Providence College reverses ban on speaker who favors same-sex marriage

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Providence College reverses ban on speaker who favors same-sex marriage
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/09/26/providence-college-reverses-ban-speaker-who-favors-same-sex-marriage-questions

Who Can Speak at Providence?

September 26, 2013
By Scott Jaschik

Providence College announced late Wednesday that, under certain conditions, it would permit a lecture by a philosopher who is an advocate of same-sex marriage. And the college now says that, when it canceled the appearance of John Corvino, it was really trying to reschedule the event, not call it off.

While Wednesday's announcement clears the way for Corvino to appear on the campus, it may not resolve issues raised by the incident, such as the college seeming to impose a requirement that all speakers on controversial topics have a rebuttal speaker, and whether the college is applying to academic speakers rules set by Roman Catholic bishops for politicians.

Corvino -- chair of philosophy at Wayne State University and a proponent of same-sex marriage -- was to have appeared at the college. He is a popular speaker on many campuses, and frequently appears with those who disagree with his position. Organizers of his Providence appearance, when told the college was concerned that he would express views inconsistent with Catholic teachings, added Dana Dillon, a theologian at the college, to the program. She was to speak immediately after Corvino, and to offer a Catholic perspective.

In barring the talk, Hugh F. Lena, the provost, said that Dillon didn't have enough time to prepare. As a result, Lena said, the talk would violate the college's rule (not previously known to many on campus) that "both sides of a controversial issue are to be presented fairly and equally." Further Lena said that the college needed to apply the teachings of a 2004 document by the Catholic bishops -- "Catholics in Public Life" -- which concerns political figures.

[GodlessBiker]

1. What fuckin' losers.

[joeybee12]

2. Guess what? The majority of people on this planet hold views at odds with Catholic

teaching...take your phucking heads out of the sand.