Channel 6 had a report of the Univeristy of Portland's President, Father William Beauchamp's statement that caused quite a firestorm at the school . He said in his Fireside Chat on Monday, February 18th regarding the same-sex faculty and staff on the UP campus..
FIRESIDE CHAT in part.
“The Catholic Church has certain expectations regardless of whether you’re heterosexual or homosexual,” Beauchamp said.
“The courts looking at [the non-discrimination policy], especially in Oregon, could take sexual orientation to mean sexual practice, whether or not it’s same sex couples.”
Beauchamp acknowledged the presence of LGBTQ individuals on campus.
“We know that there are faculty and staff in same-sex relationships on campus,” Beauchamp said. “They are not public about it and we don’t ask them. But if someone were to go very public about it and make an issue then we would have trouble.”
When asked for clarification Tuesday, Beauchamp said the University would address a situation only if it “were to become a public scandal.”
click for full article. University of Portland Asks President for Answers
The students of the "Gay, Straight Partnership" Club under Special Interest Groups on campus said through Facebook:
"Take it with a grain of salt, but Fr. Bill was not at his best when he gave his fireside chat comment; there were many unanticipated questions being asked and his comment sounded worse than he meant it to be.
Keep in mind that a lot of progress has been made under Fr. Bill’s administration (GSP, Statement of Inclusion, Presidential Advisory Committee on Inclusion)"
In his defense, Father Beauchamp made the "Vagina Monologues" go off campus for their event. This was when he was made president of the Univeristy around 2004.
I called his office and we exchanged emails. He was very cordial.
Catholic private schools should adhere to Catholic teachings. It's not popular especially in Portland, but it is necessary for Christ to be known to these students. If they don't have a strong Catholic family, the school has to at least have Catholic principles explained and help these young people and old it seems.
It seems the Dalai Lama Plans Talks at U of P Environmental Summit in May Let's hope that the students know their Catholicism as well as "mother earth".
Remember...the installation of Archbishop Samples, Tuesday, April 2nd at the Chiles Auditorium at the Univeristy of Portland. Bring your holy water.