Spokane Faith & Values

Petition says Gonzaga has gone astray by inviting Desmond Tutu

Tracy Simmons | Apr 12, 2012 | Comments (3)

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One month from now Archbishop Desmond Tutu is slated to deliver the commencement address to Gonzaga University’s graduating class. A group of alumni, however, are saying he isn’t welcome and are urging administrators to withdraw their invitation to the primate.

Topics: Culture, Education
Beliefs: Christian - Catholic, Christian - Protestant/Other
Tags: catholic, catholic universites tutu, catholic universities, catholic universities and identity, desmond tutu, desmond tutu gonzaga, desmond tutu spokane, gonzaga, gonzaga desmond tutu, jesuit school, patrick kirby desmond tutu, patrick kirby spokane, petition gonzaga tutu

Tracy Simmons

Tracy Simmons serves as the editor and community manager of SpokaneFAVS. She holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism and a master’s degree in communication. She’s reported on religion for about a decade and has written for newspapers across New Mexico, Texas and Connecticut. Over the y...
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Benedictines like to say listening is the heart of monastic life. “Listen” is the first word of the Rule of St. Benedict that we follow. Listening to God, to each other, to the head of the community are all part of what defines who we are as monastics. But if we were to be really honest we would also say that listening is very difficult. So when I saw that some Gonzaga alumni were protesting the choice of Archbishop Desmond Tutu as a commencement speaker it struck me that listening is precisely what is so lacking in public and religious discourse in our society today.
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Gonzaga president eager to host Tutu, despite petition

Tracy Simmons | Apr 19, 2012

Gonzaga University made national headlines last week after protestors submitted a petition to the school, claiming the institution had lost sight of its Catholic values by inviting Archbishop Desmond Tutu to speak at next month’s commencement, where he will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
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Gonzaga alumni discusses his work as chaplain to the House of Representatives

Tracy Simmons | Oct 15, 2012

Last week the Rev. Patrick Conroy spoke to Gonzaga University students about his role as the 60th chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives. Conroy, who graduated from Gonzaga with a master’s degree in philosophy in 1977, is the first Jesuit priest to serve as House chaplain.
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