With the recent onslaught of Campus Viewpoints that rip into the administration as not being Catholic enough, I think it is time that somebody steps to bat for Marquette and the people that make it such a great institution. I am a devout Catholic and the fervor and pompousness with which previous Viewpoints have been written is very offensive. The word catholic itself means "universal." The Catholic Church is not an exclusive club that only certain people are allowed in to. It is a welcoming community and it does not dictate who can and cannot claim to be Catholic. I think that the universal approach of the administration enhances faith by showing their appreciation for every person who is associated with this university, Catholic or not.

With that said, who are we to say that organizations for homosexual students on campus should be censored or kept under the table? Would Christ hide the truth from us? No. So why make his brothers and sisters hide it? We would be taking giant steps backward in the diversity of this campus if the administration was to prohibit such organizations from meeting. The best way to spread diversity on this campus is to educate and learn about other ethnicities, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds and even sexual orientations. If you have the nerve to think that counseling programs should be the only programs available to homosexuals on campus then you are the farthest thing from a "good" Catholic. The love between same sex couples is not wrong in the eyes of the Catholic Church. Rather, the Catholic Church is opposed to the physical act of homosexuality. In his March 8 Viewpoint, Douglas Zabrowski cited five non-negotiable issues as laid out by the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). None of the five he listed had anything to do with the legitimacy, or lack there of, of organizations for homosexuals on campus. These organizations are not practicing abortion, euthanasia, fetal stem cell research, human cloning or homosexual marriage. I have yet to see a same sex marriage take place at St. Joan of Arc, Gesu or the Chapel of the Holy Family.

There has also been a lot of talk about whether or not Arun Ghandi was a positive speaker to have on a Catholic campus, because of his pro-choice, pro-homosexual rights stance. I was glad to see that Zabrowski posed this question, "Aren't there plenty of speakers on the college circuit willing to speak on this topic (constructing peace)?" His answer is absolutely, but Arun Gandhi was the best. Let me tell you why. His grandfather, Mohandas Gandhi, the focus of the entire speech, was the most prolific constructor of peace that this world has ever seen. Gandhi was here not to spread his message, but the message of his grandfather. Gandhi's personal beliefs had nothing to do with it. How naïve are we to think that the Rev. Robert A. Wild and the administration didn't consider all of this when making the decision to invite Gandhi to come and speak? Where is the diversity if a Caucasian Catholic stands up on a stage and talks about constructing peace when he has had no first hand experience constructing it himself?

These self-proclaimed Catholics have forgotten what it really means to be Catholic. They have forgotten to love their neighbors as they love themselves. Until we root this university of preconceived notions, skepticism and elitism, we will not make any steps towards an increase in diversity. Our administration is trying to be welcoming.

J.J. Pauly is a freshman in the College of Arts & Sciences.

This viewpoint appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Mar. 17 2005.,”J.J. Pauly”

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