St. Thomas Students Protest Cardinal Dolan's Planned Address

HOUSTON, TX — Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, is no stranger to controversy, and the decision to have him give the commencement address to students at the University of St. Thomas, a Catholic school in Houston, has embroiled him in yet more.

Some students at the university say that Dolan's opposition to same-sex marriage and his handling of sexual abuse allegations against priests in Milwaukee — he's a former archbishop of that diocese — make him an unsuitable speaker. As of Thursday afternoon, about 100 St. Thomas students had signed a petition urging the university to cancel Dolan's speech.

Priests in Milwaukee accused of sexual abuse against minors were under Dolan's leadership offered as much as $20,000 each to leave the church.

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As reported by the Houston Chronicle, Dr. Robert Ivany, the president of St. Thomas, is scheduled to meet with graduate student Christina Cochran on Monday. Cochran told the Chronicle that some students are "outraged" by Dolan's planned address.

Ivany, in a statement released last week, wrote that Dolan "has brought the truth of the Gospel to countless men and women through his joyful personality, quick wit and his popular homilies at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. Cardinal Dolan's insights and enthusiasm for our faith and for the dignity of all will find an appreciative audience in our dedicated graduates."

Dolan's commencement address is to take place on May 20 at NRG Arena. He gave a prayer at the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January.

— Image: Cardinal Timothy Dolan (Wikimeda Commons/Timothy Hannigan)