Yes, you read that right. Former CIA Director in the Bush Administration General Michael Hayden gave the commencement address to Franciscan University’s graduating class on May 12. Here is how the school website describes the event:
“This year’s commencement speakers have distinguished themselves by defending our shores, protecting the sacredness of human life, and shaping our form of worship as Catholics,” says University President Father Terence Henry, TOR. “These outstanding leaders will send forth the Class of 2012 with the faith, hope, and courage so needed in our world today.”
The General was then presented with an honorary doctorate.
General Hayden not only was instrumental in the dismantling of American rights in the name of national security after 9/11, he vigorously defended “enhanced interrogation”, ie, torture, saying “These methods work”. And of course he supported the unprovoked invasion of Iraq.
It is beyond ironic that a university named after St Francis of Assisi, a man of peace, would honor such a man. This, after Senator Santorum, another defender of torture and preemptive war, was received as the Anointed Catholic Candidate when he visited Steubenville.
Perhaps the college should just change its name to “The Republican University of Steubenville” and get it over with.
Lord, have mercy.
Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.
I’m going to share this on Facebook…and, boy, am I gonna get grief over it.
of all the people in all the towns in all the worlds-they get this guy to speak at their graduation? seriously-isnt there, Oh-about a gzillion other good catholics they can get to speak without having to get people like this? wth? Did they draw names out of a hat or something? My aging grandmother could give more witness to holiness to a class of graduating catholics than this.Not.Smart.Move.I expect more out of them.I still like the school..overall pretty darn good..but bonehead move, Franciscan.
Unfortunately they problably think it was a good move. They got a high ranking Catholic military man. I’m sure they supported the Iraq war and the empty platitudes of “support the troops”. They simply don’t think thru the implications of supporting a war of choice and the conscious defense of torture.
I’m sure they would never have Obama like Notre Dame and I would agree with them. When I would add that ND should not have had Reagan or GW Bush either I would expect head scratching and some anger.
In short too many conservative Catholics have come to see Republican values as Catholic or Christian values. They are not. Though they may be in agreement from time to time it is often incidental or accidental. The origin and goals of Catholic values are unique and will often be at odds with those of the world especially political ones. This is a message the bishops should be sending. Catholics should not over invest in any political allegiances.
While the church has condemned the Iraqi invasion, which is taught by every single theology professor at FUS, that is not ex cathedral teaching, nor is it necessarily a grave matter to disagree with the jp2 on. While Great catholic examples are common visitors for FUS a high ranking military official is a great example to young students. So often good Catholics are told to be hermits, Catholicism in the home, and if you want to be catholic at work be a youth minister.
Secondly enhanced interrogation methods have saved countless lives, and they are hardly torture in the traditional sense, compared to any other country our interrogation methods are light and easy.
“Secondly enhanced interrogation methods have saved countless lives, and they are hardly torture in the traditional sense, compared to any other country our interrogation methods are light and easy.”
Torture is condemned as gravely evil in the Catechism. Pope Benedict XVI has said that torture may not be convened under any circumstances. If people at FUS are being taught that they may dissent from this teaching (and I’m not saying they are) then they are being taught heresy.
I’m sure the victims, some of them complete innocent people, who have died from suffocation, beatings and hypothermia will appreciate your thoroughly Catholic assessment of how they weren’t, you know, *torture* tortured.
Enhanced interrogation was used on three people following 911. None of them was “completely innocent.” None of them died. However, scores of victims of “same sex intergenerational love,” which Mark Shea has vigorously defended, have died by their own hand. Lets get some perspective.
If you’re going to accuse Mark Shea of supporting Ephebophilia, when there’s no such evidence, you ought to know that’s calumny.
Why try to be a God-damned liar?
Steve: You are a consequentialist. This has been condemned by the Church. Catholics who justify torture, like Catholics who justify abortion, make me sick.
And of course FU supports the wars; why else phrase it “defending our shores”? Our shores have not needed defending since 1941.
Badly phrased; our shores could have used defending in September of 2001. Neither the military or the intelligence community did so. How exactly Gen Hayden “defended our shores” from Saddam Hussein and the Taliban is the question.
How can these tortures can be light and easy if they simultaneously compel terrorists to give out important information? After all, if terrorists blurt secrets to light and easy techniques, why not just conversation over coffee? Jessie Ventura claimed that given a day and a waterboard, he could get Sean Hannity to declare Obama the greatest president in history. No chance of getting a dispensation to allow that, unfortunately.
It’s amazing how many of the talking points of the Thing that Used to be Conservatism map to those of another advocate of “physical pressure”.
Considering you are an avid supporter of Ron Paul I do not think you are in much of a position to be squealing about others.
That Mark acknowledges the lone voice for libertatianism in the presidential race is also the lesser of several evils doesn’t begin to approach what you claim.
Steubenville also honored apostate Catholic Glenn Beck some years ago. It seems that Americanism is alive and well at that school.
The man in that photo has a facial expression which evokes my assumption that he hasn’t had a bowel movement in 15 years or so years. Why do so many of the GOP Catholic heroes have that countenance?
Ha good point! That and fake eyebrows.
With several connections over the years at FUS and a son who graduated from there, I would like to defend FUS. But I can’t. This was just outrageous!
“same sex intergenerational love,” which Mark Shea has vigorously defended
What the WTF?
More: “In good faith, Rich, I am sorrier for your perjury than my peril.” – A Man for All Seasons
God forgive you, Mr. Dunn.
faith, hope and . . . courage?
I can’t tell if that’s subtle or blatant.
I’ve got nothing against fortitude, but when we start subbing in cardinal for theological virtues, we’re in trouble. Prudence instead of faith anyone? Justice instead of love?
The thing is, you can torture in the name of prudence or courage or justice, but it’s still stupid and cowardly and unjust. In a broken world the cardinal virtues need the theological ones if they are not to simply damn us all.
My alma mater, I’m ashamed to say. And yes, they confuse being Catholic with being Republican. I sat through a graduation (not mine) with Phyllis Schlafly as the speaker. I got a good education there, but this is just beyond-I wish I could say I’m surprised.