The President at Georgetown: Did this Catholic University Deny the Faith?

By their actions the leadership of this Catholic University effectively denied the central claim of the Catholic faith by covering these symbols.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) - As we walk through the Easter season the readings from our daily Catholic Liturgy set before us the heroic missionary witness of an early Church truly living the implications of their Resurrection faith. The first readings are taken from the Acts of the Apostles.It includes a recounting of the fidelity of the early followers of Jesus Christ.They were unashamed of stating clearly that Jesus Christ is the only name by which men and women can be saved. (Acts 4:12) These Christians were certainly not confused concerning their Catholic identity.

As the story of these courageous witnesses unfolds we see several of their leaders, led by Peter, brought before the Sanhedrin and told, "We gave you strict orders (did we not?) to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles said in reply, "We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:28, 29)." This struggle between the law of God and the laws of men is not a new experience for the Christian Church. We must always "obey God rather than men" when confronted with a conflict of loyalties. While Christians are to be good citizens we must first, in the words of the great evangelist Paul whose year we now celebrate, remember that our lasting "citizenship is in heaven" (Phil. 3:20). St. Paul told the Christians in Rome: " I am under obligation; that is why I am eager to preach the gospel also to you in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel! It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes"(Romans 1) We are still "under obligation".

Now consider what occurred on April 14, 2009 on the campus of Georgetown University where President Obama was invited to speak. The invitation caused an understandable controversy since, under his leadership, the Federal Government of the US has clearly signaled an institutional opposition to the fundamental Right to Life and its intention to silence those who disagree. The US Bishops made their position clear "The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions." The controversy over the President speaking at the Notre Dame Commencement and receiving an honorary Doctor of Law Degree is still front and center.

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What occurred at Georgetown University is one of those symbolic moments in history which speaks beyond any single incident. The administration literally covered over the Cross of Christ and the "I.H.S.", both of which were engraved on the backdrop against which the President spoke on the Gaston Hall stage. The reaction to this censorship of Christian signs at a Catholic University was immediate. The associate Vice President of Communications of Georgetown gave her spin: "In coordinating the logistical arrangements for yesterday's event, Georgetown honored the White House staff's request to cover all of the Georgetown University signage and symbols behind Gaston Hall stage... The White House wanted a simple backdrop of flags and pipe and drape for the speech, consistent with what they've done for other policy speeches... Frankly, the pipe and drape wasn't high enough by itself to fully cover the IHS and cross above the GU seal and it seemed most respectful to have them covered so as not to be seen out of context."

Out of context? This is a Catholic University! It is clear what was done, the symbol of Christian faith was covered over. The University could have refused. It is a part of the Church, an ecclesial community. The White House weighed in: "Decisions made about the backdrop for the speech were made to have a consistent background of American flags, which is standard for many presidential events... Any suggestions to the contrary are simply false."

"I.H.S." is derived from singling out the first letters of three Latin words, Iesus (Jesus), Hominum (of men) and Salvator (Savior). In this symbol is contained the very core of our Catholic identity.We proclaim that Jesus Christ is sent from the Father as the Savior of all men and women. Whether this White House requested the Christian symbols to be covered is a fitting subject for further investigation, particularly in light of the Department of Homeland Securities' announcement the next day that overtly Pro-Life Christians (read every faithful Catholic) could be terrorists. However, what is scandalous about what occurred at Georgetown University is the behavior of Georgetown University.

By their actions the leadership effectively denied the central claim of the Catholic faith by covering these symbols. With the Passion narrative still echoing in our Catholic ears we should recall the two men who did so on that night when Jesus was arrested. The one named Peter repented and turned back to the Lord. He was forgiven and became the very Rock upon which the Church, the Body of the Risen Jesus Christ, was built. The other named Judas suffered a horrid death and has become synonymous with every act of apostasy since. The Question now faces the leadership of Georgetown University. Which one are you?

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