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Contents © 2005
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
LITTLE NOTES
October 2005
JOHN PAUL THE GREAT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY (formerly New Catholic University) held its second gala dinner at the La Jolla Hyatt at Aventine on September 17. The evening began with a cocktail hour in the lounge, followed by dinner in the grand ballroom. Attendees seemed eager to hear the night's speakers, which included Derry Connolly, president and co-founder of John Paul the Great, Fr. Mitch Pacwa of Priests for Life and Eternal World Television Network host, and Fr. Darrin Merlino of St. Joseph's Radio.
After a dinner of beef filet and salmon, the guests listened as Fr. Pacwa stressed the need for Catholics to change the culture from the inside out, saying that they must emerge as a group that doesn't fight anti-Catholicism belligerently, but which "so transforms the culture that they will be trying to reach our standard."
In his address Connolly stressed his belief in the need for Catholic leadership in the most influential fields of society, and his hope that John Paul the Great will "educate a new breed of innovators and creators, leaders and entrepreneurs, steeped in Catholic orthodoxy and faithfulness."
The path of technology in the media and the opportunity it provides Catholics was a main point of importance in his speech as well. "Technology is changing the business model for media," he explained. "And that gives Catholics a great opportunity to incorporate themselves in new media."
He also spoke about the particular appropriateness of the school's official new name. The first gala, held last year at the same location, welcomed supporters to learn more about what was then New Catholic University. Regard ing the new name, Connolly said, "I see John Paul II as a model for youth in two ways. First, he really knew Jesus Christ. Second, he went to the four corners of the earth proclaiming Him to the world. I want the students at our university to do just that: to really know Jesus Christ and to go to the four corners of the earth and, hopefully, using media, to proclaim Him to the world."
Not only the university's name has moved closer to the heart of its mission. Connolly says, "We're just about ready to lease a facility."
The search for a campus has narrowed down to locations in Mira Mesa and Vista. Both are "beautiful facilities," Connolly said, quipping, "It has to be someplace my wife feels comfortable sending our 17-year-old daughter."
Whether the university meets its goal of opening classes next fall depends largely on finding a facility first. "We've filled out every line in the state application except the one that says, 'Address where you'll be doing business.'"
The state deadline, in order to open the institution next fall, is the end of this year. Connolly is optimistic. "The event on the whole was very successful, and exceeded our expectations" he said after the dinner. "The board was really pumped up about it, and guests returning from last year were saying it has definitely matured in a year. Last year people thought, 'this is kind of interesting, let's see where it goes'. This year they're taking notice that we're still here and moving full steam ahead. It's more of a reality to people now."
And while these final steps are being taken, word is spreading and prospective students are beginning to contact Connolly. "I had three emails in one day from students saying, 'When for the love of heaven can I get into your school?'" said Connolly. "Young people are really connecting with the whole idea of the school. It's an amazing thing to have students come up and say, 'I'm going to be in your first class.'"
For more information on John Paul the Great University, go to www.JPCatholic.com or email info@JPCatholic.com.
THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO has begun another academic year, and staff psychologist Erinn Tozer and lesbian theology professor Evelyn Kirkley continue to promote the homosexual agenda on campus. In emails dated August 26 and September 3, Tozer and Kirkley respectively welcomed returning and potential members of USD PRIDE back to school. Tozer, who works at the school's counseling center, will run the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender support group, and asked members to email her as to whether they would prefer to meet on Thursday afternoons or Friday afternoons. John Adkins, head of public services for the university's legal research center also emailed PRIDE members on August 31, to encourage more participation from gay and lesbian law students in PRIDE activities.
Thanks to Kirkley's tireless promo tion of homosexuality, USD may find itself implicitly endorsing same-sex relationships on national television. On August 26, Kirkely emailed PRIDE members to inform them that MTV was looking for same-sex couples from "various backgrounds, gender and experiences" to be part of a public service announcement for MTV, to run as part of National Coming Out Month in October. Kirkley provided contact infor mation for the casting director of Public Interest Productions, Greg Fieser. PRIDE meetings began September 14 at 7:30 in USD's United Front building.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS PITCHING IN TO HELP HURRICANE VICTIMS. Seems what the evacuees really need is not food, water, shelter, and clothing but contraceptives and abortifacients.
In its September 6 email newsletter, the Culture of Life Foundation reports that a link titled "Help with Hurricane Effort" on Planned Parenthood's website "takes visitors to a page that touts the organization's work. 'Planned Parent hood staff are on the frontlines aiding patients in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. You can help. 100% of your tax-deductible contribution will go directly to supporting our continued efforts to provide health services.'
"Included in those health services are a month's supply of contraceptives and an 'emergency contraception kit.' Elsewhere on the website, birth control is referred to as an item 'critical' to the 'well-being' of women and families. Visitors to the site are assured that nothing will stop Planned Parenthood's efforts. 'Despite the horrific events of the past few days, affiliates and health centers in this region are determined to serve all those that come through the door.'
"Emergency contraception typically refers to Plan B, the controversial drug that can work by preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in a women's uterus. Despite the fact that medical textbooks show otherwise, Planned Parenthood insists Plan B never ends a pregnancy.
"The effort is being coordinated by Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas. Peter Durkin president and CEO of that chapter said, 'We're offering a free month's supply of birth control pills and/or emergency contraception if they have either a Mississippi or Louisiana driver's license. During these calamities, sometimes you don't bring your pills with you, because you're trying to get out of there in one piece.'"
"I DROVE PAST THE FIRST LIFE CHAIN IN SAN DIEGO IN 1990," writes Catholic pro-life activist, Sue Lopez. "It was along Harbor Drive. The participants numbered an amazing 20,000. Two months later another one drew 28,000 pro-life Christians from 320 churches. When I saw that first Life Chain, I was impressed that so many would come out on the streets to stand for life. I did not feel the need though, to publicly proclaim my pro-life views. I was comfortable going through life believing abortion was murder and willing to try to talk anyone I knew out of it and help them through a crisis pregnancy if needed, but that was as far as it went.
"Then in 1997, someone close to me was in a crisis pregnancy. Her boyfriend wanted her to have an abortion. Her midwife asked if it was an option. Her social and work-related friends were supportive of abortion since most of them had already had one. She however, was adamantly opposed to abortion. This awakened me to the magnitude of our culture of death. I wondered, 'What woman has a chance to carry her pregnancy to term against this pressure?'
"Outside of her immediate family, only one other person supported this woman in having her baby and making an adoption plan. The support of this woman was very reassuring to her especially since one of her closest friends told her she was a bad mother for giving her baby away. Ironically, these same people don't think you're a bad mother if you abort.
"Soon after this, I became involved with the Mission Young Adults who regularly prayed the rosary in front of a local Planned Parenthood during concurrent Eucharistic Adoration at the San Diego Mission. The first time I went, I cried throughout our prayers to see the reality of people taking their innocent babies to their death. Despite the general hardening of hearts of those entering a clinic, some do have their consciences awakened by our presence and prayers and leave the clinic. I also started attending the San Diego Life Chain each year with my family.
"Life Chain is now held in 1000 cities across the U.S. and Canada. While participation in San Diego is now small, the number of attendees did double last year from the year before. The youth group at the Tridentine Latin Mass at Holy Cross Cemetery Chapel accounted for much of this -- bringing at least 60 members! Life Chain orga nizers are very excited about getting more youth and young adult groups involved this year as they seem especially motivated to take action for life.
"The San Diego Life Chain gives local pro-life Catholics and Protestants a prayerful opportunity to join together as we stand up for Jesus in the form of the unborn child. Seeing the Life Chain in 1990 lit a spark in me, but adopting my son from the woman in crisis has fueled a fire. How tragic it is that so many wanted him to die when he brings such joy to our lives. Your pro-life witness at this year's Life Chain has the potential to save such a life. Please join us on Sunday, October 2nd in Clairemont along Balboa Avenue, east of Genesee, from 2:00-3:30pm."
For more information, call Sue Lopez at (619) 276-7525.