Dear President Snyder,
We alumni, donors, parents, faculty, students, and concerned friends object to your decision to honor President Bill Clinton as LMU’s 2016 commencement speaker on May 7th. If you as President of LMU treated a 21 year old intern in your office as he did, you would be fired as president and never honored in any way at LMU. Why should the standards be lower for a President of the United States? If LMU cares about sexual harassment, it should not honor someone repeatedly and credibly accused of such activity. Moreover, it is inappropriate in an election year to honor the spouse of a leading candidate thereby politicizing an event that should be unifying. Finally, President Clinton’s steadfast support of abortion on demand, including even partial birth abortion, is incompatible with LMU’s Jesuit emphasis on social justice for all human beings.
We protest your decision to give an honorary doctorate to President Clinton.
RenewLMU
To support this effort please sign below and circulate this petition. We also welcome you to include your own comment.
LMU Jesuit Rector Defends Giving an Honorary Doctorate to President Bill Clinton
In the Loyolan, Jesuit Father Allan Figueroa Deck, the rector of the Jesuit Community at LMU and a trustee, defends giving President Clinton an honorary doctorate. “In conferring this honor LMU does not endorse all of Mr. Clinton’s past or current policies nor condone all his actions,” Fr. Deck told the Loyolan, “Rather, the University recognizes the extraordinary service he has given to civil society and his lifetime connection to Catholic and Jesuit higher education as a Georgetown University alumnus.”
By contrast, the U.S. Catholic Bishops teach, “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.” A politician’s extraordinary service does not constitute an exception to this principle, since any politician who is being considered for an honor presumably has exemplary service in at least some respects.
Fr. Deck’s response to RenewLMU’s criticism attacks a straw man. No one thinks that to grant an honorary doctorate is to endorse all of a politician’s policies or to condone all the politician’s actions. Nor is the question whether the politician provided extraordinary service or attended a Jesuit university. The question is whether President Clinton’s policies and actions violate fundamental Catholic moral principles about partial birth abortion, perjury, obstruction of justice, and sexual harassment in the workplace. The answer is obvious.
RenewLMU 
Thank you for standing up for Catholic values!
This is a very poor selection! Withdraw the invitation, please.
I’m a Catholic and this is very sad… If you want to go that way, please give up your Catholic identity rather than cause such scandal.
Just another example of the “secularization of Catholic Universities” coming from the fallout of the Notre Dame led Land’O Lakes Conference from the mid-1960’s. So it continues. Too many former “Catholic” universities have sold their souls to the dark side.
I am very disappointed in LMU and the direction this “Catholic” University is taking by selecting Bill Clinton as the commencement speaker. I have been very proud of my alma mater until now. I will no longer be making annual donations to support LMU.
So much greed and suffering because of this man. He disturbs my inner peace. He passed NAFTA– unforgivable. I don’t accept ignorance as an excuse for causing so much suffering and wealth disparity; and frankly, I don’t believe it for one second. Enough with the corporate raping of the Earth. What he and his wife stand for is the opposite of social justice. Liars and thieves of American tax dollars they are. No better than George W. Bush — just a different label fighting for the same global empire, funding misinformation and forcing savage economics that are destroying the planet’s life-support systems. NAFTA calls the favoring of local goods “discrimination” which forces us to buy goods from cheap labor over-seas. Emphasis on local is the only path to sustainability. I could go on and on about this. I have the opposite of respect for this man and what his establishment stands for.
Unbelievable decision. I had no idea LMU had sunk so low in its rebuke of Catholic teachings.
To be Catholic means to choose the road less traveled. Defend your faith and stand up for something more than what this world has to offer… Christ did! As the leader of this University these students are looking to you to set an example for them in this world and to stand up for their Catholic faith. You owe it to God, these students, your family and lastly yourself. Are you a “cafeteria” Catholic or are you an “authentic” Catholic?
I have already written a letter to Mr. Snyder concerning my outrage at LMU’s decision to invite this “poor choice” as commencement speaker for my daughter’s graduating class on May 7, 2016. I am truly offended with this choice. This man supports Planned Parenthood, same sex marriage and is himself, a married man; guilty of having forced sex with various women. He is a POOR example for our children. A poor example for anyone. Why are we so willing to overlook this man’s obvious record? I am livid. By inviting Mr. Clinton, Mr. Snyder is basically spitting in the face of every family whose child has attended LMU. Families that have chosen to send their child to a Catholic University which professes to hold up traditional family and Catholic values. Has Loyola LOST its Catholic identity??? I feel betrayed, monetarily, emotionally and spiritually by Mr. Snyder who above all else, should have our children’s best interest at heart…..after all we ENTRUSTED LMU with our beloved children, and now we’ve been BETRAYED. LMU needs to DISINVITE Mr. Clinton.
Judas is alive and well at LMU. How much will Clinton be paid? Thirty pieces of silver?
I agree with the petition by RenewLMU, especially due to the fact that this speaker would undoubtedly politicize LMU’s Commencement Exercises due to his affiliation with a candidate running in the current presidential election. Politics has a necessary place at LMU, but the administration should not show or imply favoritism. This especially applies to Commencement. I hope that these messages are read and taken seriously, and that another choice of Commencement speaker is considered.
It seems to me that LMU could find someone to speak who is a better representative of the Catholic values that LMU is supposed to stand for. I am saddened that the university has made such a poor choice for a commencement speaker.
Why was Bill Clinton invited to speak? He is an adulterer. He and his wife are supporters of destroying unborn children. Is the moral fabric of the university unraveling?
We are in complete agreement with this letter to Dr. Snyder. We remember when Loyola had a faithful and Catholic honored and deeply respected Jesuit University President, Reverend Father Charles Cassasa. He would never have entertained such an offer to such an immoral misfit as Bill Clinton. The invite must be withdrawn asap or there will be mass exodus of alumni. Ken Mckenzie
Please honor our Catholic tradition and values. Select someone who represents Catholic values, not Bill Clinton!
Sir, this decision is so opposed to the moral values we hope to reinforce in the young men and women we trust to your care! Have you lost your mind?
I realized what kind of university LMU was when I was an undergrad spring of my sophomore year 1985. I had a New Testament theology professor by the name of Butts. He revealed to our our class that he was an atheist. I went to him during his office hours and asked him for an explanation as to why he would choose to teach theology when he didn’t believe in God. His answer to me was the following: “In order to understand human beings you must understand what they believe in.” Loyola Marymount University is a tragic experiment in stealing the faith from one of the most vulnerable age groups, College students. Since I left LMU in 1987, I have made it my mission to share with anyone who would listen what my experience was with that theology professor, what my experience has been since reading inappropriate articles in the University newspaper and what a disgrace I find it to be associated with your campus. Shame on you Loyola Marymount… Stop parading as a Catholic school. Young adults will find more faith and the witness of Christ in action at any public university then will ever be found on the grounds of your university.
To honor Bill Clinton is lowering the image of LMU and dishonoring both the university and the Catholic Faith which it is suppose to represent. Isn’t time to look seriously at who is to be honored? This man has serious issues of immorality and this will only tarnish the university. May God forgive you for committing such an act.
Oh my, are there any CATHOLIC Universities left?!! I cannot support nor promote LMU while they yet again sing the praises of leaders who continue to support the killing of our most vulnerable!
I commented earlier about this issue and wish to follow up. My son decided to not attend LMU due to the invite of former Pres. Clinton. He decided to attend another university. My son was sad and confused the school would invite him to speak at graduation given his past immoral record. They will not getting money from our family, thank goodness! I will keep praying for this school though and the good work RenewLMU.com is doing.
It is without doubt the LMU decision to honor this person that
makes it certain that LMU has lost its ability to discern right from
wrong. Applying right reason is not a priority; instead those who
have made this decision are lost in the black hole that is controlling
the false leaning minds of many today called “POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.”
People at LMU need to be removed that have made this and other
accommodations to their own liberal agendas without properly
being able to think in accordance with right reason.
We need Catholic schools who will stand up for the truth and teach our young people to do the same!
This invitation is further confirmation that LMU has abandoned its Catholic identity. It’s repulsive and inconsistent with the culture of life espoused by all popes and true Catholic leaders.
It is puzzling that the University couldn’t look within the ranks of outstanding Catholics leaders within our country to select a speaker for this year’s commencement address. One who would exemplify the moral standards of our Catholic faith with respect and dignity for all human beings.
Perhaps it is the moment for LMU to ponder whether or not they wish to continue being identified as a Catholic institution of higher education. It is a discipline that is difficult and unpopular in today’s society.
May the Holy Spirit guide you in your future decisions.
As a Catholic and a graduate of a Catholic university I am concerned the the leading Catholic Universities continue to honor people that are clearly promoting causes that fly in the face of the Churches teachings. On abortion there can be no middle ground. It is an evil that must be opposed in a clear an strong manner. No person that promotes its use can be given a podium from which they can promote themselves and thereby their positions on social issues.
Whoever is the commencement speaker at the LMU graduation exercises should be someone who exemplifies the morals that the university should aspire and promote as a Catholic entity. Just the fact that Pres Clinton is a former US president does not necessarily make him someone who is appropriate to be the speaker.
I will be at the commencement exercises in May to see my grandson graduate and I hope that you will reconsider the choice for the speaker.
Why would a Catholic University invite a person who supports abortion to speak to a University that is supposed to be Catholic? Please do not have Mr. Clinton speak to the graduates as this really sends the wrong message.
Please think about what St. Ignatius would have done….
Where are the the Christian values that LMU stands for?
Our daughter went to Franciscan university because of hard time finding a true Catholic environment.
This hopeful cancellation of Clinton’s invite would help restore some semblance of trust in the teachings of Jesus Christ within the Jesuit Order.
I’m distressed at Jesuits’ PC instead of RC. I am a graduate of Regis HS and Georgetown University and believe the Jesuits have abandoned their hallmark – rigorous defense of the faith and insistence on logical thinking. They have embraced PC at the expense of truth.
This invitation, as well as LMU’s disgraceful embrace of those who advocate for abortion rights, homosexual marriage, and other leftist ideologies disgusts me beyond repair. Please disaffiliate yourselves from the Catholic Church. You are an embarrassment.
The Jesuits and LMU lost their way a long time ago. The only difference between today and times past is that the Jesuits and their institutions are boldly showing their hands. As a former Jesuit I can attest to this.
Hi, please uphold our standards for respectability. the Clintons have shown their stripes. Our kids do not need to hear what he has to say. Invite a strong Catholic National Speaker to lecture. Paul Ryan, Bill O’Reilly to name a few. Please do not have Bill Clinton speak or pay him any monies.Best regards, Mother of a Junior at St Bonaventure HS Mosey Lenicka
Disinvite President Clinton if you’re still a Catholic institution.
These actions are despicable. Catholics true to their faith and with any moral sense whatsoever should pull their children from this so called institution of higher learning immediately. This disgusting den of Marxists with no moral compass should be avoided like the plague.
I agree with the comments in the letter. I am committed to respecting the dignity of each person made to the image and likeness of God. As an RSHM, we are committed and dedicated in fidelity to St John Gospel 10:10 -“that all may have LIFE.”
Faithfulness to Mission is very important at this time!
Thank you for understanding and for your many efforts at LMU during this past year!
As a lifelong practicing and involved Catholic, I am stunned that LMU has chosen to select Bill Clinton to be honored by LMU to speak at LMUs graduation assembly. We, as Catholic people, are being attacked on all fronts by the media, politicians including the sitting president of our country. Now, it appears to me, you folks at LMU, are jumping on the PC train of destruction and defamation of our Catholic faith with this unbelievable decision to honor this man!!!
Please think about this and hopefully you will make the decision to stand with the Pope, the magisterium, the clergy and all brothers and sisters in our community of faith and rescind this decision to have Bill Clinton speak at your commencement.
This latest action on the part of this school just confirms that the Jesuit presence has been GONE,for some time. We will continue to pray that the remaining supporters of Renew L M U will do likewise. Only the power of prayer can bring back the Ignatius of Loyola identity.
Why are you a Catholic college? – Aren’t there any Catholic people who would be an appropriate speakers?
Very wrong to honor Clinton with his obvious sexual indiscretions with an intern….. He embarrassed the Office and shamed the presidency and the American people.
LMU has been going down the tube as a Catholic Univ. but this is a
low low blow—–to give Clinton the stage to support his wife’s bid for
the Presidency of this great nation. Wake up and keep LMU Catholic!
Fully support this effort. This president does not embody Catholic values.
I am a concerned Catholic parent and I object to honoring anyone who is a supporter of Planned Parenthood and abortion. How can you reflect your Catholic faith and invite such a person?
You are giving scandal to your students. God forgive you.
I’m deeply saddened by this choice. It’s not about politics but the lack of morals and ethics of this individual that my alma mater has chosen. What happened to the idea of Christians standing up for their faith? Now, LMU has joined the rest of the world in throwing out its moral guidelines by honoring someone like Bill Clinton. Honestly, it makes my stomach turn. No longer will I donate or even so much as follow this university. Sadly, LMU is definitely off the list of potential colleges for my kids. I’m just glad my child isn’t graduating this year after paying that kind of money for a “Catholic” education.
What did Mr. Bill Clinton ever do to have him identified with any element of morality, let alone what could have been associated with Catholicism? LMU, you can do better than this!
I not only agree with your prosecution of LMU’s constantly poor decisions, but thank Renew LMU for their steadfast support of our Catholic values.
I expect better out of such a fine institution, much better.