Charges
A brief item in the news section noted that the library is discontinuing
1,500 electronic journal subscriptions and print versions of another
1,000 journals due to a budget crisis. It seems the publishers
of the journals, according to the article, "have a captive audience
and raise subscription rates faster than inflation." An article
on the very next page reports that Notre Dame's tuition next year
will jump to $36,930 -- a 6.9 percent increase. In fact, since
my senior year (1977) tuition has increased more than 700 percent.
It would appear the administration also has a captive audience
and has no qualms about raising tuition rates faster than inflation.
In fact, everything -- television contracts, football tickets,
books, fees, bookstore items, parking permits, etc. -- is priced
according to what the market will bear. It is hypocritical of
Notre Dame to complain when the University takes the same approach.
Michael J. Milligan '77
Oklahoma City
Tariq Ramadan
An article in the news section seriously misstates the controversy
about Tariq Ramadan, invited to join the faculty this fall, when
it reports, "Some Jewish leaders accuse him of being anti-Semitic
for criticizing the Israeli occupation of land claimed by Palestinians."
The worry about Ramadan is hardly limited to "Jewish leaders."
The major French newspapers refused to print the article by Ramadan
that gave rise to the controversy. In that article Ramadan singled
out certain public figures whom he characterized as "Jewish French
intellectuals," not all of whom are Jewish. Seeing no rational
basis for some of their positions (support for the war in Iraq,
concern about the Pakistani regime's connection to Islamic extremists),
he accused them of abandoning universal principles and of basing
their views instead on their attachment to the Jewish community
and Israel. Ramadan's accusation is controversial because he grouped
individuals together on the basis of their supposed Jewishness
and accused them of working against their own country in the interest
of a foreign power.
Paul Franks
Notre Dame, Indiana
(Editor's note: Tariq Ramadan's
visa was revoked by the U.S. State Department a few days prior
to his coming to Notre Dame. A related story is at Seen and Heard.)
Economic realities
Seldom have I read an article so breathtakingly dishonest as
Teresa Ghilarducci's "Made in the USA." Take for example her assertion
that "among developed democratic nations, the middle class thrives
even though Europeans face the same technological changes." The
only way her construct works is to ignore France and Germany,
where the unemployment rate is 10 percent compared to 5.6 percent
in the United States. Moreover, 100,000 working-age Germans and
French leave their countries each year due to the lack of economic
opportunity and come to the United States, and the European middle
class does not enjoy the same standard of living of the U. S.
middle class. Lastly, the social welfare systems of both France
and Germany are ready to implode.
Tom McFadden '76, '79J.D.
La Grange, Illinois
Although outsourcing and offshoring are common facets of market
economics, Ghilarducci makes them sound evil. We all outsource:
Not wishing to grow our own food, we get it from specialist producers;
not wanting to calculate our taxes, we hire accountants. And if
we obtain these services from a foreign country, it is offshoring.
It's bad for the economy that loses the work, but is it really
bad? Not at all. It goes back to David Ricardo, who wisely realized
that an economy can competitively produce certain products but
should rely on other economies for goods or services another can
produce more efficiently. That's the free market that most economists
believe really works. Today's technologies make the global nature
of comparative advantage work with lightning velocity; it's controversial
because it involves new paradigms that leave some forms of economics
in the dust.
That the professor wants the whole pie to stay in America and
raise wages only here is unsettling; that's protectionist. Has
she no concern for the rest of the world and the hope that we
can help lift developing economies by sending part of our production
of goods and services in their direction? Or does she feel we
are not really an interdependent world?
Joseph W. Harrison '59
San Juan Capistrano, California
Ghilarducci's article was an accurate and concise description
of one of the most pressing economic problems in our country.
The solution she recommends not only makes economic sense but
also makes people sense. The distinctions articulated in the relationship
between efficiency and profits should be considered by every political
and economic decision-maker as well as every CEO. What a voice
in the wilderness of economic chatter. I hope the changes in the
economics department do not silence such scholarship that supports
Catholic social and economic teaching.
Jim Ullrich '57
Knoxville, Tennessee
Homosexuality
(Editor's note: We received well over 100 responses to our
summer cover package. Almost all of these can be read in their
entirety at the magazine's ReactOnline site at www.nd.edu/~ndmag/su2004/gayletters.html.
This is a representative sampling of the responses we received.)
I am totally disappointed and disgusted that you have let homosexual
students, alumni and parents use your publication to espouse their
immoral agenda. The pope and Vatican recently pronounced that
Catholic institutions must conform to Catholic doctrine and must
not allow speakers on campus who divert from such basic norms
of morality. You are in violation of this rule in that you are
allowing an official publication to be used as a mouthpiece and
sympathy column for these deviant groups who promote this lifestyle,
which is in direct contradiction to the natural and divine law.
I obviously know this way of thinking is very minor on campus,
but under the guise of "tolerance and political correctness" you
publish these articles from students and parents to try to get
sympathy for their misery.
Kenneth McKenzie
Del Mar, California
First, I want to commend the magazine for its vision and integrity
in taking on this subject. I was especially moved by "God Gave
Me a Gay Son" and "All the Way Home." I can't imagine anyone from
any viewpoint reading these and not admiring their authors' honesty
and forthrightness. And yet, when reading them, I was already
imagining that certain alumni would likely lament that their alma
mater would give space to voices that ignore or belittle church
teaching. As a recent alum and visiting faculty fellow, I couldn't
help but feel the exact opposite: The spiritual honesty and compassion
and integrity that shines through most of these pieces embodies
the spirit of Notre Dame at its best.
Francisco Aragon '03 MFA
Elkhart, Indiana
"What the Church Has to Say" is absolutely fantastic. It hits
the nail right on the head. Homosexual "orientation" is not a
sin. Homosexual "activity" is a sin. Homosexual marriages or civil
unions are immoral and detrimental to society. Adopting children
into those marriages or unions is gravely immoral and puts those
children at risk. Why is there so much argument on this subject?
The church has spoken quite clearly.
Edward D. DeBoer '53
Signal Mountain, Tennessee
John Monczunski did an effective job in summarizing magisterial
teaching concerning homosexuality in his article, "What the Church
Has to Say." One was struck, however, by his assumption that the
Catechism of the Catholic Church, official statements
from Vatican congregations and the U.S. Catholic bishops comprise
the totality of "the church." Surely the church is much larger
than this. Why did he not include the work of Catholic theologians
who have followed different approaches? Or the experiences of
gay men and women of faith who are already having a marked effect
on Catholic communities? The Spirit is leaven in God's church,
constantly guiding and teaching us.
Don Brophy '56
New York City
I am deeply saddened that the magazine has chosen to betray 2,000
years of Catholic teaching by endorsing homosexuality as an acceptable
lifestyle. In order for a person to be authentically "Catholic,"
he must obey the decrees of the pope. We have no individual discretion
in interpreting the Bible, and we cannot create our own morality.
In no uncertain terms, the church has never wavered from its stance
that homosexuality is a "gravely disordered condition," as is
the desire to commit rape or bestiality.
Homosexuals must be shown compassion and love, but only in an
effort to help them overcome their temptation to sin.
Brendan C. Dwyer '04
Olean, New York
As the mother of a gay son, I want to thank you for addressing
this issue. No doubt you will be vilified for featuring this aspect
of human life. There is much latent fear (as expressed in scripture)
about this form of sexuality, and the fear boils over into hate
and violence. The violence can be lethal, psychological, political
and physical, all exacting a terrible human cost. I suppose that,
because Notre Dame is a Catholic university, the church's so-called
moral stance must be featured in your magazine. But frankly the
church -- the institutional church -- has blood on its hands for
its promulgation of homophobic attitudes and policies. It has
forgotten that each human being is created in the image of God.
The language that issues from the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith regarding the homosexual population is horrific and
is responsible for terrible harms wreaked on this population and
all of us who love them.
Barbara Schlotfeldt
Tacoma, Washington
I want to thank you for devoting an issue to something that affects
me daily. I am a gay Notre Dame alumnus, and I was very pleased
to see that you finally included stories from gay people. I am
often discouraged when the topic is debated by non-gay people.
I often wonder how people would react if issues of race were only
discussed and decided by members of one race. I would like to
tell straight people that there are many gay people in our country
who do not necessarily embrace all aspects of the so-called gay
lifestyle and that many of us are invisible to your eyes. You
pass us every day in the grocery store and the malls. And we just
want what most straight people want.
Jeremy Mayernik '92
Mishawaka, Indiana
Your summer issue gave me more than enough to ponder. "Gay" and
"lesbian" are loaded terms. They usually imply overt sexual activity.
The term "same-sex attraction," however, focuses on orientation.
The church has been quite clear that a homosexual orientation
in itself does not devalue a human person, any more than a heterosexual
bent. Any belittling of one who admits or is presumed to be of
a same-sex attraction is just plain sinful.
Baptism confers on its possessor the obligation of chaste living,
whether single, married or celibate by choice or circumstance.
Any organization, officially recognized or not, which contradicts
this should (kindly, of course) be run out of town.
George Morgan, CMF, '52
Oak Park, Illinois
Most gay people in this country were raised by loving parents
who instilled in their children certain religious beliefs. For
generations gay Christians have been told -- not so subtly --
that if you "choose to live the gay lifestyle," you can't be a
member of our club and God will punish you severely. The ironic
thing is that I had no choice in being gay (God made me that way),
but I do have to make a conscious effort to "choose" to continue
to be a Catholic every day in the face of church-sponsored hatred
and discrimination.
Greg Bourke '82
Louisville, Kentucky
Thank you for the coverage of the lives of gay Domers. We are
breathing, alive and diverse people, not some fringe issue to
be glossed over. Too many gays are giving up on their faith and
self-destructing. The church has the responsibility to minister
to the needs of all people. Other churches are starting to minister
to our needs; perhaps one day the Catholic church will follow.
L. Matthew Blancett '02
Chicago
I am so happy to finally see some acknowledgment of the gifts
that our gay/lesbian/bisexual brothers and sisters have to offer
our world and our Notre Dame community. It has long been a contradiction
for a community that professes to care for each of its family
members to simultaneously shun many of them for being exactly
as God has made them. Every person has the ability to bring life
into this world, and the biological definition need not be the
only factor to determine how life-giving each person can be. Let
us be better to one another, and not just seek to be more "tolerant,"
but to truly look into the hearts of every person and see God
in each other, and let our man-made policies reflect that openness
and love.
Thank you for having the courage to publish this edition; I
hope that the administration has that same courage to recognize
campus groups such as OutreachND and United in Diversity, and
to amend its legal statement of nondiscrimination.
Christopher Alvarado '94
Cleveland
We are very pleased and grateful to see the magazine dedicate
an issue to a sensitive and courageous discussion of homosexuality
from various perspectives. There are many misperceptions about
the gay community today, often because people do not know much
about it. You have done a great service to the many gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender (GLBT) members of the Notre Dame and
Saint Mary's community.
We are the officers of the Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae of Notre
Dame and Saint Mary's (GALA), an organization that has been serving
GLBT alumni/ae since its formation in 1993. GALA promotes solidarity
and friendship among GLBT graduates, students and friends; supports
OutreachND, the GLBT student group on campus; sponsors charitable,
educational, social and spiritual activities; and strives to improve
communication with the University and to increase the visibility
of GLBT alumni/ae. We now have 1,000 members.
Coming to terms with being gay is often a very difficult process.
Nearly one-third of suicide attempts among young adults are due
to sexual orientation issues and the needless fear and shame often
associated with them. Without support and affirmation among peers,
these issues can turn into equally life-threatening conditions
such as depression, nervous disorders and substance abuse. We
are proud to offer a source of support. GALA has regional leaders
throughout the country who would be delighted to speak confidentially,
and GALA sponsors various local events. We encourage gay or questioning
alumni/ae to visit our website (www.galandsmc.org) or contact
GALA directly at administrator@galandsmc.org.
Gus Hinojosa '82, chair
David Pais '72, vice chair
Kevin Heffernan '93, secretary
As a straight male with several gay friends and acquaintances,
I cannot understand for the life of me why so many feel threatened
by people whose sexual orientation is different. Gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgendered people share the hopes and fears of
every person -- the hope to love, the fear of loss, the joy of
sharing life with another person, the pain caused by death. They
have parents, brothers, sisters and even children. Our world will
be much better off when we all agree that bigotry in any form
and against any person is unacceptable and should be eliminated
-- not with a club but with love and respect, as God has commanded
us to do.
William Wilson '88
South Bend, Indiana
Thanks for including in the package a rundown of church teaching
on homosexuality and the perspective of a Courage member striving
to live the chastity to which we are all called. I was particularly
interested in the piece by Tom Nelson. I, too, have dealt with
a loved one's struggles with same-sex attraction. What I found
in my research, however, was quite different. Please consider:
Robert Spitzer, the Columbia University psychologist who in October
2003 published a pivotal study in the Archives of Sexual Behavior
demonstrating that therapy can cure homosexuality (Spitzer's work
is especially significant because he played a key role in the
highly politicized decision in 1973 to remove homosexuality from
the psychiatric manual of mental disorders.); Stanley Kurtz, the
Hoover Institution sociologist who has documented the connection
between "gay marriage" and the decline of the family in Scandinavia
and Holland; Joseph Nicolosi, founder of the National Association
for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality whose recent book,
A Parent's Guide to Preventing Homosexuality, explains
the connection between "gender identification disorder" in prepubescent
children and later homosexuality; and Richard Fitzgibbons, a psychiatrist
with the Catholic Medical Association, who has analyzed the causes
of same-sex attraction and what can be done to treat it.
If any place in our society is going to hold a fair and honest
debate about homosexuality, it must be a Catholic institution
like Notre Dame where faith and reason come together in the unity
of truth.
James R. Dunlap Jr. '84
Hamden, Connecticut
Imagine a world where sexual orientation would be as insignificant
as eye color. Imagine a world where all loving relationships would
be valued and affirmed. Imagine how ridiculous all this Catholic
angst would appear in such a world.
Robert F. Dailey '74
Austin, Texas
(October 2004)
