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 
It’s long past time for Catholic Universities to regain their Catholic Identities by standing for objective truth and rejecting the evils of contemporary culture. Bill Clinton is NO role model and should not be honored by ANY institution, much less a Catholic institution. Bill Clinton has NOT rendered extraordinary service to anyone or anything other than himself and his foundation. Furthermore, the last institution that should be held up as an exemplar of Catholic higher education is Georgetown, which is the most heretical of all the institutions claiming to be Catholic in the entire country.
I certainly wouldn’t want my child coming to this school. What an embarrassment to me and other Catholics to learn of your Supposedly Catholic University desiring to engage the likes of the lecher Bill Clinton. The careers of he and his wife are full of scandals. Bill Clinton, in case you’ve forgotten was accused of rape. He had numerous affairs, including the well-known Monica Lewinsky business right in the white house. Why would you want a pig like him who has no respect for Catholic beliefs to even set foot on your campus??
Would you allow a well-known supporter of traditional biblical values to speak? That answer is doubtful, yet you’ve invited someone who promotes the destruction of life, even with a method that is terribly egregious. Please let your decision in this matter be faithful to our biblical morality.
Poor choice. There are many great speakers out there with Catholic values.
As a parent of a 17 year old applying for college, the actions by this and many other “Catholic” universities have disqualified them from consideration. Thanks for making the choice so easy.
I concur with RenewLMU’s response to Fr. Deck.
It is Ridiculous that Bill Clinton would be considered for this honor.
Indeed, singling out Clinton’s treatment of Monica Lewinsky (with no repentance forthcoming and with lies under oath), his despicable record regarding abortion, and the implicit endorsement of his politically even less acceptable wife now running for the presidency, are more than sufficient cause to refuse him this honor. It all amounts to collusion with a prevailing secular culture that is making deeper and deeper inroads into the ethos of LMU’s faculty, staff, and students, and Bill Clinton is a huge trophy for LMU in its quest for ever increasing visibility and prominence. This said, and with me certainly supporting your, or our, cause at RenewLMU, I am by no means surprised at any of this kowtowing to modern secularism, including its cynicism in the face of our Catholicity: LMU has made its Faustian bargain, and it will take a lot to get the university to rescind this. We keep praying, though, and fighting …
This is an absolute low for my University. Especially during an election year! I thought LMU was fighting to keep it’s Jesuit Identity. Fr. Deck needs to discern a little more and not but politics before his true allegiance to God and Church.
I thought I graduated from a Catholic university. Evidently, I was wrong. I guess you need the notoriety for donations. Count me out.
Fr. Deck is honoring and, yes, it is endorsing his past and present policies. Until Bill Clinton PUBLICLY (newspapers, TV, radio…) , and I repeat PUBLICLY, makes a statement that abortion is wrong and should be against the law, he should not be welcomed on LMU’s Campus or any other Catholic Campuses. I am still in shock that he was even considered. I don’t care about his lifetime connection to Catholic and Jesuit higher education as a Georgetown University alumnus. His actions speak loudly and his words are even louder. If he is making any donations to Georgetown, it is guilt money, and I don’t care how much he might be giving. It is blood money. Please pass the words of Blessed Mother Teresa along to Fr. Deck. Bill Clinton has not done any good service to civil society as Fr. Deck has stated except have a hand in ruining it.
“We cannot fight credibly against other social and moral evils, including poverty and violence, while we tolerate mass killings by abortion.” Blessed Mother Teresa
I will be praying that Fr. Deck will recognize that Bill Clinton is not the right person for this honor.
Please invite people that the parents who are PAYING THE TUITION will find worthy of those funds. I would not want my daughter in the same room as Bill Clinton!
It is a disgrace for former President Bill Clinton to be invited to speak at the commencement. There are many fine Christian people who would actually inspire the graduates to lead Christian, moral lives but he is not one of them. On Judgement day we will all be held accountable on how we influenced our youth. May God be Merciful to you!
I will try to keep my comments civil. I sent both of my daughters to LMU for college. How can a Catholic institution have such a lying, dishonest, person who is sinfully disrespectful of women speak at your “religious” college? I am outraged!!!! I will NEVER donate money, or support in any way LMU if you do not cancel this. You are all hypocrites if you allow this type of person speak at a graduation.
I have been a general supporter of your efforts to hold the administration accountable on their constant drifting from Catholic doctrine. That said I dissent from your effort to disinvite Bill Clinton. While I did not prefer Mr. Clinton as a President, and I understand he disagrees with numerous teachings of the Catholic faith, I do not want to be like the political left which constantly tries to shut down speakers with divergent views , specifically conservatives. This is a former President of the United States. A worthy commencement speaker. It disgusts me when the left does this and I cannot go along with it in this instance. Expect my support on more worthy battles, but this is a mistake on your part.
You have a good point about the political left trying to shut down the exchange of ideas, especially ideas from conservatives. We believe this case to be significantly different because a commencement address does not involve an exchange of ideas, but rather giving an honorary doctorate. It is one thing to debate someone. It is quite another to simply listen to whatever the person says and then give him an honorary doctorate.
I fully concur with the RenewLMU statement above. This dismissal of Catholic values at Loyola was already in full force (e.g. against Humanae Vitae) in 1968 when I entered. It has sadly gone downhill ever since. It is awful (“awesome” in the negative, to the highest degree) that a University growing out of the heart of the Church with such spiritual and intellectual lights as Augustine, Aquinas, Ignatius Loyola, Newman, etc., now has replaced these guides with today’s democrat party “leaders” (panderers really). While Church and Papal authority are ridiculed in the name of freedom (license really), the “authority” of the Zeitgeist (the doxa-propaganda that Socrates already warns about) is worshipped, bowed down to, and lusted after as if so “infallible” that it can never even be questioned or discussed. Inviting Clinton is a further step of abandonment of unchanging values in favor of prostitution to progressive opinion.
Really, Fr. Deck? LMU’s defense is that it doesn’t endorse “all” of Mr. Clinton’s policies nor condone “all” his actions? So which actions and policies are in conflict with God’s love and standards? Or would that ruin the festive air of having such a wonderful servant to society with such an outstanding connection to Catholic and Jesuit higher education receive the highest honorary recognition possible? And if so, is that not an indication that there is a moral problem which is being purposely overlooked? I mean depending what the definition of “is” is.
Bestowing an honorary degree comes with an implicit endorsement of that person’s lifetime of work. There are so many, many other inspirational speakers, do-gooders, keepers of the flame of justice, truth, beauty, and goodness; men and women who hold true to the Jesuit’s pledge, “ad majorem Dei gloriam” than Bill Clinton. You can do better, dear alma mater.
This is one more evidence of the sheer capitulation to all the wrongs of the political left and the abandonment of any vestige of Christian belief.
If the identity of the university is Roman Catholic, then it should follow the teachings of the magisterium. It should be aligned with church concerning all matters of faith and morals. Therefore, the school should extend invitations to those who support and share these views and principles.
I find this extremely inappropriate for LMU.
RenewLMU’s response to Fr. Deck’s comments said it all with this USCCB quote: “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.” Period. Enough said. There is no further discussion. President Snyder, please find a morally appropriate commencement speaker.
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. He should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for his actions. The actions of Notre Dame, Georgetown and LMU promote scandal and confusion among Catholics and other Christians.
I agree wholeheartedly with your objections to this invitation to Bill Clinton. Not only is his past and current moral behavior objectionable, this invitation holds him up as a role model for current and prospective LMU students. Also, where does the money come from to pay his exorbitant fee?
I fully agree with your statements. Besides the fact that he and HIllary are radical advocates of abortion (big supporters of Planned Parenthood), advocates of homosexual marriage, radical feminism, men using women’s bathrooms and it continues on the anti-Catholic stances. Loyola is and has sold its soul for fame and acceptance in the secular world. It doesn’t look like Bill Clinton learned any ethics at Georgetown U..
This man is a charlatan and in no way reflects the teachings of a Jesuit institution.
My daughter applied to and was accepted (2014) by LMU with an offer of scholarship, but she declined to accept because found LMU is inconsistent in proclaiming the Catholic faith
What are you doing LMU to our children, reared in the Catholic Faith? What right do you have to honor all that we parents have taught our children from birth to turn away from? LMU is a CATHOLIC University. Yes, we know there is sin in this world but our Lord came to teach us to turn from evil, Satan and all his works, not to fool with those who are tempting the world to sin. Oh! What fools you are! Read the New Testament. Follow our Lord’s teachings. Yes, our Lord loves the sinner and hates the sin. We pray for Bill Clinton but we do not want him toying with our children’s minds. Remember, our Lord said, “Get behind me Satan”. Our family will continue to pray for you Mr. President and all you Jesuits who are causing much damage. Teach the truth!
This is horrible. Having a speaker who is pro abortion and does not have Catholic values.
It is so sad that the school is not Catholic anymore. What is wrong with you? The Clintons are OK with Abortion at any time. Bill Clinton has NO Respect for Women! What kind of message are you sending? As I said So So Sad! I would not recommend the school to anyone.
This is sending the wrong message to your student body, graduates and supporters. This man stands for too many anti-Jesuit values. Are you a Catholic institution or not?
Please disinvite Mr. Clinton and send the right message to the Loyola community.
Thank you.
Praying you make the right decision.
Shame on LMU.
I am rather discouraged by the action the University is taking in allowing this man to speak at a graduation. He shows nothing of the principles by which the University was founded. I am proud of my association to the University. I was awarded the Wall of Fame award in 2010, but his has no meaning when the University allows this man to speak to the graduating students. If he is allowed to speak, a great deal of alumni support will be lost. I know mine will!
I am ashamed of you.
LMU….a Catholic University……..nonsense….
Forget about a donation!
We so-called Catholics undermine our faith and our universal integrity when we disregard our beliefs by acting in opposition to them. Evangelization should start with so-call Catholics who seem to have lost their way.
What is your email address that I can cc you my letter to Fr Deck?
Our email is alumni@renewlmu.com
Bill Clinton is an inappropriate representation of the University and its values. The University should realize that there is going to be extensive media coverage identifying/associating Clinton with the University. I am personally appalled by the University’s decision. Please take note from below; “Catholic Institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles…….”
This is crazy. To add: One of only two presidents to be impeached.
This is giving one of the most pro abortion presidents a platform to speak at a Catholic university. This is absolutely appalling. As an alum, I will not support LMU any longer.
I agree 100% to all the above statements regarding President Bill Clinton. I am ashamed of LMU and have already emailed a letter to the President of the University regarding this issue. There a “zillion” other much better choices for a Commencement Speaker.
Please do not allow Bill Clinton to Speak at this year’s Graduation!
Difficult to understand this decision, has the University changed that much on moral issues.
We strongly protest LMU hosting former president Clinton for reasons stated by Renew LMU.
Why would you recognize someone with deplorable moral values and infamous dishonesty as a role model for your students? I had thought that LMU had well-grounded Catholic and Christian values. So sad.
This a total disgrace to LMU!
It’s unthinkable to give an Honorary Doctorate to a man with Bill Clinton’s
History of sexual abuse to women.
A Jesuit Universary? Next they’ll be giving Honorary Doctorates to the convicted priest molesters of young boys. Why not? Because his name is Bill Clinton it gets him off free? Talk
about hypocrites! Is it any wonder the church is in trouble. Bill Clinton is a nasty old man PERIOD. A sad state of affairs if LMU has to degrade itself to the level of Bill Clinton.
This speaker does not reflect the Catholic identity of the school. LMU should be selecting speakers which instill the values and morals of its faith tradition.
Honoring an abuser of women ? How can that inspire the LMU graduates of 2016?
A person who supports abortion on demand should not be speaking or honored at a Catholic university. It looks like LMU has lost its way.