it has a clear religious preference despite NY Const. Art. 1, Sec. 3 as it closes Nassau OTB only on Roman Catholic Holidays as opposed to the same holidays observed on different days by the Greek Orthodox Church. NY State holds religious freedom in low regard . Bettors can go to hell says Andrew Cuomo, the prelate lawyer of the state of NY Inc.
Catholic College Rescinds Invitation to Speaker Defending Same-Sex Marriage
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: September 23, 2013
Providence College, a Roman Catholic school in Rhode Island, has canceled a lecture in support of same-sex marriage
on Thursday by a gay philosophy professor, citing a church document
that says that “Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in
defiance of our fundamental moral principles.”
Related
-
Pope Says Church Is ‘Obsessed’ With Gays, Abortion and Birth Control (September 20, 2013)
The lecturer, John Corvino,
chairman of the philosophy department at Wayne State University, in
Detroit, has spoken previously at more than 10 Catholic colleges and
often appears in friendly debates with religious opponents of gay
marriage. His appearance at Providence College had been co-sponsored by
nine departments and programs, and some of the organizers said the
cancellation surprised them.
The cancellation was announced by the college’s provost on Saturday, one day after the Roman Catholic Church
was rocked by the publication of a long interview in which Pope Francis
called for the church to “find a new balance” by refraining from
frequent condemnations of homosexuality, abortion and birth control, and
emphasizing mercy and love.
In his e-mail announcing the cancellation, Hugh F. Lena, the provost and
senior vice president of Providence College, cited a document produced
by the American bishops in 2004, “Catholics in Political Life,” to
support the decision. And he said that college policy “dictates that
that both sides of a controversial issue are to be presented fairly and
equally.”
There has often been tension between the ideal of academic freedom and
the mandate to uphold church teaching at Catholic colleges. When the
University of Notre Dame invited President Obama to give the commencement speech there in 2009,
it set off widespread protests because of his support for abortion
rights. Notre Dame stood firm. But Anna Maria College, a small Catholic
school in Massachusetts, rescinded its commencement speech invitation to
Victoria Reggie Kennedy, the widow of Senator Edward M. Kennedy and a
supporter of gay marriage, after the local bishop objected.
Dr. Corvino is the author of the new book “What’s Wrong with
Homosexuality?” and is known for co-writing a book and appearing in
debates with Maggie Gallagher, the former head of the National Organization for Marriage,
which opposes same-sex marriage. He said he had been invited to speak
at Providence College by Christopher Arroyo, an associate professor of
philosophy. Dr. Arroyo declined an interview request on Monday.
Dr. Corvino said he had been very interested in speaking on a
conservative campus like Providence College because he was “preaching to
the choir” at most of his talks now. “I want to convince them that
same-sex marriage is not only possible, but is also a good thing, for
the couple and good for society at large,” he said. “But I also want to
engage in a deeper dialogue about issues that we agree are important.”
He said he was conversant with Catholic theology because as a young man
he had begun training to become a Capuchin Franciscan priest, but left
after he discerned on a retreat that he was gay.
Dr. Corvino said that he had given lectures and debated at many Catholic
colleges, but that a talk at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich.,
was also canceled, in 2008.
The event at Providence College was initially planned as a solo lecture,
though Mr. Corvino said he suggested that it be a debate and provided
the names of several potential sparring partners. Last week, the
organizers added Dana L. Dillon, a theologian at Providence College, to
present a response.
But Dr. Lena, the provost, said in an interview late Monday night that
the event was canceled because it was largely a platform for only one
side, and that it could be rescheduled if it included a philosophy
professor with experience arguing against gay marriage.
Fred K. Drogula, president of the faculty senate at Providence College
and an associate professor of history, said he could not find a college
policy dictating that every lecture must have an equal opposing
viewpoint. And he said it was “inappropriate” to invoke the bishops’
document, “Catholics in Political Life,” because it applied primarily to
politicians.
Dr. Drogula said, “The job of any quality academic institution is to
teach students how to think critically, which includes challenging,
testing and defending our ideas.”
A version of this article appears in print on September 24, 2013, on page A15 of the New York edition with the headline: Catholic College Rescinds Invitation to Speaker Defending Same-Sex Marriage.
I-
Thanks for the help. The item’s
below. I’d be happy to mail you a copy, if you give me a mailing
address.
Claude
Solnik
(631)
913-4244
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News
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LI Confidential
> Stop scratching on holidays
Stop scratching on holidays
Published: June 1, 2012
Off Track Betting in New York State has been racing into a crisis called shrinking revenue. Some people have spitballed a solution: Don’t close on holidays.
New York State Racing Law bars racing on Christmas, Easter and Palm Sunday, and the state has ruled OTBs can’t handle action on those days, even though they could easily broadcast races from out of state.
“You should be able to bet whenever you want,” said Jackson Leeds, a Nassau OTB employee who makes an occasional bet. He added some irrefutable logic: “How is the business going to make money if you’re not open to take people’s bets?”
Elias Tsekerides, president of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, said OTB is open on Greek Orthodox Easter and Palm Sunday.
“I don’t want discrimination,” Tsekerides said. “They close for the Catholics, but open for the Greek Orthodox? It’s either open for all or not open.”
OTB officials have said they lose millions by closing on Palm Sunday alone, with tracks such as Gulfstream, Santa Anita, Turf Paradise and Hawthorne running.
One option: OTBs could just stay open and face the consequences. New York City OTB did just that back in 2003. The handle was about $1.5 million – and OTB was fined $5,000.
Easy money.
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