Catholic lawyers warn Australian Catholic University

[Denise]

The abortion speech, the student walkout – and the Catholic civil war

ByJordan Baker
December 3, 2024 — 7.30pm

https://archive.is/HBhyi

[MarieT]

well lo and behold

A Catholic who has received an honorary doctorate, in a Catholic Institution supposedly upholding Catholic doctrine.....speaks against abortion or gay marriage and all of a sudden panic stations and lawyers etc.
Only in Australia...

While accepting an honorary doctorate – for which he was nominated by Fisher – de Bruyn said abortion was the single biggest killer of human beings in the world, and a “tragedy that must be ended”. Catholic doctrine teaches life is sacred from the point of conception.
The speech prompted a mass walkout by staff and students. The university expressed regret for distress caused to the community, refunded the students’ graduation fees and offered counselling. It defended de Bruyn’s right to express his personal beliefs, but said the content of the speech did not meet its standards for student safety and inclusivity.

It’s not the first time an attempt to honour de Bruyn has caused controversy. An ACTU tribute was pulled in 2015, partly because delegates said they’d turn their backs on him due to their opposition of his stance on gay marriage.
The response sent shockwaves through the church and exposed tensions between progressives, who back vice chancellor Professor Zlatko Skrbis, and conservatives.

unbelievable

Its a Catholic University....supposedly teaching Catholic doctrine, values, ethics......and one is not supposed to mention those values, doctrines, ethics???......wake up Australia

[Johnna]

Offered counselling???

Someone expresses an opinion, and there's a need to offer counseling?! What has this world come to?!
O, brave new world
that has such people in't!

[MarieT]

the latest is that they want to remove the "Catholic" from the title

so it doesnt read anymore "Australian Catholic University."

are they so ashamed of their Catholic identity

...but wait.....the government does supply some funding
it all comes down to money again

[Johnna]

Ugh, of course it comes down to money.

But in all honesty, if they are going to act this way over pro life statements, maybe they should remove the word Catholic.

[MarieT]

it struck me more their reaction - so what if people walked out
and didnt want to listen to an award winner's speech highlighting
the Catholic norms and concerns
Sadly we have become a nation of crowd pleasers
comprising faith so as not to 'offend'....