with and among sinners and inviting sinners into your Holy house while allowing the ongoing sin. I don’t understand why you would be so angry.
Everyone who has replies to Andrew Simone has pretty much said the same thing and Mr. Simone has objected to all of it. I think he is wrong and the rest of you are correct in what you’ve said. However, he is not going to be convinced of the error of ways today so let him fume quietly on his own.
Villanova is to be commended for rescinding the invitation. The invitation should never have been extended, just as the Vagina Monologues should never have been performed at any Catholic college and there should not be any teachers espousing abortion rights, etc to the students at a Catholic school. But we all make mistakes. If we then repent and make the right choices from then on, we are redeemed.
Although this is a step in the right direction, it does not solve the problem. I can’t help asking the question, “Why was he invited to begin with?” His lifestyle and performance content are no secret.
Villanova, like all Catholic universities. certainly ought to have a policy in place that filters out any potential moral and values conflicts with invited guests.
He sounds positively horrid and better off flaunting his wares elsewhere!
the people on this blog sound positively horrid…
Andrew, coming from a background in “art” I can assure you that what this guy is doing is not art. I know you are going to say “that’s your opinion” but think about it this way. Art is supposed to lift the mind to a higher level…a place where God can be glimpsed for just a few precious moments. Sometimes is takes the shape of beauty & love but sometimes it shows us just flawed we really are. In both instances we are never the same, we are graced by something God is trying to tell us. It sounds like your friend Tim has not had this encounter with the divine. He sounds like a child who not only wants to continue in his sin but he wants everyone else to validate it.
Peace
Kudos to Villanova!!! Maybe we can reverse this cultural weakness the RCC and its institutions of higher learning have been displaying for quite some time after all. Thanks Villanova for standing up for Catholic values!!!
Whoah, Andrew Simone! Do you know what you are talking about? Okay, Villanova was going to pay a rather nice sum to Miller, out of student fees (that is, parent’s payments), for a “performance workshop” which one can see a sample of on his website… which isn’t “art” but propaganda. (Warning: It is obscene and explicit. You can’t even play it on YouTube unless you disable Safe Mode.)
I agree with commentators who say that the cancellation reflects absolutely nothing about any changes in Villanova. The workshop was cancelled out of mere expediency and represents no change in outlook or approach at Villanova.
Villanova is now, has been, and always will be a tremendous University. The values that it imparts upon its students are so great that I could never hope to express them appropriately to you or anyone else. That said, this was poorly handled by the University and I believe that the workshop never should have been cancelled in the first place.
Have you ever seen the musical Hair? What about The Godfather? How about something funny like Anchorman? His sense of humor is vulgar. So what? That doesn’t say anything about him as an individual. My brother is vulgar as anything and he’s an amazing human being. I think that Tim would have had an incredible influence on the students in his workshop, because he was going to help them draw upon their own personal experiences to improve their art. That’s what he does, but his style is his own. He wouldn’t enforce his style upon anyone else, because that would destroy the creativity and personal connection of the art. Each person develops their own style, he was just going to be a catalyst and I believe it would have been a tremendous opportunity for the students.
The man is who he is and I love him for it. That’s agape. That’s God’s love. You don’t have to like the man, but you should love him.
Agape is doing God’s will. Surely, it is not doing anything that might cause others to disobey him. I doubt being vulgar is what God desires of us. He wants us all to be one, one in Him especially. Vulgarity is a form of disrespect of others, an expression their dignity is somewhat lower than what God has given them. If you doubt that, just think about what it means to call someone a “bastard” or a “bitch” or to give someone the middle finger. They’re both expressions of hatred.
Art doesn’t have to be vulgar. In fact, if art really means anything worthwhile it should make us realize the greater good that is in us as God’s children. So-called art that reflects hatred, or anger, or jealousy or ridicule of others for its own sake isn’t the type of “art” we should be striving for.
And this is where you are incorrect. I’m sorry. Linking this workshop to his previous work is incorrect. He was not here to teach about HIS work, he was here to teach about SOLO PERFORMANCE, the topic itself, and to allow students to explore their own lives to create a solo performance on his own. He was not here to share his religious beliefs or ideas. He was here to inspire students to create performances, and before you say “just like his, you mean?”, no I don’t. I meant to create solo performances solely based on their own lives.
Look at this guy’s record. See the article for this. Is this a guy we can take at his word who will do no more than what he promised to do? Is this a guy who has demonstrated a willingness to admit to his past indiscretions and to repent? This guy to me sounds like an icon to what is indecent. Does a Catholic University want to display such an icon to what is contradictory to sound Catholic teaching?
Btw, according to Miller’s website he had been invited to be an “artist in residence” at Villanova. Now isn’t an “artist in residence” someone who is supposed to interact with students personally, and influence them by mentoring? Don’t administrators and faculty invite someone to be an “artist in residence” precisely because they want him to influence students at a personal level?
It’s a little disingenous to say that he was “only invited to teach a workshop which in no way resembles his personal work.”
Good…Good…Good…
God is Good all the time…and,
All the time God is Good!
Amen…………..
lja.JMJ
Those of you who are for the cancellation of Tim Miller’s workshop and are against his presence on Villanova’s campus, I commend you for having an opinion and expressing it. Now I want to invite you to this group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/323216591057682/ where students are attempting to logically justify Tim Miller’s arrival through ‘open and balanced debate’. Right now no one is daring to speak out against them.
I implore you to go to the group and tell them why you think you are right. No one is standing against them. Tell them why you think Tim Miller’s workshop is sinful and should be allowed nowhere near, because right now, no one is speaking for this cause and the University will face a lot of pressure from these students to do something.
Keep in mind, that group is for a respectful discussion and created by my friends. Please make sure that your responses are appropriate and not forceful or angered. Thank you.
You are very right Andrew. Let’s all try very hard to calm down. This is how evil puts cracks in the dam. We are all passionate about Christ, that is obvious and good. The last thing we should be doing is getting angry with each other. That being said, one thing society has done a good job with is down playing immoral so much so that somehow a person like Miller got his foot in the door.
For those of you who stand up for individual rights and freedom of speech, I commend you as well. That means you, Mr. Simone. I applaud you for being a voice of tolerance and acceptance in the midst of this blind hatred.
People may speak as cruelly of this homosexual performance artist as they want to, they may call him “obscene” and “anti-Catholic,” but when it comes down to it, I’m quite sure that God wants everyone to love one another. If people cannot accept this man for who he is, let them populate the “Cardinal Newman Blog” rather than the seats in Villanova classrooms, where Father Peter and the entire staff of Villanova have worked to cultivate a spirit of love and mutual understanding.
Hatred is a sickness.I’m sad to say that these hearts that are heavy with holiness will be so weighed down with their self-righteous judgments that they’ll end up right on the devil’s doorstep.
That was very well said Veronica and thank you so much for your support of love and inclusion. I woke up this morning and saw this post and you brought a smile to my face
Keep spreading the love!
Veronica, do you not realize what you just wrote?
Lisa, unless Veronica has lost control of her body and her movements are being dictated by an outside force, I am quite sure she realizes what she just wrote. Do not belittle her.
The disrespect on this blog is unbelievable, and it is a prime example of why I have little patience for people who claim to be Christian yet act like this to anyone with different views.
Claire, it’s hard to hear your judgemental tone after being vilified at the student Facebook site. Let’s all drop the attitude and the personal attacks and stick to discussing the facts and the issues.
Thanks Jessica for letting us know so alumni who understand TRUTH can alert others to the dangers of endorsing & financing a radical sodomoite & promoter of abortion, the culture of death, on a Catholic campus! However the link didn’t work, so if you have the correct one please provide. Be blessed…
You are so far off that it makes me sick. Here’s the link to our group. Be prepared to face a lot of morally upstanding people. http://www.facebook.com/groups/323216591057682/325588817487126/?notif_t=group_activity
Be ready to face alot of closed minded people, quick to judge and denegrate you for stating bonafide church teaching. If you don’t approve of Homosexual behavior, they will likely call you a bad person and a bigot.
MP,
While I agree wholeheartedly with your 1st paragraph (comment no. 15), I don’t believe you have enough information to support your second assertion. If you are privy to something unknown to the public, please let us know. Otherwise, I suggest celebrating this small victory and giving credit where it is due. We cannot create an environment where even right action is met by ridicule.
Is college not about opening our minds to everything in the world around us and challenging us to rethink things that have no always been so “obvious” to us? The 4 years that we all spend in college are the most transcendent of our lives and if a Catholic university is concerned about its image within the Catholic community more than it is with educating and inspiring its students, then it has failed its students and become a waste of $200,000. If we continue to have such narrow-minded views of the world around us then we will never be able to fully accept those around us – and if we are talking about Catholic teaching, weren’t we all taught to love thy neighbor and treat others as we would like to be treated? As a senior at Villanova University, I am deeply saddened that the university administration has cancelled Tim Miller’s performance because it was not only an opportunity for students to see an act by a recognized performer and activist, but it was also an opportunity for the Villanova community to broaden its horizons and better understand the life and struggles of those we persecute on the grounds of sexual orientation.
YES.
Spoken like a true Villanovan!
No, college is not about “opening our minds to everything in the world around us and challenging us to rethink things that have no always been so “obvious” to us.” It is supposed to be about learning the truth. If anyone is stupid enough to spend $200,000 for an “education” that would include hiring THIS guy as an artist in residence, especially a Catholic institution, he or she doesn’t deserve a degree! God is Truth. You attend a Catholic institute to learn that. One of the first things a college student should learn is that there is objective truth, there is a canon of what needs to be mastered to be considered educated, and that a lot of crap is passed off as art these days.
Sorry, but you’re wrong. College is about exploring all faiths, aspects of life, and learning on a higher level. It’s about community and honoring each other with respect and humility. At Villanova it’s about love, inclusion, and open-mindedness. The views of many of the people in this blog are vary narrow and prejudice. You’re depriving yourselves of an opportunity to understand a love greater than any other…God’s love. There were slaves in the Bible and it was considered more than okay. Would you support slavery now? Can you site a single passage from the Gospel’s that state that Jesus did not respect homosexuals? No. You cannot, because Jesus loved everyone, including and especially His enemies. You clearly have absolutely no idea what the workshop that Mr. Miller was going to give was about or intended to do.
If you want to spew radical Catholic ideals, feel free to, but don’t condemn others for your own insecturities. Humanity has no ability to judge others. That is reserved for God. Open up your heart to love and be open to others and that will truly help you commune with the Lord.
Gail, I enrolled at Villanova to get an excellent education regardless of its Catholic roots. And since you decided to call all of us who support Tim Miller’s presence on Villanova’s campus “stupid”, your comment lost whatever small amount of validity it previously had. Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.
That’s in the Bible, isn’t it? Hmm…funny that you choose to ignore THAT teaching…
After all this comments all I have to say is , thank God Mr. Miller is out, Amen!
you’re missing the point
I have to agree that Villanova is a great school that can continue to get better. I have to also agree with Carmen, thank God Mr. Miller is out. It is naive to think that his intentions are not to propagate deviant thought. This has nothing to do with art.
I think that it’s naive to think that his intentions were to propagate “deviant thought.” Maybe you should do some research on what the intentions of the Workshop were…or even better…ask Mr. Miller.
Ah Yes good ole Villanova. The arguments from the (I presume) nova students hit all the right talking points:
1. You are all narrow minded- check
2. College is about having an open mind – Check
3. Jesus never talked about (insert here) so it must be ok.
4. You are all full of hate and make people feel bad about themselves for things they choose to do. – Check
5. Other barely related bits of information and thinly veiled insults – check
As a graduate this doesn’t surprise me. I’m sure the fishwrap of a paper that comes out of Nova will have a bunch of op-eds (if they haven’t already) about how their free speech is being stifled. “It is a Catholic school but not everyone’s catholic so we should invite people that do things explicitly against the Catholic Church. How else are we to learn!!one11!!” “The church is so backwards! My friend is gay so gay sex should be ok!”
Judging by the discourse going on here not a lot has changed. Disappointing but not surprising. Parents should send their children elsewhere.
You have no idea what you are talking about.
Excellent Rebuttal Andrew! I spent 4 years as an undergraduate and 2 years as a graduate there. I do know what I’m talking about. Try again.
Ben, as a fellow alum, I have to agree with you. It was sad to hear of this, but it did not surprise me based on what I witnessed when I was there. I am just happy they did the right thing.
Ben,
Your disrespect for the school is made worse by the fact that you are an alumnus. If Villanova is not an institution worthy of attending – as is implied by your statement that “parents should send their children elsewhere” – why did you finish your undergraduate education there, let alone your higher learning? The lack of loyalty regardless of your opinions (in addition to YOUR “thinly veiled insults” and bitter sarcasm) toward a school that you were a part of is repugnant. I pray that nothing in my life makes me as jaded as you seem to be.
There are some good professors and students there. I didn’t say the whole place was bad. Perhaps my words were a bit harsh. I stand by my statements of the paper and my observation of most of the students I interacted with. Not sure how my disrespect is made worse by being an alumnus, if anything it lends more credibility to my observations. I also didn’t think my insults were that thinly veiled. I’ll make sure they are more obvious next time.
I am happy to hear about this good choice by Villanova and hopeful there will be more vigilance in the future, to uphold the integrity of the Catholic character of education at Villanova. Whether for individuals or institutions is clearly not a painless process to re-learn how precious it is to be faithfully Catholic, and how to live that out.
There are more important things than “Catholic character”…to be “faithfully Catholic” as you put it is actually really negative based on what everyone’s views on here are. Inclusion, love, and open-mindedness are more important than some archaic rules that have not caught up with our evolution as human beings. Maybe I should petition for women to not have the ability to vote. Maybe I should be pro slavery. Those things are definitely seen as common practices in the Bible. The message of the Bible, and more importantly, God, is not to judge people, live a Catholic life, or even a Christian one (because Christianity, in fact, does not exist in the Bible). The message of the Bible, the message of God, is to forgive people even if they don’t ask for forgiveness, to be accepting of others, to support one another and stand by their side, and most importantly…to love everyone. That’s Christ’s message. That is Christianity.
Andrew,
-If you can’t see that canceling this workshop is not tantamount to homophobia then you don’t really belong in this debate. The fact of the matter is that Tim Miller happens to be a homosexual who has, for the better part of 2 decades, delivered a message that’s antithetical to the life of a Catholic university.
-You seem to ignore the significance of Miller’s affiliation with ACT-UP. How would you feel if a member of the Klan were to be invited to campus? I think we’d all agree this would be inappropriate regardless of whether said Klansman were scheduled to speak about racial hatred or world peace. No matter the message, the membership alone creates a problem.
-Why do you choose to isolate Christ’s message of forgiveness? While that is obviously a key component of Christianity, it does not stand alone. Does he not instruct the sinner to go and sin no more? Does he not admonish us to instruct the sinner?
-Furthermore, Christianity is most certainly biblical. Try reading Acts or that guy Paul. Regardless, Catholics do not rely solely on the Bible for understanding Truth.
Elizabeth, I too am pleased to hear that Villanova has
chosen to do the right thing. Mr. Miller has publicly
and vociferously advocated for acts the Church has
consistently condemned as gravely sinful. He main-
tains his membership in an organization (ACT UP)
that has vilified the Church, disrupted masses and
desecrated the Eucharist. Such a man is indeed loved
by God, and should be loved by his fellow man, but
has no place teaching in a Catholic institution.
Would the people advocating for Mr. Miller maintain
that “inclusion, love and open-mindedness are more
important than some archaic rules” if a teacher were
found out to hold views less PC? What if he was
discovered to be a white supremacist or a member
of NAMBLA? What if he had publicly and proudly
advocated for his racist beliefs or his pedophilia?
Can anyone seriously believe that someone like
that, while still a child of God and in possession of a
soul of infinite worth, has any place teaching at any
Catholic institution?
Finally, Villanova takes its responsibility to behave as a Catholic institution – which is NOT the same as an institution that does not have Catholic underpinnings. Real progress.
Homosexuality in itself (being homosexual) is not sinful but homosexual acts (living an active homosexual lifestyle) are gravely sinful. Sex amongst heterosexuals outside of the sacrament of marriage is also sinful and kills the the life of grace in the soul. Moreover, sexual acts closed to the possibility of life generation (sodomy, contraceptive, et cetera) inside of the marital sacrament are gravely sinful.
If some people do not wish to live catholic lives that’s fine. However, they shouldn’t have chosen to attend a catholic college. For instance, if a muslim was looking for a place to pray conducive to their beliefs they would be pretty foolish to walk into a catholic church wouldn’t they? This holds true for any directly opposed belief system including pro homosexual.
If other people do not wish to learn or follow catholic church teaching (which never has nor ever will change)then perhaps they should drop the title of catholic and go do something else. Nobody is forcing you to be catholic or hold/ learn catholic beliefs. It was you who signed up for it knowing full well the position of the school. EWTN television probably doesn’t hound the LOGO television network for advert time on their air waves. If EWTN tried they would look pretty stupid wouldn’t they. Don’t go picket McDonald’s because you want Taco Bell.
Great to see so many catholic people standing up against the illness of homosexuality and the homosexual agenda.
In reply to Andrew Simone,
Objecting to obscene, anti-catholic and toxic behavior and teaching is what we are called to do as courageous Catholic/Christians.
Looking the other way when evil presents itself and saying nothing is not the Christian thing to do. That is cowardly.
No one reading this is Tim Miller’s heart or judging him. But what he does and stands for undermines the teachings of the Catholic church thus making it unacceptable to place him in a position of influence in a Catholic University.
So please don’t you judge the people who used their discretion here to do what they fealt they must in responsibly teaching the next generation of Catholics in disallowing Tim Miller’s week long workshop.
OH and by the way, according to the Catachism, choosing to act out a homosexual life style is a sin.
Im tired of people calling themselves Catholic and then attempting to tear down all the doctrine that defines Catholicism. If you don’t believe the Truth that the Church teaches then find a church that agrees with your strongly held beliefs.
The Truth never changes just as God never changes. The fact that the churches doctrines have not changed in 2000 years only adds to their veracity.
We already disagreed with you on our page, so I won’t even get into it here, but your view on this his narrow and full of flaws.
In my opinion, this is mental illness parading around as “art.” What is so artistic about publicly imitating sex acts in the buff? “Performance art” is a ridiculous excuse for people without talent to express their resentment against society in the most provocative ways.
If you don’t like his art form, you absolutely are free to that opinion. I would never say someone is wrong for not liking an art style, that’s a personal matter of opinion…but don’t be so smug as to say that it’s a mental illness. That’s such a hateful message and completely contradictory to what Christianity’s goals are.
Boy, Andrew, I can’t help envisioning you walking through life, la-la-la-la-la-ing along, the flowers are blooming, the sky is always blue everybody is drinking a coca cola. Do you read the Bible? God sent his Son here to save us from our sins, not to give us carte blanche to live our lives with our heads in the clouds singing “I like to teach the world to sing!”
Read Leviticus, it is pretty much spelled out a man is not to lay with a man. If you think the Old Testament is passe, try Romans. Paul is even a little more explicit.
Jesus himself was pretty clear that he did not come to abolish the law. As to forgiving Judas, again Jesus himself said “it was better for he, had he never been born!”
When he saved the adulterous woman from being stoned, he told her he did not condemn her, COMMIT THIS SIN NO MORE!
The truest act of love of any Christian is to follow God’s Word (written: the Bible, Flesh: Jesus), and to help each other stay on that path.
Wow Vince, I pity you. I do in fact read the Bible! I guess you don’t, because Leviticus also says, “However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way.” So, can I buy you?
Your move.
Yes, I had noticed in your earlier comments that you seem narrowly focused on the slave issue. The foreigners referred to are people who followed pagan gods and not the True Living God. Our Father had demonstrated many times that for those who followed any other god, were not treated favorably. This is not limited to slavery, but resulted in many deaths of those who did not follow him as well. Your analogy is flawed. Our Father gave the law to his chosen, and we who chose to follow Him must also follow His Law.
Thank you Villanova, but an even BIGGER thank you to the Cardinal Newman Society for getting this news out to all Catholics who care enough to keep Catholic colleges on task. Prayers were answered on this one and all of you at the CNS continue to be in my Rosary intentions. Keep up the great work!
Andrew Simone, with regard to the previous conversation, the issue here is not about judging others – it is about truth. Either a gay person is born that way, or has developed a disorder caused by various environmental factors. So, you believe they are born that way- yet science has never proved it. As Catholics, we believe that it is not genetic – it goes against natural law. The main reason that gay activists have successfully brainwashed your generation is that they have equated their struggle with the civil rights struggle of the 60′s. If I disagree with their lifestyle, they claim I am “intolerant” or “archaic” or a “biggot”. The problem I have with this is that people with same sex attraction are much more than their sexuality. A “Gay” person derives his or her identity predominantly from one aspect of their lives, so if I disagree with that aspect, they interpret it as if I am attacking their whole person. I know that people with same-sex attraction have feelings, talents, struggles, fears, just like anyone else- and are human beings just like anyone else. And I should treat them as such. But that doesn’t mean that I have to accept all of the behaviors they choose. Jesus wouldn’t, either. Choosing to act on an unnatural impulse is not the same as being born with different colored skin. I invite you to read the document “Homosexuality and Hope” by the Catholic Medical Association. God bless you.
They are born that way. End of discussion. I’ll challenge you with this thought. God’s infallible right? If He is, then why would He choose to create Gay people if He wasn’t okay with it? And people disagree, because the definition of bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs…which you’re clearly doing. lol.
“They [homosexuals] must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.” That pretty much sums it up. OH! By the way…that’s 2358, from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Have a nice weekend.
Sorry, Andrew, but not end of discussion. You cannot cite one element of scientific proof that homosexuality is genetic. Countless scientific studies have proven, however that it is not genetic. For all of the sources cited, please refer to “Homosexuality and Hope.” God has not created people “Gay”. And by the way, how do you account for the many testimonies of people who have been healed from same-sex attraction, and are now heterosexual?
Secondly, nothing in my last comment suggested intolerance or insensitivity.
Thirdly, since you are so interested in quoting the Catechism (which you take out of context), might I point out to you the pevious entry: 2357 “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
The entries of 2357 and 2358 need to be held together. But you can’t seem to be able to do this. Disagreeing with an act does not mean hating the person.
The CCC teaches rightly in 2358 as quoted above that those with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies” are to be treated as children of God, called to “fulfill God’s will in their lives” which includes “being called to chastity.” (see 2359 below)
To put paragragh 2358 in its proper context, I include 2357-2359:
(link: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a6.htm#2357)
————————–
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,141 tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.”142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
————————
From the above official Catholic teaching, quoted approvingly in the previous post, it can be seen that treating those with homosexual tendencies with respect and compassion does not include condoning or even celebrating homosexual acts considered “intrinsically disordered” (see 2357 above) and therefore objectively sinful.
People (including Villanova students) are free to disagree with Catholic teaching, but those entrusted with maintaining the Augustinian Catholic tradition of Villanova University are equally free to uphold its Catholic identity and values by excluding faculty who publically and vociferously hold fundamental Catholic moral teachings in contempt.
“They are born that way. End of discussion.” Now who is being open minded? Lets go back to Genesis. There was a little gift that God gave Man. It is called free will. We all make choices, whether right or wrong, and face the conseguences, whether good or bad. God is all good. It is only the absence of good, where evil enters. When one is tempted, you know by that other guy we call Satan, we either fall to that temptation or turn away from it and embrace the good, which places us closer to our Heavenly Father. For anyone one to suggest that we just give in to our temptations because we are allegedly born that way is simply eternal suicide. Anyone who encourages another to live in a way that is counter God’s teaching is also on a path to eternal separation from God.
Mr. Simone, you omitted CCC# 2357, which states:
“Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents
homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition
has always declared that ‘homosexual acts are intrin-
sically disordered’. They are contrary to the natural
law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life.
They do not proceed from a genuine affective and
sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances
can they be approved”.
Have a nice weekend.
Mr. Simone
My Bible tells me that God is Holy, That He hates sin. and that Jesus did Not forgive Judas (who never repented unlike Peter).
Then specifically read 1Corinthians chapt 6, Vs9-11.
God speaks plainly in His Word.
You used the word hate in conjunction with God. So, I’m not even going to bother go any further with you. God does not hate.
Thanks Patrick and company for the leadership in these matters. The news is getting out finally.
It seems if the college had done the “proper research”, they would have nipped this in the bud and never offered the invitation in the first place. Thank Christ, they caught it in time. How awful this would have been if the workshop actually happened. Bravo for the college to have the courage to stand up for moral conscience…I wish they ALL did.
I agree that if they were just going to cancel it, that he never should have been invited in the first place, but he wasn’t performing on campus so it never should have mattered. Everyone needs to do some research before blindly talking about things they’ve read second hand.
“… but he wasn’t performing on campus so it never
should have mattered.”
Mr. Simone, you insist that it’s narrow-minded and
un-Catholic to judge Mr. Miller’s publicly held views
and his unapologetic membership in an organization
that is stridently anti-Catholic. Rather, you preach
that Villanova, in the name of “inclusivity”, should
gather him to its bosom and let him help form the
youth in its care. You maintain that it is unchristian
to judge someone and exclude them from such a
position.
Earlier in this thread my question to you went un-
answered, so I will repeat: would you still maintain
that “inclusion, love and open-mindedness are more
important than some archaic rules” if a teacher
advocated views less PC? If, say, he was a Klansman,
a member of NAMBLA, or a holocaust denier?
If you reply that such a teacher should of course be
denied a post at Villanova, then I must ask by what
authority you make such a call. I gather, from your
many statements above, that you simply feel that
some views are more “diverse” than others, and
that your own views trump anything the Church
has to say in the matter.
Since your bloggers have infiltrates our forum i feel its necesaary to comment on yours. It is a shame that this website only “keeps Catholic colleges accountable” and fails to recognize the positive forces at Villanova. We have three student masses on Sundays that are standing room only. We send hundreds of students on service and mission trips every break. We coordinate the world’s largest student run Special Olympics and we also host the Saint Thomas of Villanova Day of Service. There are hundreds of charitable events that occur each year and not one of them has been mentioned on your website! Stop being so negative. Instead of criticizing the nations Catholic universities start paying attention to the triumphs of the institutions and their students. Many of us are the future of the catholic church and you are setting a pitiful, hateful, and ignorant example for us.
Excuse my grammar and spelling this post was composed on a cell phone.
Again, you’re awesome Nina
Nina, we applaud all of those good things. They are what a Catholic University should be doing. But to stand up for truth- how can that be considered “hateful”? In these days, fighting for truth is one of the most courageous things a young Catholic person can do- especially in the face of so much worldly opposition.
Thank you Villanova. Stay strong and stay compassionate.
Thank God someone had the sense to stop this hideous program from happening. Thank God for the Cardinal Newman Society.
Public schools and universities have been dumbing-down and propagandizing students for nearly 40 years for us to get to the point where a significant number now support the idea of civil unions and favoring legalized same-sex marriage.” In fact, a majority does not support these fringe ideas, especially when they are informed. It is the ignorant masses that allow the media to form their world view who fall prey to this insanity.
THEY ARE NOT BORN THAT WAY. After years of fostering the lie, the APA recently, finally admitted that there is no “gay” gene. But the lie is so embedded in the public mind, no one noticed the retraction. There is no scientific evidence to support the false idea that homosexuals are “born that way”. This was no surprise to me because I have learned more than I ever wanted to know about homosexual lifestyles because of a few relatives in my extended family. I have read, researched, studied and experienced being related to this issue for 20 years.
While sympathizing with the plight of anyone with any disorder or addiction we should never grant special status, privileges or protections based merely on a chosen behavior as though it were an immutable characteristic like skin color. Particularly when that behavior is gravely immoral and destructive of persons, families and societies. Despite the tremendous success the homosexual lobby has had in sanitizing their image for public consumption, it is a disordered sexual appetite which defines a person solely by their quest to satisfy their disordered libido and should never be encouraged or endorsed with the weight of the law. This merely creates a tool for recruitment.
It is extremely foolish and irresponsible to deliberately promote a dangerous lifestyle in our media, schools or anywhere. It is well known that the incidences of STD’s, drug abuse, violence and suicide are disproportionately higher in the homosexual community. Furthermore, when a child thinks they are “gay” this indicates they have been molested and/or exposed to inappropriate adult behavior. It is ludicrous that teachers unions and school boards are irresponsibly promoting sterile lifestyles of abortion and homosexuality when they are depleting their own clients.
Worse yet, homosexuals are far more likely to molest children than others, as the vast majority of them were victims themselves of child sexual abuse and/or enlistment by an adult. In most cases using alcohol, drugs and pornography to enlist the minor. Even more disturbing is a strong link which exists between pedophilia and homosexuality as evidenced by the degenerate pedophile rights group, NAMBLA regularly participating in gay parades and the emphasis on sex with minors in “gay” publications.
Wow. Your comment disgusts me. I hope that one day you have a homosexual person in your family and then understand that it’s not a choice and how lovely they are as human beings. They are no different than anyone else and you give Catholics a bad name for everything that you just said. That was the most hateful thing that I’ve ever read.
Why would some deviant like him be “invited” in the first place to a Catholic institution?
Who is responsible for extending the invitation to such a deviant in the first place?
I’m just curious as to why Villanova contemplated having him over to speak/perform in the first place. Maybe I’m missing something here.
I want to pose a few questions to everybody that frequents this blog and offer some thoughts.
Would you have a problem with an openly gay person giving a speech on Villanova’s campus about their struggle with that lifestyle while at school there? What if he spoke of his partner during the speech and then pointed to the fact that everybody who did know accepted him and loved him regardless? Having a partner, one could assume, implies a sexual relation as well.
I am having a hard time believing that you would be for this. That being said, NOBODY openly opposed this very event that was held on Villanova’s campus just last Thursday. Is having an openly gay person on this campus spreading his views concerning his sexuality and his personal lifestyle against the Catholic code?
One more point, if you are against this and the Tim Miller workshop on campus, is it fair to call you a hypocrite for opposing one and not the other?
Adam,
I think you are asking if it is a bad thing to have someone on campus discussing their point of view as being gay, their struggle and such..Yes? That is a good question.
Since the Catholic Catechism clearly states homosexual acts to be gravely sinful, as previously quoted here more than once, then any forum that might promote this harmful behavior in any listening individuals would be wrong. Who can say if this person’s testimony would influence students and staff for the worse? So the question would really be, is a negative influence a possibility that we would want to risk?
If that person was placed in an elevated and/or influential position, such as an instructor, it increases the probability that someone observing may be influenced to deem the behavior acceptable and influence them to possibly enter into the activity that they should actually be avoiding.
So if it is truly a grave sin and we are risking a souls eternity, why would the risk be worth that type of forum? Who ever in authority chooses to take that risk will have to answer to God for it some day. I wouldn’t want to be that person.
I liked your question because you posed it in a very unemotional and nonjudgemental way. Thanks for that.
It appears that the real reason Tim Miller was cancelled by Fr. Peter was simply his vulgar and indecent past performances. No big mystery there.
I would just like to address all of you one final time. This will be my final post on this blog. First, I apologize to anyone who I have not responded to. I actually have responded, but for some reason they aren’t posting.
We have been talking in circles on this blog and it’s clear that our views are just not going to find a harmonious resolution. The Tim Miller issue was not about homosexuality and many of you seem to have taken the conversation in that direction. As Barb stated above, Tim’s invitation was rescinded by Villanova on the grounds that his material was both vulgar and provocative. His homosexuality was never an issue and is in fact embraced by both the University and its community.
Different media sources, including this blog, have fueled a web of misinformation around this entire ordeal and it has been very unfortunate. Villanova is a strong Catholic community with even stronger values that are represented by the actions of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Among these values are Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas. These are latin words for Truth, Unity, and Charity. We are a united community that serve the poor, the sick, the needy, and all of our brothers and sister…equally. We do not see race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other “identifier” that may be associated with judgement. Everyone is a child of God and we hold that as our truth. In addition to these three qualities we hold another that stands paramount to the very core of our culture. Love.
A lot of anger and hate has come out of this blog and this conversation. I am guilty of anger myself in my posts above. Even though I am human, I am sorry for any posts which may have come across as angered. With that said, I truly am disappointed by some of you. Even upholding the Catholic teachings in the way that you have proclaimed, so much hate and animosity lingered behind the words that you typed onto this page. Ok, you don’t agree with homosexuality. You consider it a sin to act upon it. I understand that you believe that and that the Church does in fact state that, but I just ask of you to meet it with some kind of understanding. You probably won’t, but the past five days I have been praying desperately for an answer to this dilemma…and I believe I got one. I love all of you. No matter what you have said and no matter what I may have said to you, I love you. I don’t agree with practically anything that you have said, but I respect your decision to choose that belief (even though that probably does not show at all above). Please, extend the same courtesy to all of your brothers and sisters in God. Look past race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation/sexual practices and just see everyone for what they really are…people.
I pray that we can put this conversation to rest now and move forward with our lives with a little more perspective, a little more understanding, and a little more love.
God bless all of you and thank you for your time.
Agape,
Andrew Simone
Villanova Class of 2010
Are Catholic parents getting their Catholic dollars worth sending their children to “Catholic” institutions? We have four graduates of Villanova and two from Merrimack! Did we get what we paid for? I’ve been waiting for decades for Villanova to turn the corner–ever since at one Baccalaurate Mass ended with…”May you have the blessings of….mother earth!!” Some day we will be asked not our annual salary or social status but …”How many souls did you bring to Me”!! How many souls are Augustinian institutions bringing to Jesus Christ??
That sounds more like something Lucifer would say. I really don’t think God keeps a scorecard as though people had to meet some kind of quota. Don’t really see why “mother earth” is such a big deal either, since God made Earth…so technically mother earth is God.
Also, it’s lovely to know that you’ve had so much faith in the University that you sent four of your children there and have also been waiting for them to “turn the corner.” A bit contradictory in thought, don’t you think? And you can call it a “Catholic” institution as much as you want…because it is a Catholic institution. When you get the newsletter saying otherwise…please let me know.
My husband & I met at Villanova… and having gotten our undergrad degrees there, I have 3 things to say: 1) We were disappointed ‘Nova invited Tim Miller to teach & are now happy he’s been dis-invited 2) Given all the liberal drivel on campus over the last 15 years (as boasted about, ad nauseum, in the Villanova Magazine) I would never send our kids there and am not surprised at all by the views of Andrew Simone 3) Love & forgive do give “wrong” a license to teach, but many current ‘Nova students wouldn’t know that because the level of teaching has clearly deteriorated. And it wasn’t great when we were there.
People who don’t make any judgements about other people are fools. People who say they don’t make any judgements about other people are probably lying. Making a judgement about another person allows you to make a decision to either allow that person a place in your life or avoid them. Judging a person as “bad/evil/disturbed/or whatever” does not mean you hate them, it just means you should avoid them or convert them, not allow them a place to influence young minds.
I applaud Villanova for telling Tim Miller he can no longer be the Artist in Residence…. but I still think Villanova is devoid of actual Catholicism. They were just afraid of losing alumni financial support. They lost ours.
And here I was, ready to stop commenting. Again, we as human beings don’t have the right to judge people. That’s a power reserved for God and no one else. Second, my views were as they are on this blog WELL before Villanova. And you also say that like my views are wrong or something. Who are you to say that? There is a clear destinction between judging someone and understanding them. I don’t judge people. That is not a lie. I take the time to get to know them and then I decide whether they are my cup of tea or not. Have you spoken with Mr. Miller? No? Well, I have. He’s an awesome person and until you actually sit down and actually have a conversation with him, please refrain from saying anything about him, or his work.
Also, if you don’t like Villanova, or the way that its community, maybe it’s time for you to cut ties with the school. From the sound of it, you’re only going to aggrevate yourself.
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