Whitman cancellation was ‘the right move’

Megan (Collier) Reilly, Stuart graduate
To the editor:
    The following is a response to the letters criticizing the Diocese of Trenton and Stuart for canceling the appearance of former Gov. Whitman at the Women in Leadership Forum.
   As a school that prides itself on its Catholic tradition, Stuart’s first priority is to uphold and promote the teachings of the church. Canceling a pro-abortion speaker’s appearance at the behest of the Diocese was the right move. There are plenty of other public platforms in which the Stuart community can hear what Whitman has to say. But to invite her to a Catholic campus as a keynote speaker — expressly holding her out as a role model for young women — is to accept and celebrate her convictions, whether or not the topic is abortion. Stuart wouldn’t dream of inviting a pro-slavery speaker to campus to discuss the issues Whitman would have discussed in order to “educate and prepare its students for the broad range of beliefs and experiences they will encounter in the world” — that quote from a letter written by my classmate, Denise Ramzy.
   Those who choose to teach in a Catholic school and the parents who choose to send their daughters to a Catholic school need to respect church teaching and cannot demand that the school deny its faith to fit their agenda. There are plenty of non-denominational and public schools around to fit their needs — schools which, by the way, systematically exclude the Catholic, pro-life and pro-family viewpoints without a peep of protest from those who are bashing Catholic schools with bogus slogans like “academic freedom.”
   People complaining that Stuart is failing to empower women are wrong. Stuart has empowered me to defend the Diocese’s decision, to defend my church’s teachings, and to live out my faith every day in a society that is very hostile toward my beliefs. I only hope Stuart has empowered other practicing Catholic alums to do the same.
Megan (Collier) Reilly
Stuart Country Day School
Class of 1996 