50 educators sign letter to Catholic University protesting Koch Foundation’s $1 million gift
December 16, 2013
By Michelle Boorstein
Fifty prominent Catholic educators — including deans and department heads of Catholic universities — have signed a letter protesting Catholic University of America’s recent acceptance of a $1 million grant from a foundation affiliated with the billionaire libertarian Koch brothers, saying the gift sends “a confusing message” that the brothers’ “anti-government, Tea Party ideology has the blessing” of a school created by U.S. bishops.
The letter, which was made public Monday but delivered last week to Catholic University of America President John Garvey and Dean Andrew Abela, says the Koch brothers’ activism against unions and climate change science, among others, are in “stark contrast” to the church’s “traditional social justice teachings.” The brothers have given hundreds of millions of dollars to conservative and tea party groups particularly focused on energy policy and health care, among other things.
“The Koch Foundation does noble philanthropic work as a leading patron of arts and culture. We commend them for these charitable endeavors,” the letter reads. “However, we must not ignore the stark contrast between the Koch brothers’ public policy agenda and our Church’s traditional social justice teachings.”
The university’s public affairs office issued a strongly worded defense Monday, framing critics as condescending, small in size and politically motivated themselves.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/50-educators-sign-letter-to-catholic-university-protesting-koch-foundations-1-million-gift/2013/12/15/f53b9d4c-65c7-11e3-8b5b-a77187b716a3_story.html
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