From a column by Matt C. Abbott
A Catholic college in Vermont is getting an openly-homosexual dean, according to a story in ‘Out in the Mountains,’ Vermont’s “voice for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, [and] transgender people.”
The story, written by Stacey Horn, says that “Professor Jeffrey Trumbower, a gay man and a Unitarian, has been appointed dean of St. Michael’s College, a Catholic school established in 1904 by the Society of Saint Edmund, a French order of Catholic priests.
“Trumbower, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago Divinity School, currently chairs the Religious Studies Department at St. Mike’s, where he has been on the faculty for 16 years. Though he is not the first non-Catholic to be dean of the college, he is the first openly gay man in the position….
“According to search committee chair and political science professor Bill Grover, ‘We were very fortunate to have two terrific people [apply] and Jeff rose to the top.’ Grover said that religion was not a factor in choosing the dean and that the committee wanted a candidate who would ‘fit with the overall mission of the college.’ Of Trumbower, Grover said, ‘He’s going to be a terrific dean….’
“Trumbower came to St. Mike’s in 1989, after completing his dissertation. He was not familiar with the area before he came, and when he arrived, he ‘started going to the church at the head of church street. I resonated with that community and realized that I was home spiritually.’ Trumbower met his partner here in Vermont. They have been together for ten years.
“Jeff Trumbower… will assume his new position as dean of the Catholic college of St. Michael’s on July 1.”
The teaching of the Catholic Church on homosexuality is as follows:
"Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that ‘homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.’ They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved" (Catechism, no. 2357).
It is getting difficult to write parody when you have real news competing against you. This sounds like the beginning of a bad joke "A gay unitarian becomes a Catholic school president …" Though the joke will likely be on any Catholic students attending. There is a certain logic to a homosexual unitarian though since unitarians deny the Trinity and thus the fact that God is also a family of persons. They wouldn’t have to be concerned about imaging a unitarian God that does not generate the Holy Spirit. That their own lives would be just as sterile as this concept of God.
You just know that in these Catholic schools that everything is tolerated of course except being Catholic. You are encouraged to have an open mind, except towards the Catholic Church. The new evangelization will need to first send missionaries to Catholic schools where the extent of their Catholic indemnity is a blurb in their Mission statement about them having a Catholic identity. Though I suspect they might be treated like some missionaries in the past and the Church will have some new martyrs.
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Last week, Donna Freitas, a prof at St. Michael’s College, wrote an article in the WSJ Opinion Journal entitled “Excess and Longing.” She describes a campus full of sex and drinking. I just think of all the parents who are sacrificing to provide their children with a “Catholic” education. What is really needed is conversion of course, but in the meantime, how about truth in advertising?
I suppose stories like this are the reason why Ave Maria University and other new universities are being seen as “true” Catholic higher education.
Right now, I’m in the process of figuring out where I’ll take some classes in theology. I’m not sure which Catholic colleges in my area are really going to offer me a Catholic perspective.
“…religion was not a factor in choosing the dean…”
Then why continue being a religiously-affliliated school?
I long for the days when stupidity was somewhat held in check. They were held in check by people who knew what the Church stood for, and what was acceptable in accordence to Church teachings. Obviously this has been strangled, wrapped in a rainbow blanket, and thrown out the bell tower window. Come on people….can’t anyone see where this is wrong and, Oh, did I say wrong? Yes, wrong.
religion was not a factor in choosing the dean
Uh… obviously.
A question and an observation:
It seems that the current Catholic culture is one that does not and won’t support their own. I have attended many synagogue services and other christian churches. What has impressed me and, one I applaud, is their dedication and focused active support of their own members, and promotion of their members books, artwork, movies, architecture etc. etc.
This is another example of a “supposed” Catholic Institution rejecting their own. Is there not one Catholic candidate qualified to fill this post? Were any even considered?
The other example may be found in the new CHURCH designs …. and wasn’t there the case of a New Zealand Church going to a non-Catholic to design their Stations of the Cross?
And, what about all the lectures that are offered in many parishes today that host pagan religious & other religions or humanist teaching and sufi enneagrams.
What is up with this? The message certainly does not inspire opportunity for the young to add to the visible Church …..
just wondering ….
You are encouraged to have an open mind, except towards the Catholic Church.
Today I blogged a story on the USCCB cosponsoring a program with the National Catholic Educators Association and the Anti-Defamation league. The whole point of which is to program Catholic school teachers in Church bashing.
I also blogged one about various Catholic high schools in Chicagoland doing away with class ranks, etc.
The USCCB really has to go.
Sorry, the address was wrong. Doh! http://unamsanctum.blogspot.com
This dean should be removed, however, to compare Catholic educators who are trying to understand how many past leaders in the Church have advocated for the discrimination of the Jews to the same category of this particular university’s decision to appoint a Protestant, open gay man to the position of dean is outright stupidity.
Sometimes you wonder if the liberals aren’t online in these Catholic blogs in order to discredit the views of conservatives.
One Catholic school in New York was declared by their cardinal archbishop to no longer be a Catholic institution because of their liberal political antics. Perhaps the bishop in Vermont will do the same thing because of this atrocity. Why separate ourselves from the secularists if we do nothing different than them?
Holy Schism! This is but the tip of the iceberg. It’s as if the Church was infected with a virus that had no cure but fresh air, patience, and constant prayer. I am sure that, sooner or later, I will hear another homily from Father Touchy-Feely about how “gays” are an oppressed, victimized group. Maybe another homily about the
Luke’s parable of the “Good Homosexual.”
As someone who has had to recently deal with Matt Abbott, I wouldnt believe him if he said the sky was blue.
In 1973, a long time ago, I applied to the Edmundites. It was suggested that the primary reason was my commitment to Catholicism…since I had been a convert from Unitarianism/Arianism…..and here we have the very same order appointing an open and practicing homosexual…Unitairan…to chair its religious studies department….it’s almost too good to believe…..now they REALLY need me!!
“As someone who has had to recently deal with Matt Abbott, I wouldnt believe him if he said the sky was blue.” –Sebastian
This is a straight news story not an editorial or an avenue of opinion. Matt is simply reporting on what has occurred in an objective manner. Much the same as a wire service should. Not that they ever do.
Why murkily calumniate the guy?
Nice flame, DJP. I debated about whether or not to reply to you, and I am still unsure if this is the right thing to do or not. My guess is that others didn�t make the same wrong assumption that you made about my post, but I wouldn�t want your kind words to have undue influence.
Perhaps I am mentally challenged (the liberal way of saying �stupid�). However, this ‘stupid fifth column liberal’ wouldn�t compare the so-called Catholic history lesson with �this particular university’s decision to appoint a Protestant, open gay man to the position of dean�. Even if I were part of a conspiracy to discredit folk like you, I wouldn�t have taken that tact.
I had quoted Jeff�s comment, �You are encouraged to have an open mind, except towards the Catholic Church.� That is what I was addressing and I apologize to you and the other readers if I wasn�t clear. It might have just been an oversight on your part, or maybe you just didn�t care.
Maybe you and I see the current state of Catholic education differently. I see it failing miserably in its mission of educating people in the faith; and worse, being used as a tool to destroy the faith. I agree with Jeff that there is a mentality that embraces an open mind, whether it is pro-abortion, pro-homosexual marriage, or hypercritical analysis of the Church now or in the past. At the same time it appears hostile to traditionally Catholic virtues, morality and lifestyle. I also believe that many bishops in the USCCB are infected with the same mentality. Unfortunately, they are the ones who have the most control over the direction of the conference. We have also seen that mindset at the forefront of debate regarding the Father Reese affair.
I have my own blog and my words are my words and they are there for all to see and judge. If I am in error on something I am more than happy to take correction and apologize if necessary. If you think the USCCB promoting a program like the aforementioned one is a good idea, you can engage me on it, or simply agree to disagree, but there is no need to cast aspersions on me. I don�t fashion myself a conservative, I try really hard to simply be orthodox in approach, but until you, the only other people who have ever called me a liberal were those whom I abandoned in the SSPX / Feeney camp. Go figure.
I must have been sleeping above…it was suggested that the primary reason for refusing my application to the edmundites was…the solidity of my conversion from Unitarian Arianism to the Catholic Faith…..and here we have the same order appointing a Unitarian to head up its college’s religious studies dept…not to mention the alternative life style arrangement.
“..religion was not a factor in choosing the dean..”
Then what was a factor? Or is this a joke?
Sebastian is upset with the following matter:
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/abbott/050521
He insists on blaming me, Catholic attorney Sharon Bourassa, and others for making an issue of a rather unfortunate situation in the Archdiocese of Miami. I even offered to print his e-mail of complaint, but he said no.
Another individual close to the matter has responded to Sebastian’s concerns, but it obviously hasn’t made any difference.
I could say more, but, out of charity, I won’t.
Today I just graduted from a “Catholic” high school and I feel the pain. Catholic schooling is so terribly horrible now-adays. I could go on for hours about all of the horrible things that have gone on. I honestly think it would be better for everyone to shut down schools not faithful to the church. (A lot of them).
You know your Catholic school has lost the path when teachers/students are not allowed to do anything to stop other kids from doing questionable things. Like saying “suck that ****” during mass. (Just fill in the blanks, and at my final graduation mass I had to of heard it said 30 times) Yes, it happens at my school and the administration will fire any teacher that stops students during mass and expel the students for stepping in.
It is just so sad, sometimes you feel hopeless…
It’s amazing how often Catholic schools violate this section of the Code of Canon Law. However, it is interesting to note that the Code does not speak about the dean – only about the teaching faculty…
Professor Jeffrey Trumbower, a gay man and a Unitarian, has been appointed dean of St. Michael�s College, a Catholic school established in 1904…..Trumbower, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago Divinity School…..
Well, they used to say of the U. Chicago Philosophy Department under Mortimer Adler that it was a place where “atheist professors taught Catholic philosophy to Jewish students.” I’m sure a sharper wit than mine could fashion some apothegm to describe this situation, which Jeff has correctly diagnosed as being parody-proof by virtue of its internal self-referential parody.
Philip,
I can’t tell you how sorry I am to hear you’ve had that experience, and it makes me cringe to know my own children have the same. But you put such hope in my heart to hear that you rose above the fray! What possible satisfaction could any of them gotten from it? How does pure boorishness actually allow a person to grow? They do more damage to themselves than they even know. Some of our Catholic school teachers are flat out heretical, but a good many of them are quite good and authentic… but stymied by a lazy and selfish culture (lawsuits, are just ONE of the things administrators and teachers face).
You suffered through it, and you are stronger now. And you’re someone, I’m betting, for whom a family can be proud. We are!
A professor of mine once said that a Unitarian was an agnostic who couldn’t give up the “church habit.” When you stand for nothing, nothing stands in the way. When was the last time you heard of a Unitarian Universalist martyr?
“Religious Light Bulb Jokes
How many charismatics does it take to change a light bulb? One, since his/her hands are in the air anyway.
How many Calvinists does it take to change a light bulb? None. God has predestined when the lights will be on.
How many Brethren does it take to change a light bulb? CHANGE?!!!
How many Pentecostals does it take to change a light bulb? 10, one to change it and 9 others to pray against the spirit of darkness.
How many tv evangelists does it take to change a light bulb? One. But for the message of hope to continue to go forth, send in your donation today.
How many Roman Catholics does it take to change a light bulb? None: Candles only.
How many Amish does it take to change a light bulb? What’s a light bulb?
How many Polygamous Mormons does it take to change a light bulb? Five. One man to change the bulb, and four wives to tell him how to do it.
How many Jehovah’s Witnesses does it take to change a light bulb? Three. One to screw in the bulb, and two to knock on your door and ask you if you’ve seen the light!
How many Unitarians does it take to change a light bulb? We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, three-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.”
http://www.renealegre.net/jokes/clj40.html
If I may comment, it’s not completely accurate to say that that Unitarians reject the Trinity. In 1961, the American Unitarian Association merged with the Universalist Church of America. Most Universalists pre-merger rejected the concept of the Trinity, however, a small number never did reject the Trinity. They also believed that there was an impermanent Hell, because God loved His children too much to condemn them forever.
So, while this group isn’t too popular, it still exists, and does have a small voice in Unitarian Universalism.
Also, Unitarian Universalists claim several martyrs from the Reformation and Capek was a martyr during the Holocaust. There were also some martyrs from the Civil Rights era of the 1960’s.
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