After failing in their attempt to block President Obama from speaking at Notre Dame University, far-right activists are now trying to stop Desmond Tutu from appearing at Gonzaga University, a Jesuit institution. Tutu, an Anglican bishop who received a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in bringing down South Africa’s Apartheid government, is coming under fire from right-wing organizations protesting his views on legal abortion and “affirmation of the homosexual agenda.” The conservative website LifeSiteNews reports that two Catholic groups, the American Life League and TFP Student Action, the political arm of the American Society for Tradition Family and Property, want Gonzaga to rescind its invitation to Archbishop Tutu. TFP Student Action’s director John Ritchie said Gonzaga’s “shameful” decision has “tarnished” its reputation:
Observers are asking why a Catholic university in Spokane would invite Archbishop Desmond Tutu to address its graduating class considering his decades-long record of supporting abortion, homosexuality, female ordination, theological liberalism, and collectivist economic theories condemned by the Roman Catholic Church.
…
Tutu has posed for a picture on behalf of and endorsed the “invaluable work” of Marie Stopes International, the world’s largest abortion provider. The endorsement, which was discovered by pro-life activist Peter Thorp as he logged one of his more than 1,200 hours of prayer in front of the Cape Town abortion clinic, praises Marie Stopes South Africa for “empowering people” and “giving people the opportunity to make informed decisions about their future and a choice.”
…
Tutu has also been outspoken in his affirmation of the homosexual agenda. “If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn’t worship that God,” he has said. Tutu has also said he was “saddened” and “ashamed” of the negative reaction to the ordination of the openly homosexual Vicki Gene Robinson as an Episcopal bishop in 2003. Six years later, he supported the Church of Scotland’s decision to ordain non-celibate homosexuals.
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/right-wing-protest-desmond-tutu-gonzagaOf course, in reality, Tutu is only luke-warm about being pro-choice - he accepts laws allowing abortion, but thinks that, when it's not a result of rape or incest, a woman should have to get 'counselling' before being allowed to have an abortion:
http://archive.wfn.org/1996/05/msg00707.html
And his 'collectivist economic theories' are a fairly standard support for a proper welfare safety net, and advocacy for jobs and dignity for the working class - the kind of thing which the Vatican itself sometimes speaks up for, despite what these rabid RW American organisations think. But they are desperate to throw a Nobel Peace Prize winner, who was a major figure in the fight against apartheid, overboard in their fight against equality and women's health. It wouldn't surprise me to see these fuckers being apartheid apologists.
5 replies
Right-Wing Groups Protest Desmond Tutu's Appearance at Gonzaga University (Original post)
pinto (97,892 posts) 
