NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      WASHINGTON, DC (CWNews.com) - Students at the Jesuit-run Georgetown University in Washington held a rally on Friday to protest the firing of a popular Jesuit chaplain, all of the Protestant chaplains, and the only African-American chaplain this week, as well as the appearance of pornographer Larry Flynt.

      The university's administration said the firings were due to budgetary constraints, but student groups said the dismissals are really an attempt to curtail traditional religious devotion. "We're not going to take it any more," said student Brian Sayers, who earlier this year led a protest to force the school's freshmen sex orientation program to include greater emphasis on Catholic values. "The university's administration has shown time and again its bias against devotion and religious practice and hostility to devout Christians, in particular."

      Among the chaplains dismissed by University Chaplain Father Adam Bunnell, SJ, were Father John Kelly, SJ, Senior Protestant Chaplain the Rev. Bruce Epperly, the only African-American chaplain the Rev. Cynthia Woods, and Director of Liturgy Jeremy Young. Senior Rabbi Harold White, who was served the university since 1968, was also reportedly on the dismissal list until the rabbi spoke with members of the Board of Trustees.

      The conservative newspaper The Georgetown Academy called Father Kelly, and another chaplain dismissed last year, Father Bill Watson, instrumental in the resurgence of Catholic identity and devotion among students. The university was rocked last year by a debate on crucifixes missing from classrooms, and the current move was seen by some as payback for supporting the Crucifix Movement.

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